Senior Citizens Lining Up to Tackle Fukushima 242
Some have compared them to kamikazes, but the more than 200 elderly volunteers who want clean up the Fukushima power station say they are just being practical. 72-year-old retired engineer Yasuteru Yamada says: "I am 72 and on average I probably have 13 to 15 years left to live. Even if I were exposed to radiation, cancer could take 20 or 30 years or longer to develop. Therefore us older ones have less chance of getting cancer." So far the government is hesitant to let the volunteers into the power station but Yamada and the others have been lobbying for the right to aid in the clean up. He says: "At this moment I can say that I am talking with many key government and Tepco people. But I am sorry I can't say any more at this moment. It is on the way but it is a very, very sensitive issue politically."
Lower chance too (Score:5, Informative)
Older people have lower rates of celldivision, and thus probably have a lower chance on cancer (for the same dose).
Re:Inspiring and selfless (Score:5, Informative)
You need look no further than 9/11 first responders. Of course, the politicians then tried to stiff them after using 9/11 imagery for commercials.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/12/jon_stewarts_campaign_for_the.html [washingtonpost.com]
Re:Go Japan! (Score:0, Informative)
Re:Inspiring and selfless (Score:5, Informative)
I wonder if there is a population here in the States that would be willing to take a compelling risk like this.
Provided that they intend to keep exposure within reasonable limits (which appears to be the case) then smoking, working in a coal mine, or just having an unhealthy diet would all qualify.
Re:Lower chance too (Score:2, Informative)
One of the hallmarks of cancer cells are mutations that make them divide like crazy and never stop. The baseline division rate before they became cancerous doesn't really matter much by that point.
Re:Lower chance too (Score:4, Informative)
That is true, but has nothing to do with my remark.
The genome is simply more vulnerable while copying.
Re:Inspiring and selfless (Score:5, Informative)
It's the same thing with the soldiers they eagerly send to war, isn't it? It's standard operating procedure for disposable workers, and a recurring theme ever since the Continental Army was demobilized in 1783.
It's all pats on the back, and out of one side of their mouths it's all "Thanks for putting your life on the line", and "you're defending freedom", etc. while simultaneously they're winding to give a giant boot up your collective asses.
Re:Inspiring and selfless (Score:4, Informative)
The firefighters who stayed at ground zero for months weren't being 'needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few' practical like these old Japanese guys. A week after 9/11 when the rescue operation turned into a recovery operation, the mayor tried ordering NYFD to stop looking for bodies and report back to work since 'the needs of the living outweigh the needs of the dead'.
They didn't, and 10 years later you hear some of them complaining about needing more benefits because they fouled up their respiratory system.