The article entitled "Japan's 'sacrificial' elderly nuclear cleanup squad", by GlobalPost, PopSci, Guardian, posted on June 3, 2011, states opinions of a group of retirees who want to replace younger workers that are subjected in cleaning up the toxic Fukushima nuclear plant. The question that came up was if Japan’s government should accept the proposal or not. As mentioned, the process of cleaning will take long time and is very dangerous because the workers are being exposed to excessive amount of radiation. A group of retired (engineers and some professionals) argued that it doesn't make any sense to expose young people who still have a lot of accomplishments such as caring their families and being the future the country. Arguments like "they won't develop cancer in time to die from it" and "biological logic" were pointed out by the elderly as the main motivation of the offer, however, Japan's government still refusing the offer.
First of all, I think this is a very delicate issue that might be dealt with caution. Because it involves lives, serious risks of health even death, I agree with the first position that Japan's government took declining the offer. Every people has the right to live; it is immoral to sacrifice or let them to self sacrifice as it is clear that cleaning the plant will lead to excessive exposure of radiation and future illness even death. Furthermore, is unethical to use this specific group of people (elderly), because can lead to misunderstanding, like elderly are not important for the Japan's society, thus, they can vanish. Usual we say that elderly are a live and trustful library that we can rely on and learn from them.
In other hand, the elderly allegation is reasonable to be pondered. Looking at their explanations - the time that take to develop cancer, I think this can be confronted with the average of Japans’ life expectancy and if there is no significant differences, in my opinion is OK for Japan's government to accept the request. Also, once they are volunteers and no one is forcing them to do the task, I guess that they are altruistic and thinking about the future generation of the Japan's society. Once again this is a hot point, should not be decided arbitrary and pros and cons must be carefully analyzed before making improper decisions.
I think Japan is a lucky country by having brave and altruistic people, who sacrifices their lives to save their country and the new generation. I see this is a very intricate issue that I can't stand with any side, but I convinced by both of them.
ReplyDeleteI agree you there that everyone has the right to live their life, and about the misunderstanding, i think people would understand that those old people are volunteer themselves to do it,no one is asking them or force them to do it, but for the young people, they have to do it.
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