There are some brave individuals working in the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plants

[FourScore]

There are things we know: We know that these individuals are doing all they can to cool the reactors. We know that backup power sources failed after the tsunami, and that radiation has been released. We know that cesium has been detected, which is present during core meltdown -- so we know the workers may have been exposed to partial meltdown conditions. We know that individuals are checking into the hospital with radiation sickness, (we do not yet know if they are plant employees.) We know that there has been an enormous hydrogen explosion at the plant, and that 4 workers were injured.

The people inside those walls, under all of the steel and concrete, know that they are putting their own lives on the line in the hopes of saving Japan and the rest of the world from a potentially devastating nuclear accident. They are not responsible for the disinformation and conflicting statements being released by the power company and the Japanese government. They are just trying to cool the reactors. They are trying everything they possibly can. These people have families. Perhaps they haven't even had enough of a reprieve to fully check on their own friends and loved ones after the earthquake and tsunami. They have a crisis of enormous proportions to deal with, and it could kill them.

I have the book Chernobyl, Insight from the Inside written by Vladimir Chernousenko. Chernousenko was the nuclear physicist who led the cleanup at Chernobyl. He is dead now, of course. But he wrote the book to tell the world the real story of Chernobyl before he passed. He had always been an advocate of nuclear energy -- until it took his life. He describes with wrenching detail how he was called in by his country to handle the disaster. He knew that it would kill him. That by going into the zone, he was ending his life as a father and husband. He made peace with his family before he went in.

These people are heroes -- anonymous, dedicated, and working under incomprehensibly stressful, life-threatening conditions. We must hold these people close to our hearts and send them our gratitude and our prayers. May they be safe. May they win this battle. And may they see their loved ones soon.

[madmax]

1. Very thoughtful post

Thank you for the information about Vladimir Chernousenko. I've never went out of my way to read about Chernobyl. It's not that I don't care I just think it's over my head.

Haveing moved from another state I now live a few miles from a nuclear power plant. Might be a good time to find out.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

2. That is one of the things I have thought about

in the back of my mind. Who are the poor guys who are getting stuck with dealing with this on the front lines and at what risk are the putting themselves in. When they get sick will Japan take care of them or will they do like the U.S. did to the 9/11 responders and say tough luck.

I'm guessing the former.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Confusious]

60. Japan has national health care

They'll be taken care of.

[ChazII]

3. kicking

Thank you for posting this thread.

[Peace Patriot]

4. THANK YOU!

:grouphug:

[Cleita]

5. Yes, they are like the first responders on 9-11.

They know it's their duty and they know they probably won't survive or may be sick the rest of their lives. Very sad indeed.

[seabeyond]

6. hubby and i just now talking about this. like he says, same with 911 responders

knowing they will probably die from it to save others.

i hear ya

was thinking about them earlier

[Rex]

7. That is what 'sacrifice' is all about, not the BS we hear from politicans

willing to die for the good of others. :cry:

All my best hopes for the brave workers! :hug:

[TheWraith]

8. Excuse me, but you're spreading total non-scientific nonsense.

Cesium is NOT "only present during core meltdown." That is pseudo-scientific nonsense. Cesium is a standard byproduct of nuclear fission.

[Rex]

10. Is that like spreading scientific sense?

I've always wondered...

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FourScore]

14. Really? That's what you got out of this post?

I don't claim to be a scientist. Just like most everyone else, I am struggling to understand what is happening over there. I have read as many articles as I can find from the "experts" explaining what they believe could be going on. It wouldn't surprise me if I got such a detailed thing wrong. So, TW, I corrected the grave error of "total non-sceientific nonsense", but the gist of the post remains. Something I just don't think you got.

[TheWraith]

15. Get pissed at me if you like, but having the facts is important.

You wouldn't have any regard for a newscaster who talked about the fine job Our Boys are doing Over There fighting the ten-foot-tall dinosaur-riding terrorist robot ninjas. Being positive about someone or something does not need to be linked to misinformation about what they're dealing with. And the engineers over there dealing with the problem would be far more upset with you saying something like that than I ever could be.

[FourScore]

22. I'm not pissed.

May the scientists and engineers forgive me for my ignorance. I am sending them my gratitude and prayers nonetheless.

