"To Work at Fukushima, You Have to Be Ready to Die"

[ensho]

http://truthout.org/work-fukushima-you-have-be-ready-die/1302159600

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We read that they are sleeping on the hard soil, that they have only two meals per day, and are rationed in drinking water. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and its subcontractors allow little information to filter out concerning workers fighting on the front lines at the Fukushima power plant, a plant devastated by the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March. Sociologist and specialist on Japan, Paul Jobin knows these places well. In 2002, while doing research on sub-contractors in the nuclear industry, he interviewed managers and temporary workers in that plant. He analyzes the current situation in the light of this experience.

The interview

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A man of twenty-seven had received an SMS offering a good salary, but since he has a little boy of three and a wife of twenty-six, he did not want to leave them, imagining that he would face a high risk of premature death. Also a man 48 years of age testified. He lived 40 kilometers from the plant, and had been called by someone saying: "We are looking for people over fifty who could intervene in the reactor; the pay is much higher than usual."

You won’t come? The wording "over fifty" suggests that in order to come work on the site, you must be ready to die ... Elsewhere, I read that there are locals who are willing to do the maximum because they do not want to see everything lost for thirty or for a thousand years to come. And this is already partly true. Finally, Saturday, April 2, the Mainichi newspaper published an interview with an employee of TEPCO who describes the extreme difficulty of the conditions for intervention and the patched-together systems they are compelled to use to protect themselves, like wrapping themselves in plastic bags, for lack of appropriate protective suits.

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a true horror is going on

[flamingdem]

1. It is impossible to justify the hardships these workers are under

Tepco and the government are responsible and there is no stated reason why their conditions are so subhuman.

[ChibaResident]

4. Some of them are accepting "sub-human" conditions on purpose.

I'm not sure why, but some or many of the workers are subsisting on "nutrition bars", because everyone else is (though regular meals are on offer).

I don't know the true truth of the situation, but I wonder why the Japanese military or the U.S. military or whoever aren't bringing in MRE'S or the like for these workers.

I just don't get it.

Perhaps TEPCO forbids it, or something. :(

[flamingdem]

9. This company has a history of abusing workers

of hiring migrant and homeless workers and maxing them out and making them do dangerous radiation cleanup without proper clothing so this looks like more of the same.

They are a sick company and that rolls down from the top.

Someone over there needs to yell and scream, later there will be lot's of I AM SO SORRY...

[hayu_lol]

10. Neither Tepco nor the government...

caused the earthquake and resulting tsunami. Need a scapegoat? Try god.

As far as attempting to hire 'older' workers...over 50 would imply that their reproductive years are over as a baseline--not necessarily just 'to die' as the link indicates(sky is falling language--worst case). Younger workers who might be having children in the near term might best be kept away.

Ain't much left standing in the vicinity of the plant to use as dorms for workers. Tent city? Maybe that is all they could transport in.

Water being rationed? Maybe all the water has to be trucked or helicoptered in...are the roads back in? The water system up and running?

Simply amazing how language can be perverted to scare the masses who know nothing of what is going on...all the self-styled experts who know exactly what should be done and how to go about it.

Blame the intelligent designer.

[flamingdem]

12. I hope you have read up on Tepco and their nefarious history regarding nuke safety etc nt

[nc4bo]

2. Words escape me.

The entire thing reads like some bizarre horror movie script from the 40's, 50's, 60's - this is 2011.

Boy I just don't know what is wrong with us.

:cry:

[KittyWampus]

3. you'd think if they were basically on a suicide mission, they'd be treated the banquets daily.

[nc4bo]

5. FFS, they have robots in there taking readings and video of plant conditions yet

no one can manage to send in robots to bring in proper supplies.........or FOOD and WATER?!!

It's ridiculous and sad.

[ChibaResident]

6. The question is

who would be brave enough to drive into the forbidden zone in order to provide the banquet?

That's why I don't understand why the Japanese or U.S. military isn't providing support in the form of MRE's or other foodstuffs for those guys!?

IS there anyone WE can contact, or put pressure on, in order to help!!!!????

[Recursion]

11. If you're in a contaminated area you want to be putting things in your body as rarely as possible

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. That is indeed the reason for what they are eating:

"For breakfast we eat emergency high-energy biscuits. Dinner is quick-boiled rice and canned food," Mr Yokota said, adding: "I don't think the workers are getting enough nutrition from the food they are receiving."

The workers are restricted to packaged food because of radiation contamination fears, Reuters reported. They stuff the food into their mouths once they open the packets to avoid contact with radiation.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/crying-is-useless-fukushima-50-put-lives-on-the-line-and-get-dry-biscuits-rice-and-one-blanket-20110330-1cfmo.html#ixzz1JzF9bhcI

[madokie]

7. If and or when we have a nuclear accident like this

my bet is they will be rounding up a lot of able bodied homeless people and whisk them off to never be seen again. Hell I may be on to something there.
:-)

[ChibaResident]

8. They are already doing that in Fukushima. nt