Heroes of Fukushima

Sorry I meant, now what would Homero Simpson say, not No...in my humble opinion this is a FARCE! Ridiculous to call these guys heroes, we are the heroes still trying to live, work etc..here in Japan not knowing how much radiation is in our food, water etc..IMNSHO.

I want Japan to send some crazy award to Spain, say when in next door nuclear reactor loving FRANCE, has some kind of meltdown etc..and some French dudes just doing their jobs and somebody out here says well look, so much radiation from France fell over on Spain, but they are still happy, chasing bulls, drinking Rioja wine night and day, so lets give them an award?? No what would Homero Simpson say about Spain calling these Japanese fire fighters heroes??

And don't forget the heroes who gave their lives to save others during the tsunami.

I have just one word for all of the heroes THANKYOU

Why are they giving away awards when the reactors are still not under control?

Only five guys? Isn't it a miracle that five of them could bring the nuclear plant under control?

Where are the others who did the actual work? I hope they still alive.

I agree with 555 (gogogo) Spain, must be smoking something real good to even have given their off the wall award to these so called heroes. No idea why they are being called heroes, since IT IS THEIR JOB! If their is a fire, and we start calling every fire fighter a hero?? In my opinion the REAL HEROES are the old folk still working hard in the fields in and around FUKUSHIMA, still trying to make a living while stupid, greedy, EVIL TEPCO just gets richer, fatter and hoping we will all die off and forget about the radiation etc..IMNSHO.

Spain doesn't understand the issues and shouldn't chime in

zichi - yes, that's a better report. See also: http://www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english/files/en20110315-1.pdf

@zichi - according to Nikkei - Tokyo Electric Power Co., which runs the plant, said separately 11 people -- workers at the site and members of the Self-Defense Forces -- sustained injuries. The Defense Ministry said one SDF member suffered broken bones.

Another source: Eleven people were reported injured in the blast. TEPCO and NISA announced that four TEPCO employees, three subcontractor employees, and four Self-Defence-Force soldiers were injured. Six military personnel from the Ground Self Defense Force's Central Nuclear Biological Chemical Weapon Defense Unit, led by Colonel Shinji Iwakuma, had just arrived outside the reactor to spray it with water and were exiting their vehicles when the explosion occurred. Iwakuma later said that TEPCO had not informed them that there was a danger of a hydrogen explosion in the reactor, adding, "Tokyo Electric was desperate to stabilize (the plant), so I am not angry at them. If there is a possibility of an explosion, I would be reluctant to send my men there.

Must have been the Colonel, not the Sergeant who withdrew them.

I dont know, 4 of these 5 all look pretty old, are these guys standing in taking credit for OTHERS.............

@zichi - take care - no SDF members were killed at Fukushima; 6 were injured due to proximity to an explosion, but you are correct that the sergeant withdrew his force due to lack of information from TEPCO.

Two TEPCO employees were drowned in the turbine plant by the tsunami when they went back to check the plant after the earthquake. One man was trapped in the console of a crane during the earthquake, and a clean up worker suffered from a heart attack. Another man reportedly died suddenly in October. Although the company is not revealing the cause of death, they say it was not related to radiation. Heat exhaustion is suggested as a probably cause.

A few representatives of the heroes and heroines of Fukushima.

Of course the Fukushima 50 is largely a media invention. 50 sure did stay for a few hours before the numbers jumped to 180.

The Plant is "under control"? That's nice news if it were true, but it's not. From an article today in "Business Insider": "Because Japan's official agencies are refusing to test, citizens are buying up handheld Geiger counters in record numbers — shocked by what they're finding.

"Strontium, cesium, and plutonium at levels 20 times greater than government limits are being found at schools, ballparks, and apartment buildings."

The New York Times spoke with Kiyoshi Toda, a medical doctor who specializes in teaching radiation science at Nagasaki University who says: “Radioactive substances are entering people’s bodies from the air, from the food. It’s everywhere. But the government doesn’t even try to inform the public how much radiation they’re exposed to.”

alladin

“There is still a lot of radiation that is being leaked into the ground through cracks that is being kept a secret from everyone”

“a secret from everyone”

A secret from everyone but you and now all JT reads.

I do accept that there are others that deserve recognition for the work and risks they took. But with “logic” like yours I’m not going to get too worried about anything you say I should be worried about.

Too bad the government of another country gave them such an award while the J government and TEPCO try to hide the workers' identity

Agreed, although none of the guys in the photo above are TEPCO employees. I would like to see those who stayed and sacrificed what remains to be seen to get things under control to get their day in the spotlight and quite honestly the gratitude of the world bestowed on them because they truly deserve it.

right now I don't think they deserve any gifts, medals or badges. Just being there isn't enough.

They didn't just sit around watching, they worked to bring the plant under control, like the article says. Maybe that doesn't qualify for a NetNinja medal, but I think it deserves recognition, and so do other people apparently.

@NetNinja, i don't know what you are trying to say. Maybe you should volunteer to go there yourself and tell us the truth you are looking for.

Members of a crew that worked to bring the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant under control bow after collecting their Concord Prince of Asturias prize in Oviedo, Spain, on Friday.

How can they say that the nuclear plant is under control when there is still a lot of radiation being spread all over the place! There is still a lot of radiation that is being leaked into the ground through cracks that is being kept a secret from everyone. There are still a lot of workers thats getting sick over a daily contamination of nuclear waste thats all over the place near the power plant. These members sit in an office far away from contamination and they are being rewarded for other peoples efforts!! Is this a joke or what!! It`s a total disgrace to many people in Japan and around the world!!

Most of those Fukushima 50 were TEPCO employees, including Mr. Yoshida, the plant manager. The executives and employees are all wearing the same company uniform. It's hard to see who are heroes and who are criminals.

Isn't the the bulk of the dangerous work being done by day laborers getting about 10,000 yen a day, no benefits and suits held together by masking tape?

They won't be invited to any royal ceremonies soon.

"The soldiers fight, and the kings are heroes."

Well, you see, Hide. Spain was able to draw out their identities. Now if we could just offer them enough money to spill the beans on all the faults and poor crisis management. If they tell us the truth, THEN they'd be HEROES.

It takes great courage to tell the truth in JAPAN......right now I don't think they deserve any gifts, medals or badges. Just being there isn't enough.

Tell us the truth, the misdealing. I'll pin that medal on your uniform myself.

Isn't the the bulk of the dangerous work being done by day laborers getting about 10,000 yen a day, no benefits and suits held together by masking tape?

They won't be invited to any royal ceremonies soon.

Too bad the government of another country gave them such an award while the J government and TEPCO try to hide the workers' identity