Japanese nuclear plant worker discusses his likely suicidal decision - Polidicks

[release]As Japan continues to grapple with catastrophic radiation leaks at the quake-damaged Fukushima Daichii nuclear complex, the plant's remaining workers have shown heroic dedication in the face of a task that amounts to a likely suicide mission. The global audience following the Japanese nuclear drama has learned a little about these selfless heroes. But some of the most basic questions about them--who they are and what has motivated them to make the ultimate sacrifice--have gone unanswered. Now, however, the Agence France Press reporter Kimi De Freytas has published an interview with one of the Fukushima workers that sheds considerable light on how they understand their mission--and how they are holding up under under the extraordinary, mortal stress they are facing. Hiroyuki Kohno, a 44-year-old plant worker who's been employed in the nuclear industry since he was a teenager, promptly answered the emergency call issued by his employer, a subcontractor for the Tokyo Electric Power Company. Shortly after last March's devastating earthquake and tsunami produced a power outage at the facility, Kohno's employers sent out an all-hands appeal via email. "Attention. We would like you to come work at the plant. Can you?" De Freytas reports the email read. Kohno, who has worked at the Fukushima facility for the past decade, said he knew what the implications of heeding the call would be. "To be honest, no one wants to go," Kohno told De Freytas. "Radiation levels at the plant are unbelievably high compared with normal conditions. I know that when I go this time, I will return with a body no longer capable of work at a nuclear plant." Kohno told De Freytas that as a single man with no children, he felt obligated to answer the call and join the team that the media has dubbed the "Fukushima Fifty." Better that he face the risk, he explained, so as to spare his colleagues who have dependents counting on them. Besides, he added, the workers in the plant are his brothers and sisters, and he feels an allegiance to them. "There's a Japanese expression: 'We eat from the same bowl.' These are friends I shared pain and laughter with. That's why I'm going," he explained to De Freytas. Other workers among the Fukushima Fifty have apparently discussed the dire prospects ahead fairly openly. As the unidentified mother of a 32-year-old plant worker explained in a tearful phone interview with Fox News, "My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary to save the nation." Meanwhile, plant officials have sought to supplement the ranks of workers seeking to contain the spread of radioactive contamination from the facility with workers known as "jumpers"—contract employees who agree to complete designated tasks before fleeing in the hopes that they can shun sustained radioactive exposure. Workers in the "jumper" corps are being offered as much as $5,000 a day, Reuters reports—and many are still turning the offers down. While the fate of Kohno and his fellow workers remains uncertain, their fellow citizens are already determined to commemorate their heroism.[/release] [url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110405/ts_yblog_thelookout/japanese-nuclear-plant-worker-discusses-choice-to-sacrifice-his-life]Source[/url]

Wow, I couldn't do anything like that, call me a pussy or whatever but I just couldn't.

This is what makes Japan great....they care about the collective whole.

Fuck that's noble of him.

Reminds me of the people who participated in the Chernobyl cleanup efforts.

[QUOTE=Swilly;29009141]This is what makes Japan great....they care about the collective whole.[/QUOTE] agreed western countries are way too individualistic

[QUOTE=Pace.;29009270]agreed western countries are way too individualistic[/QUOTE] There's nothing wrong with a little individualism, so long as it's tempered by a willingness to put it aside for the greater good.

Anything we normal people can do? I mean my life sucks, all i do is being a dick on the internet.

I'll do it, I'm worthless anyway.

[QUOTE=evilweazel;29009120]Wow, I couldn't do anything like that, call me a pussy or whatever but I just couldn't.[/QUOTE] You're not a pussy for not wanting to sacrafice yourself. These men will be remembered for what they did for Japan and the world. I shall build a chocolate memorial in memory of them and eat it.

Their bosses seriously told them to get back to work while the plant was going Chernobyl on them? What the fuck.

[QUOTE=LCBADs;29009470]Their bosses seriously told them to get back to work while the plant was going Chernobyl on them? What the fuck.[/QUOTE] Requested. They didn't have to do it.

[QUOTE=Brage Nyman;29009326]Anything we normal people can do? I mean my life sucks, all i do is being a dick on the internet.[/QUOTE] Be a real hero and help people out you see everyday, and do it without the benefit of getting a news story or international coverage.

maybe when I'm that old I'll understand how anyone could have the capacity to be that selfless

[QUOTE=LCBADs;29009470]Their bosses seriously told them to get back to work while the plant was going Chernobyl on them? What the fuck.[/QUOTE] Did you bother to read and understand the OP and the article in the OP at all?

[QUOTE=Swilly;29009141]This is what makes Japan great....they care about the collective whole.[/QUOTE] Except at the same time they have one of the most misogynistic cultures around [sp]im being serious, no racism intended or expressed[/sp]

Brave guys.

[QUOTE=dude2193;29010300]Except at the same time they have one of the most misogynistic cultures around [sp]im being serious, no racism intended or expressed[/sp][/QUOTE] Oh I know, that's changing with each generation but they don't have that, "FUCK YOU MOM & DAD" that we American teenagers have. They're also extremely racists against Koreans, Chinese, basically every other Asian.

[QUOTE=Psychokitten;29009269]Reminds me of the people who participated in the Chernobyl cleanup efforts.[/QUOTE] yeah, but they dident know of the risks. They were soldiers though, so they are a tool to fight to the death.

I would go help, except I live in Florida so not only would I have to fly over, but I'm a minor so they wouldn't accept my help, if just for the massive shitstorm it would cause in the media.

I wouldn't mind being a jumper, as long as I got treatment if I got sick, and was allowed to die if there wasn't any chance of getting better.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;29010726]I wouldn't mind being a jumper, as long as I got treatment if I got sick, and was allowed to die if there wasn't any chance of getting better.[/QUOTE] Right here, I've got nothing left anyway.

Just like the ending of Fallout 3...

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;29010726]I wouldn't mind being a jumper, as long as I got treatment if I got sick, and was allowed to die if there wasn't any chance of getting better.[/QUOTE] For $5000 a day you could probably afford the treatment :v: My heart goes out to these brave men and women who are giving their lives, cell by cell, to at least buy their countrymen more time. The noblest of sacrifices is not to die for your kin, but to be tortured in their stead.

[QUOTE=Mister Cool;29011006]Just like the ending of Fallout 3...[/QUOTE] :frogdowns:

The Japanese sure are courageous and patriotic, this kinda reminds me of WW2 when they flew Kamikaze planes into targets. It's astonishing that amongst the selfish existence that is the human race, emerges those willing to put their life at risk for a greater cause.

They remind me of the workers that sealed up Chernobyl after the disaster. Sure, they tried to fix it all up with remote controlled robot-thingies first, but the radiation was so bad, they just broke down, so workers went in, sealed it up and died. Guys have balls the size of durion fruit.

Sounds like they need a HEV suit: [img]http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/30/11466-mark5_super.jpg[/img]

I qoute my song "SO LETS NO EVEN TRY IT OUT" damn these guys are really something ;O

They dont get $5000 a day they $5000 for half an hour of work, and they are not aloud to work anymore than that