Because I happen to enjoy a kettle of fish - let's open one up. Okay... I'm opening up two kettles of fish.
Apparently Japanese officials are looking to collect and freeze blood stem cells from the engineers and water canon operators who have been working to clean-up and fix the Dai-ichi (Big One) nuclear reactors in Fukushima-ken following the near nuclear meltdown caused by the March 11, 2011 Sendai 9.0 Magnitude earthquake and subsequent 10 metres high tsunami.
Why? Just in case these workers have been exposed to high levels of radiation - a distinct possibility. Exposure to the high levels of radiation can cause serious illnesses and death - from bone marrow cancer... but the contingency plan notes that if someone is treated very quickly after exposure and gets stem cell transplants, people can recover.
How doe you get stem cells? In this case, the nuclear workers take a particular drug for a few days straight that makes the bone marrow release stem cells into the bloodstream. The patient is hooked up to a machine that filters their blood and extracts the stem cells.
More than 50 hospitals across Europe have agreed to help Japan if needed.
Of course, while the stem cell transplant would indeed help resolve any bone marrow problems due to radiation, there is still the problem of what the radiation is doing to other soft tissue organs, like the lungs or skin.
While some in the medical field feel this may resolve only one problem out of many, it is still a waste of time. Really? What should they do... nothing and wait until people get sick, diagnose what the problems are and then try and figure out how to cure them while lamenting the fact that you can't do anything?!
It's called trying.
And, just like how the whole country is reeling with the tsunami and earthquake victims still homeless or hungry - you have to do something.
Japan is trying to ensure there is still a country left for the earthquake and tsunami survivors to live in by ensuring that the country doesn't explode in a nuclear conflagration. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise - radiating a large chunk of Japan was a very real (almost happened) possibility that is now under more control.
Make sure no one else dies. And, if that means people have to suffer a little bit longer, so be it. But... maybe the people not affected could do more than give money or cloths or tents or blankets.
While Japan's precautions regarding its Dai-ichi facility are well known as not having been good enough in the past, right now people in charge of the workers are trying to have a cure for those who may or may not get ill. Granted it's just one possible cure for one possible problem... but you have to start somewhere.
For the rest of Japan... don't worry. Be strong. Be brave. Be yourselves. I always found the Japanese to be extremely kind and warm and generous. Open up your homes to families that need the help. No one needs to be homeless right now. No one.
You have to do something. You have to try.
Somewhere on an ivory pedestal,
Andrew Joseph
PS: I know it's easier said than done - but many small deeds can lead bigger and better results.
Apparently Japanese officials are looking to collect and freeze blood stem cells from the engineers and water canon operators who have been working to clean-up and fix the Dai-ichi (Big One) nuclear reactors in Fukushima-ken following the near nuclear meltdown caused by the March 11, 2011 Sendai 9.0 Magnitude earthquake and subsequent 10 metres high tsunami.
Why? Just in case these workers have been exposed to high levels of radiation - a distinct possibility. Exposure to the high levels of radiation can cause serious illnesses and death - from bone marrow cancer... but the contingency plan notes that if someone is treated very quickly after exposure and gets stem cell transplants, people can recover.
How doe you get stem cells? In this case, the nuclear workers take a particular drug for a few days straight that makes the bone marrow release stem cells into the bloodstream. The patient is hooked up to a machine that filters their blood and extracts the stem cells.
More than 50 hospitals across Europe have agreed to help Japan if needed.
Of course, while the stem cell transplant would indeed help resolve any bone marrow problems due to radiation, there is still the problem of what the radiation is doing to other soft tissue organs, like the lungs or skin.
While some in the medical field feel this may resolve only one problem out of many, it is still a waste of time. Really? What should they do... nothing and wait until people get sick, diagnose what the problems are and then try and figure out how to cure them while lamenting the fact that you can't do anything?!
It's called trying.
And, just like how the whole country is reeling with the tsunami and earthquake victims still homeless or hungry - you have to do something.
Japan is trying to ensure there is still a country left for the earthquake and tsunami survivors to live in by ensuring that the country doesn't explode in a nuclear conflagration. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise - radiating a large chunk of Japan was a very real (almost happened) possibility that is now under more control.
Make sure no one else dies. And, if that means people have to suffer a little bit longer, so be it. But... maybe the people not affected could do more than give money or cloths or tents or blankets.
While Japan's precautions regarding its Dai-ichi facility are well known as not having been good enough in the past, right now people in charge of the workers are trying to have a cure for those who may or may not get ill. Granted it's just one possible cure for one possible problem... but you have to start somewhere.
For the rest of Japan... don't worry. Be strong. Be brave. Be yourselves. I always found the Japanese to be extremely kind and warm and generous. Open up your homes to families that need the help. No one needs to be homeless right now. No one.
You have to do something. You have to try.
Somewhere on an ivory pedestal,
Andrew Joseph
PS: I know it's easier said than done - but many small deeds can lead bigger and better results.
