Bob CollinsBefore reading on, why not relax for a moment by listening to this peaceful scene.
Now then: We’ve heard from the possibly-doomed workers at the nuclear plants in Japan. CBS New Scientist Magazine has printed an e-mail, distributed by the Tokyo Electric Company at the site of the still-unfolding nuclear disaster.
“It’s probably a given that we employees are to handle the situation even if the consequences may be dire for us. So we are doing what we can as best as we can. We will be carrying a cross on our back for the rest of our lives… We are very sorry for the inconvenience we are causing because of the scheduled blackouts… We employees at TEPCO have not been able to make time to take care of our own health let alone check on our own families’ safety. “
The workers haven’t even been given — or haven’t sought, it’s not clear which — the opportunity to assess their own family situation. Another employee writes:
“I myself have been on duty at contingency planning headquarters since the earthquake hit. My own parents are missing. I do not know where they are.”
A lot of the media has moved on from Japan coverage and focused instead on Libya. But the worker has a lot to remind us about…
“I know that [TEPCO] is being heavily bashed for this accident, but we are not running away. We are the ones putting our lives on the line, so please don’t criticise us. We are really scared for our own lives doing this. Please don’t forget that.”
By the way, that sound you heard in the clip at the beginning of this clip is what it sounds like these days at the site of the world’s worst nuclear power plant disaster — Chernobyl. More here.
