Feeling misanthropic, are you?

(Cross-posted at TPM-aholics)

Have a read:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13598607


A retired Japanese nuclear plant engineer is stepping forward, at age 72, contacting his retired colleagues and volunteering to go into the severely damaged Fukishima plant to see what stabilization efforts can be made.

The Skilled Veterans Corps, as they call themselves, is made up of retired engineers and other professionals, all over the age of 60.

They say they should be facing the dangers of radiation, not the young.

It was while watching the television news that Yasuteru Yamada decided it was time for his generation to stand up.

No longer could he be just an observer of the struggle to stabilise the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The retired engineer is reporting back for duty at the age of 72, and he is organising a team of pensioners to go with him.

(Yes, they're British spellings - it's the Beeb, guys!)

More:

Volunteering to take the place of younger workers at the power station is not brave, Mr Yamada says, but logical.

"I am 72 and on average I probably have 13 to 15 years left to live," he says.

"Even if I were exposed to radiation, cancer could take 20 or 30 years or longer to develop. Therefore us older ones have less chance of getting cancer."

Mr Yamada is lobbying the government hard for his volunteers to be allowed into the power station.

This is heroism. This is recognition of a duty to his society and willingness to perform that duty under dangerous conditions.

I'll leave you with the money quote, nothing I can say will add to it:

The question is whether you step forward, or you stay behind and watch.