Japan rocked with 8.9 earthquake.

[pomtzu]

And they are doing water drops by helicopter???? To me, that seems like fighting a forest fire with a garden hose. How the heck is that going to cover any exposed rods???

And those poor workers that have stayed behind to "try" to fight this monster. For them, it's pretty much a death sentence. I heard that the Japanese government was looking for older workers to volunteer to stay, since they probably would die from old age rather than the effects of the radiation, which can take many years to show up. It was reported that one man that stayed was only 6 months from retirement. And in interviews with their family members, they just accept it and move on. I can't imagine, but that's just how they live their lives - so much different than ours, for sure.

What makes me angry, is that the Japanese government downplayed the whole situation from day one, and felt that they could keep things under control. Yes - they are a proud people - but this was just reckless - simply lies to try to hide the truth from the world, and not look vulnerable, as they truly are. If they had brought in the "big guns" and fought fire with fire from the start, then they probably wouldn't have such a hideous, dangerous monster on their hands right now.

I pray for ALL of Japan, not just the stricken areas. Their way of life, and their faith in their leaders has been compromised. How can they believe anything that they are told now???

[Karen]

They cannot get close enough to cover the rods with water any other way, the radiation is too high. And even this seems to be a hit-or-miss situation. Remember, Pom, the information we have been getting is mostly from the company that runs the power plant, not the Japanese government. This is a company that has lied to the world in the past, sadly. They are also trying to use water cannons from ground level. I hope somehow they can get things under control without too much more damage and sacrifice.

[pomtzu]

They cannot get close enough to cover the rods with water any other way, the radiation is too high. And even this seems to be a hit-or-miss situation. Remember, Pom, the information we have been getting is mostly from the company that runs the power plant, not the Japanese government. This is a company that has lied to the world in the past, sadly. I hope somehow they can get things under control without too much more damage and sacrifice.

And in press conferences, Japanese leaders were echoing what power plant big wigs were saying. So IMO - they are even more guilty.

[Kirsten]

And those poor workers that have stayed behind to "try" to fight this monster. For them, it's pretty much a death sentence. I heard that the Japanese government was looking for older workers to volunteer to stay, since they probably would die from old age rather than the effects of the radiation, which can take many years to show up. It was reported that one man that stayed was only 6 months from retirement. And in interviews with their family members, they just accept it and move on. I can't imagine, but that's just how they live their lives - so much different than ours, for sure.

The other day, I heard on tv that 1986 in Chernobyl, the Russians sent an entire army to stop the fire, and they all died. I saw a discussion on tv whether something like that would be possible in Germany, in case of a nuclear disaster. Our mentality is obviously different, more individual, and it would probably be hard to find someone who'd be willing to sacrifice his own life.

[pomtzu]

The other day, I heard on tv that 1986 in Chernobyl, the Russians sent an entire army to stop the fire, and they all died. I saw a discussion on tv whether something like that would be possible in Germany, in case of a nuclear disaster. Our mentality is obviously different, more individual, and it would probably be hard to find someone who'd be willing to sacrifice his own life.

Yes - I heard that most were dead in about 3 months. Chernobly had no containment vessels, so the radiation that was released in the explosion and fire, was mega times what it is in Japan, where they are having leaks in the containment vessels, but at a much slower and lower rate. I also heard that the biggest danger is from the spent fuel rods that are stored in these reactor buildings, and they are not in any kind of containment. That however, doesn't diminish the seriousness of the whole mess. That area is now useless and will be for hundreds of years, slow/low leaks or not.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

The thing about Chernobyl they only had one reactor messing up, Japan has four.