NZ, UK, US, Swiss, German and Australian rescue teams in Japan all return home

There were several comments on the disaster chat room (japanese) on day one and two from people living in Tokyo. These comments involved the likes of "We don't need foreigners to help" . I contacted my family in the Omachi-shi area of Nagano-ken and they have said that no warnings have been given to them regarding radiation. They had a 6.1 aftershock in their area but nothing happened RE: Damage to their houses / apartments. It's quiet a situation for me as I live in the UK now and can not fly back to my family to see them. Oh, if any translation needs doing I will be around to help from now on when I can.

if their departure is due to the radiations, could we really blame them,
wouldn't you do they same...

reply to post by colin42


No matter what the suituation there in Japan, they need AID and plenty of it....most of all they need clean fresh bottled water and air tight sealed food including sealed non-perishables. To send no AID is just simply appauling and I'm ashamed of our Govts at least not doing that much.

The Japanese are going to remember this for all time.

reply to post by mick1423


Yes but why can't we at least get ships of bottled drinking water and food in?

dont think they even let some teams in!
www.newsnetscotland.co... m/scottish-news/1834-british-red-tape-forces-scottish-rescue-team-home-from-japan.html

Originally posted by mick1423
if their departure is due to the radiations, could we really blame them,
wouldn't you do they same...

All the lies is what's bothering me about this whole thing, not the fact that they're leaving, although they definitely are needed, I would think.

reply to post by Iamonlyhuman


These are specialist rescue teams for searching collapsed buildings after an earthquake - despite the magnitude, earthquake damage wasn't that severe and their services are no longer required (especially given that Japan naturally has plenty of good teams themselves). Better resources are spent on providing aid to those afflicted by the tsunami.

So, out go the earthquake rescue teams, in come the likes of the Red Cross etc

reply to post by Iamonlyhuman


I think after 10 days as a search and rescue then they go in to recovery mode.

There is still DNA testing of the deceased however with the recovery of so many bodies I'm assuming they'll have to bury or cremate them pretty darn fast.

If our teams are pulled out, surely some of our countries can do all the DNA testing in their own countries - and one would hope the Japanese had taken sufficent samples from the deceased for the testing so the families could have some closure.

Does anyone know of any real and genuine organisation that is seeking for international human volunteers to bring relief to those in affected zones, regardless of radiation or not, baring all official red tape? I could not find any and probably miss them out.

Those still in the affected zones are our fellow humans. They had not only contributed to the japanese economy, but to our world as well in their small seemingly insignificant way. But each inch forward is an inch towards progress and evolution of our race.

And we humanity CANNOT conscionably let them die like without relief or a chance. One day our advances in science may help end or at least minimise radiation sickness, if not for them, it will be for the children. After this stint if possible, I will just migrate into a euthanesia condoned country to spare costs if that's the main worry of rulers. Bodies are only shells anyway.

Please help me find such sites. Thanks in advance.

Originally posted by bluemirage5
reply to post by colin42

 

No matter what the suituation there in Japan, they need AID and plenty of it....most of all they need clean fresh bottled water and air tight sealed food including sealed non-perishables. To send no AID is just simply appauling and I'm ashamed of our Govts at least not doing that much.

The Japanese are going to remember this for all time.

Remember this was one report from one person but still they have boots on the ground.

I would not think for one moment the rescue teams sent wanted to leave they were ordered, the risk must have been seen as too high.

It may be seen to some as a harsh point of view but the Arab nations have killed each other forever and still hold grudges over the crusades. The demise of Japan will have far reaching repercussions yet we have a news blackout.

Japan needs our help but all I can see so far is hesitation. A risk assessment has been made only we the public can insist we put people before risk but there seems to be no profit in it. We are yet again more concentrated on sacrificing our young and talented in a unwinnable conflict than to help the helpless.

The British team went out there with two weeks of provisions - they were pulled back very quickly when I think they had intended to stay out there for at least two weeks

Lets at least hope they left there remaining provisions with the Japanese people.....