[JVS]

31. I'd like to see you fight the ten-foot-tall dinosaur-riding terrorist robot ninjas any better!

[we can do it]

42. What a Shitty Remark To a Thoughtful Post Thanking Those Giving Their Lives

for others

[northernlights]

45. you might try actually snipping the actual quote instead of amending it to suit your contempt

The OP didn't write that cesium is "only" present during core meltdown, and what he wrote about it is essentially true.

Nice try at changing the subject. :eyes:

[we can do it]

46. was i talking to you - nope

[FourScore]

49. I think northern lights was actually responding to TheWraith.

:hi:

[northernlights]

51. back at ya. I was responding the Wraith's hideous comment.

:hi:

[we can do it]

95. Ok We're Good

:)

[pickle juice]

62. Well, oxygen is "present" during a meltdown...but like the cesium is irrelevant

to the serious concerns that prompted the original post.

[northernlights]

86. radioactive cesium is released during a meltdown

and hardly irrelevent to the people working there who are exposed to it. :wtf:

[Junkdrawer]

68. Playing the old "I have a monopoly on Science" card...

And, as is usual with those who play said card, you couldn't be more wrong.

[Yo_Mama]

9. Thanks for posting this.

These people are very brave and are doing a very dangerous job. They should be recognized.

[BillyJack]

12. Thank you....I've thought about this as well.

no words.

[Lefta Dissenter]

16. unbearable sadness (n/t)

:cry:

[MGB67deux]

17. Thank you,

THis has been in my thoughts as well. "Greater love hath no man than this......".

[FedUpWithIt All]

18. I would recommend this a second time if i could.

Those people have been weighing heavy in my heart all day.

[FourScore]

34. Thank you, FedUpWithIt All.

Mine too.

[Rowdyboy]

19. Well said......My heart is with yours on this one.

May they be safe.

[spanone]

20. dead folks walking

[applegrove]

21. Thank you for this. I'll try and concentrate on the great heroes involved.

[Arctic Dave]

23. Agree.

[angstlessk]

24. I am cryng right now..because I thought the very same thing this morning

those people in those nuclear reactors are truly heroes and all of Japan should hail them once this horror is over...

in fact, I think most of Japan should be honored for its ability to withstand such a destructive earth quake!

[FourScore]

27. Dear angstlessk,

I agree.

:grouphug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

25. Great people. If history is any guide they'll never be given their due

I do agree with you. We should hold these each of these unsung heroes close to your hearts and give them the respect they deserve. They're giving everything they have in an attempt to avert a disaster.

[somone]

26. New Scientist interviewed the Chernobyl control room engineer before he died

Lots of interesting details. The interview can be read for free at:
http://www.chernobylee.com/blog/2009/03/alexander-yuvchenko-interview.php

[FourScore]

28. Thank you for the link. I look forward to reading it! n/t

[PufPuf23]

69. Thank you. Brave man. nt

[Poll_Blind]

29. ARE there still people on site? The reason why I ask is that I've seen every...

...press conference from the Japanese officials, read a lot of stories and commentary and had feeds coming in from a number of places.

And even in the press conferences the Japanese representative repeatedly indicated they had no idea what was actually going on, on site. I know 4 people were injured, and one killed I think, but can you point me to anything about the presence or health of those in control? I haven't seen a think mentioned about folks on site except for the injuries after the blast.

Nomatter what, obviously, the best of wishes to people who are there or who have been there.

PB

[FourScore]

30. They are there.

In Chernousenko's book, he describes that it is standard operating procedure of all countries and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to deny the true risk of any accident and to downplay the severity for as long as possible. Then slowly the truth seeps out. It is very surreal to have read about this in his book and now see it playing out in Japan.

[northernlights]

47. they have no idea what's going on *inside the reactor itself*

Nobody does. They do know what the engineers are doing. From what I've read, they are operating under worst case scenario assumptions. They don't know for a fact that there have been partial meltdowns because they cannot actually get close enough to the reactors to see inside. So they are acting as though there are meltdowns underway.

