The earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan from March 2011 was obviously one the major news events of the year internationally. Clearly, the loss of life that occurred was a heartbreaking and horrific tragedy, as well all realize. Those images of the waves destroying buildings and wiping out communities are ones that many of us won’t forget, even if far across the world from where it actually occurred.
Soon after, as we recall, there was grave concern over the state of the nuclear reactors. The Fukushima nuclear plant was in the news daily, as there were constant reports of a potential meltdown. Comparisons to the 1979 Three Mile Island disaster in the U.S soon shifted to comparisons to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine – which was much worse. Thankfully, things didn’t actually progress to the point of the latter disaster, which rendered certain surrounding Ukraine uninhabitable to humans even through today.
In light of this, it really struck me how there were people who were actually working at the Japanese facilities during this crisis. Now, I do admire these people for their commitment and what I view as bravery. Having said that, my thinking at the time is that there was no way I would even think of taking on a job like that under any circumstances. The risk of radiation exposure, and the resulting health problems, would be too great. My kids need to have me around for a long time! If that sounds selfish, so be it I guess! But I suspect many people might see it that way.
Anyway, many months after the situation in Japan was in the world’s spotlight, there were extreme levels of radiation detected again at the plant. It was noted in early August that there was an area near two of the reactors that measured doses of radiation that were fatal to humans. Pretty intense, huh? Fatal. Yikes!
All this brings me back to conversations I had with a friend at the time of the original crisis. I posed the question to him, “how much would you have to be paid to go over there and work at Fukushima?”
He said he wouldn’t do it for any amount of money. “10 million dollars?” I asked. His response: “No.”
I would have to agree with him. There is no amount of money I would take to work in one of those jobs, considering the risks I perceive. No matter what money problems I had, I wouldn’t do it. Even if being there for 1 year meant that I could retire immediately and have guaranteed money to leave to my heirs. No way. They say workers wear protective antiradiation clothing, but is that foolproof?
Now, I’m guessing some people might do it out of social responsibility, honor, or some other altruistic reason. That’s commendable, and it’s good that somebody has the capacity to do that. Money isn’t everything, after all.
Which leads me to my thought that since money isn’t everything, I wouldn’t work in that situation no matter what I was paid. Based on my perceptions of the risks, anyway.
My Question for You:
Let’s say you could name your price. How much would it take for you to be right there on the front lines in the most dangerous area, wearing the antiradiation clothing, working in Japan at the Fukushima facility? In light of the radiation scares, of course.
Well, I wouldn’t do it, no matter the price. The mindset of the Japanese people in this respect is fascinating. The concept of duty (“giri”, I think) to the group and shared responsibility takes precedence over family.
101C – I agree on all counts. While I wouldn’t do it, it’s very interesting how mindsets can be different globally.
The only way I would work there is if I were dying anyway or I was over 95 years old. As far as I know there is no safe way of working there.
krantcents – well said!
You couldn’t pay me enough. There are some things worth more than money. I would have to know that I only had a few months to live anyway to even consider it, but I think I might prefer spending time with family in that case.
cashflowmantra – I think I’d be having the same view, focusing on family instead.
I lived in Japan for about six months total, and their culture is very different from ours. It is not the individual, it is all about the group and community; it was not surprising to me that those people sacrificed their health and lives to do that, but I can understand that many others around the world were surprised by it because they didn’t know the culture.
Personally I would not do it for any amount of money. I suppose I might if it affected my family, but that would be a huge sacrifice.
Amanda – I find that really interesting, how different cultures can cultivate such disparate midsets on such matters. Really, there’s a lot to respect there, though I wouldn’t do it.
There’s no amount of money for that. They’d have to threaten my family for me to do it. I think the workers who went in were older workers and they were assumed to be taking on the ultimate sacrifice to help their people. Sort of like a soldier who dies for his/her country. They were real heroes. Now that more work needs to be done I don’t know how they can get workers to go in there. With Japan depending so much on nuclear power it is of huge importantce.
Maggie – those people are heroes, I agree. That’s something that I hope doesn’t get lost in the discussion of how most of us would pretty much never take on a job like that. Kudos to those that took on that job, even though I’m totally in the camp of those who wouldn’t ever want to have a job like that!
No way jose, no money would convince me. Though I have to bow in respect to the self sacrifice that these workers are willing to take for the common good of all the population, something to admire.
Beating The Index Agree, I too wouldn’t do that but wow there’s respect for those who would.
I personally wouldn’t work there for any amount of money. But I think the Japanese culture is different than here. I deeply admire their sacrifice but it didn’t surprise me. For example, even in India there would have been people working in such a situation due to (1) They don’t fully understand the implication (2) They feel as a community they should clear it up.
Suba – I do have to say, I admire the self-sacrifice that many people have. There probably aren’t many of us here who would do that. Interesting point, by the way, about how folks in some countries might not fully understand the implication.
As a couple of others have said, the culture is so different from ours. But I also think that it being their own country, and their people, has a huge affect on their decision making. You couldn’t pay me enough to go over there, but if this were in my area, and I had the choice of trying to fix it to protect my family, or die anyways, I’d be over there for free.
There’s so much to the whole situation. Regardless of all of the little intricacies, I have a huge heart for all of the people affected and have prayed for them. Great article with awesome introspective questions!
Thanks,
Timothy
Timothy – glad you liked the post! I know what you mean, it’s a tough deal what happened there, to say the very least. I too wish them all the best.
What is fascinating is the ultimate sacrifice by the older generation by volunteering to do this job.
As you say, money isn’t everything.
Moneycone – yes, money sure isn’t everything. That’s why I wouldn’t do that job for any amount of money!
Financial – well, $1 billion is quite a sum. I suppose that could totally set one’s heirs financially for life. Of course, money isn’t everything!