Anyone who thinks an SAR team would pull out when they thought they could still find and save lives, regardless of risk to their own lives, has no understanding of SAR teams - and frankly are quite insulting in their insinuations.

They are pulling out only because their specific services are no longer required. And they do have jobs to go back to, you know - they have a responsibly to their employers as well.

reply to post by Essan


Not the point. I have nothing but praise for the teams who put their lives at risk to save others.

They were pulled out whether they thought the job was done or not and pulled out early to boot.

I can see why these rescue teams are pulling out so hastily, and is not because all of the would be survivors have now perished. There is a silent killer lurking about, and it is indiscriminate to age, class, gender, nationality, and religious convictions. It is invisible, tasteless, and undetectable to the a human's core senses. To what extent this silent murderer is assaulting the Japanese homeland remains to be seen?

However, with the incidents at the Fukushimi Dai-ichi plant, it seems the genie is out of the bottle? When significant US military assets have been repositioned or dependents are packing up altogether, and along with foreign government posts, it ought to be signature for how serious the situation is for Japan.

U.S. ships in Japan reposition as 17 crew members exposed to radiation

The U.S. 7th Fleet operating in Japanese waters has temporarily repositioned its ships and aircraft away from the quake-damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant after detecting low-level contamination in the air and on its aircraft operating in the area, the Navy said Monday.

17 military personnel were found exposed to radiation.

The U.S. evacuates Americans from Japan with heightened risk of radioactive contamination

Senior State Department official Patrick Kennedy said chartered planes will be brought in to help private American citizens wishing to leave. People face less risk in southern Japan, but changing weather and wind conditions could raise radiation levels elsewhere in the coming days, he said.

Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said it will coordinate departures for eligible Defense Department dependents.

The decision to begin evacuations mirrors moves by countries such as Australia and Germany, who also advised their citizens to consider leaving Tokyo and other earthquake-affected areas. Tokyo, which is about 170 miles from the stricken nuclear complex, has reported slightly elevated radiation levels, though Japanese officials have said the increase was too small to threaten the 39 million people in and around the capital.

They have been up the creek without a paddle before, and I have the utmost faith in the Japanese people.

They will overcome adversity and be stronger than ever. There is so much to be done, and there is debris everywhere. Japan could use all the help it can get from the international community. I'm am fairly certain that fear of the silent murderer mentioned above has spurned this abrupt departure of international rescue teams. They would like to paint another picture as to why, but we all know the truth.

It is NOT enough that we know the real reason why the rescue teams are pulling out.

One thing I know about the japanese people are that they are very polite and consider other peoples feeling before expressing anything forward and blunt, unlike the western world, and thus many issues are left unsaid and unspoken.

BUT this is NOT the time to be polite and considerate!

People are starving and dying needlessly! If there is any need for consideration, it is those in the affected zones. By not talking about it, it only means abandoning them! C'mon, they are fellow japs too as well as our brothers and sisters by divine creation!

There is NO need to leave anyone behind. We have courageous and intelligent people at all levels and this issue MUST be discussed and debated quickly before more dies. The answer and solutions are right before them. Let not pride get in the way. Human lives are precious!

Today with our current knowledge of sciences, radiation sickness is incurable and there may be prolong suffering before death. But we are basing such assumptions that we mankind will not progress, and that's a lie! TOMORROW we may just find a cure. Even if we do not , we MUST try and never to ABANDON anyone!!!!!

Originally posted by Flyzoid
I'm assuming that they have realized they are not going to find anyone alive. They won't be able to rescue any deceased. It's a sad way to go. But the bitter truth. I am thinking of all those lost souls in these tough times. I may even pray for them. It won't hurt none I guess.

They just ran a story on CNN in the last couple days of an Elderly women and her 16 year old Grandson being pulled alive from some rubble. Just in the last couple days. Chances of survival at this point is pretty slim, but not out of the question if they just found more people alive.

Sorry but I am not buying this one bit. In my opinion it does seem odd.