[quakerboy]

81. 1450 of them.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_EARTHQUAKE_NUCLEAR_CRISIS?SITE=NVLAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Down towards the bottom of the article
"Japan's nuclear safety agency said 1,450 workers were at the Dai-ichi plant on Sunday, its usual staffing. The workers were in protective gear and were taking shorter turns than usual in units 1 and 3 to limit their exposure, said agency spokesman Sugiyama."

[Bluerthanblue]

32. what an excellent post- yes indeed, they are true heros-

my heart goes out to all the people coping with this horrible situation.

Thank you for this.

[Poll_Blind]

33. Picture of TEPCO Reactor Control Room #6, circa 1995 (from Flickr)

From HERE


PB

[B2G]

35. Bravo n/t

[BeFree]

36. I hope they are succesful

You know they are working hard, not only to protect themselves and their country but the reputation of the whole industry.

Let us hope they have great success in averting any grave damage to the core and surroundings.
But the damage to the industry is done.

These people working there, installing pumps, working the bolts, moving pipes around, are heroes.

No matter the outcome, I would be proud to know anyone of them.
Godspeed, workers.

[stevedeshazer]

37. +1 n/t

[SlipperySlope]

38. Japan needs all the heros it can get today.

[Tumbulu]

39. I have been thinking of them since last night

and thanking them (in my heart) for their bravery and real sacrifice.

Thanks for your post.

[MadHound]

40. They are dead men walking, bless them every one

Having worked at a nuclear plant, I have a very good idea of what they're going through, what they are being exposed to, and what they are sacrificing, namely their lives.

They may, note I say may, walk out the front door in a week or two went the emergency is over. But they will be dead men walking.

[FourScore]

43. Some people are under the impression that no one is in there.

Even my sister (a very intelligent lady) thought that. They think it has been evacuated. The people in those plants need to be publicly acknowledged right now.

[GardeningGal]

41. I wish I could rec this more than once. n/t

[defendandprotect]

44. All of our hearts ache for Japan -- and for these workers -- they are in a way

the "soldiers" of the nuclear industry -- no reactors without people willing to

work in them and those who will be forced in the end to sacrifice their lives to them.

But, think we have the same conflict that we do with our own soldiers -- we moved to a

volunteer army so that we could stop the profits and insanities of war -- and our

government betrayed us by moving to mercenaries.

Even mercenaries are exploited by those who hire them and contract them out, like

"Blackwater" -- and as Gaddafi is doing today in soliciting mercenaries to fight those

protesting his dictatorship. They've come from the nations behind Libya -- Chad, Niger -

from many nations -- where men are willing to give their lives for high profit killing.

Nuclear power reactors have to become past history -- they should all be shut down.

And the idea that anyone has to consider "soldiering" in a nuclear power plant or on

killing fields of any kind is something we have to try to fight against -- even harder!!

[vicarofrevelwood]

48. Also the sobering fact they Maybe already walking dead.

Doing the right thing till the are finally too sick or weak to carry on. I remember a story about a fire fighter at Chernobyl. Who was on a ladder With The Hose running wide open into a gaping hole in the reactor building.It's people like these who help in times of disaster. Willingly putting their lives on the line. This should not have to happen.

[FourScore]

52. Welcome to DU, vicarofrevelwood!

:hi:

[malaise]

50. Lovely post

I hope they succeed and head home to their loved ones.

[G_j]

53. yep

:bounce:

[jannyk]

54. Thanks for this post. Hubby and I were talking about this at Breakfast

today.

Heroes are very rare creatures. The people manning these plants, and desperately fighting to save us all from a nuclear disaster, are Heroes of the highest Order.

k&r seems so pathetic today.

[BillyJack]

58. Shakespeare - The Twelfth Night

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them". - (Quote Act II, Scene V).

[FourScore]

94. Excellent quote! n/t

[Jamastiene]

55. Absolutely.

K&R

[Hannah Bell]

56. kr

[Hannah Bell]

59. kr again

[FourScore]

82. Thank you Hannah Bell!

:hi:

[rdking647]

57. radiation sickness

wheere are people checking into hospitals with radiation sickness?? i havent heard anything about that

[Confusious]

61. Only one person has been diagnosed with radiation sickness nt

[FourScore]

65. I read 3 people were treated for radiation sickness.

Maybe the information is inaccurate.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365536/Japan-earthquake-tsunami-Thousands-undergo-radioactive-screening-explosion.html

[Confusious]

71. Yours is probably newer

Last I heard was one radiation sickness

[jannyk]

74. I wouldn't rely on the Daily Mail for accurate info of any kind

and I'm British and grew up with it. It's a 'rag'.

