In a spirit reminiscent of the kamikazes of WWII, more than 200 elderly Japanese have volunteered to clean up the Fukushima power station. They claim they are just being practical. Yasuteru Yamada, a retired engineer, explains it this way,"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."
The government, however, is hesitant to let the volunteers into the radioactive power station. Yamada and the others have been lobbying for permission to help with 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."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13598607
Should the government of Japan welcome and encourage their heroic offer?
And why exactly is this in a religion forum?
Q- there is such a thing as Education and Science- Philosophy category, which deals with nothing of religion.
Just a thought.
As for the OP- if people want to help clean up and have the experience to do so, then it would make sense to let them.
Thanks, Casgil. Good point.
As for the clean up, the experiencce of the volunteers is a minor consideration.
Given the risk I can see it being a job for volunteers. Japan is one of those countries where you would get so many volunteers you would need some scheme to decide which ones to choose.
Interesting altruistic behavior from a country in which almost 85% of the population has no personal religions.
But when people do not have a religious belief, they are more likely to take responsibility for their own actions, and have a greater understanding of the problems mankind is creating on this planet. The religious are more likely to wait for their maker to step in to sort it all out for them.
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