It's a selfless thing, staying behind in the face of near-certain radiation exposure and perhaps a short, cancerous future. How they do it, I don't know; but I've deepest admiration and respect for these men (and women?).
"You are the only ones who can resolve a crisis. Retreat is unthinkable," Japanese Prime Minister Naota Kan told them, the Financial Times reported.
They are known as the Fukushima 50, the workers who stayed behind at the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in order to prevent a meltdown in Japan.
Between 50 and 70 plant engineers -- who have not been identified and are being hailed as heroes -- continue to work around the clock in dangerous conditions, as hundreds of thousands have evacuated the area, fearing a meltdown.
Two of the workers are missing after an explosion and fire at the Unit 4 reactor, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Workers have since resumed operations, Reuters reports.
"The longer they stay, the more dangerous it becomes for them," Margaret Harding of the American Nuclear Society told CBS News.
One thing for sure; they aren't Wisconsin Democrats. Or any sort of
Americans.Godspeed, fellow humans.