[FourScore]

75. You're right. How 'bout the BBC?

"Twenty-two people were exposed to radiation following that blast, and scores more are feared to have been exposed. "
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12724953

I've read other accounts with as many as 160 people measuring above normal radiation levels afgter scanning 1300 people. No idea how much above normal. At the time that I wrote the OP, I had only read of 3 people though.

[jannyk]

91. As far I can gather 1 w/sickness believed to be a Plant Worker

BBC still saying 'at least 22' with elevated radiation 'exposure' - no 'sickness'. BBC will usually only post figures they can actually confirm. It may be 160 or not, but if the BBC cannot confirm it, they will stick with the figure they can confirm.

[FourScore]

93. That is good news.

Thank you so much for the clarification.

:hi:

[PA Democrat]

63. K & R

For the workers and their families who must be sick with worry.

[HuckleB]

64. Absolutely! -eom-

[valerief]

66. If no one went to war, there'd be no war. nt

[Rectangle]

67. If there isn't a United Nations "Medal Of Honor" for selfless bravery

for their Nation and the world.
There most certainly should be!!!!!!!:patriot:

[Scottybeamer70]

70. Sad and beautiful post

Thank you!

[susu369]

72. Thank you

words fail me.

[Corruption Winz]

73. Brilliant post. K/R! n/t.

[pasto76]

76. A-fucking-men

the folks working in there are from those towns, their families are there. Their friends are there. This is exactly the point that makes all the right wing nutjob "r3m3mb3r P3aRl h@rbuR!" bullshit so infuriating. As if any of those douchebags would put themselves in harms way like this.

[Loki]

77. FourScore, thank you for that thoughtful post.

There are some on this board who bring nothing to the table but negativity. I am certainly holding all the people of Japan and all who have been affected by this disaster in my thoughts and yes, the one's who are putting their lives on the line for others are the real heroes. This has the potential to become a disaster that could impact the world.

[femrap]

78. K and R

I hope they can keep the water flowing to keep the reactors cool. If not, this will be a Global disaster.

My thoughts are with the Japanese people working to avoid even more disaster.

[BrightKnight]

79. A fleet of 1970's nuclear plants survived an 8.9 earth quake, 150 large after shocks, and a tsunami.

The very critical cooling systems failed in some of them. The situation is very bad but it could have been much worse. Some of the engineers must have done something right.

[Overseas]

80. K&R. Yes they are heroes.

And I appreciate the way the government shows its respect for them.

The Prime Minister and others appear for their news conferences and statements in engineers' attire. They are showing how much we are all depending upon them.

[truedelphi]

83. Here are some things most people don't know - Fukushima Mayor

Mr Sato, he was adamantly opposed to the 2006 agreements and contracts that put his prefecture in the middle of nuclear power expansion.

He was so dead set against it, and he represented so well the massive opposition that the citizens in that prefecture were expressing, that forces greater than him put him under investigation for bribery.

While those bribery charges were being investigated, Mr Sato was forced out of office, and the Powers that Be saw to it that someone friendlier to nuclear energy was put in his place.

All charges against Mr Sato ended up being non-existent. Simply made up, worthless charges.

But the nuke industry got what it wanted. And over the last three days, we see how dangerous an industry this really is.

[NBachers]

84. As a US West Coast resident, they are working to protect me and my family & community

What heroes these people are.

[Overseas]

85. Explosion in a third containment building at Dai Ichi.

11:01 a.m. Japan time.

[jannyk]

87. There are now a few less. 7 Missing/3 Injured in blast per BBC TV

no link was breaking report on BBCTV

[FourScore]

88. Let's hope they are okay. n/t

[KT2000]

89. Thank you for the post

This is a good reminder of the sacrifices these people are making at this time. As one man pointed out - they are volunteers. Not many would even do it.

[Mimosa]

90. I've been thinking about those people risking their lives for the last 2 days. n/t

[onestepforward]

92. Beautifully written. Thank you. n/t