Tsunami survivors come home

Residents return to tsunami ravaged areas of Japan to salvage belongings as many fear their communities will become ghost towns. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• REUTERS
• JAPAN
• TSUNAMI SURVIVORS (O)

[kabochabo]

It's hay fever season in Japan.

That's why many are wearing masks, not because of radiation.

[dragonamt]

@123backinyerface That is likely the case, but again, it is a cultural thing, it doesn't have to 'actually work'. It is also to protect other's from their germs when the wearer is sick. I agree personally that it is largely a placebo effect, but placebos can be quite effective. Regardless it will still lessen or at least slow the spread of disease in the case the wearer is sick and that means a lot in a densely populated country like Japan.

[123backinyerface]

@dragonamt These mask will not protect anyone from anything, even the common cold, they are used in medical practice not to protect the doctor, but the patient from the germs the doctor might cough, sneeze or breathe directly onto the patient. They will not even protect the lungs in any way, when you inhale the main bulk of air to the nose and mouth, comes from the creases caused by the mask itself, not through the fabric of the mask. They are in effect, a false sense of protection.

[dragonamt]

@123backinyerface It isn't for radiation, people wear masks on a daily basis in Japan. It is part of their culture and to some degree makes sense considering how densely populated Japan is. With the destruction, toxins released from buildings have also increased and this will provide some protection. Additionally, this will provide some very limited protection from alpha radiation (although there isn't much alpha radiation from this meltdown and it isn't the type to be worried about anyway)

[123backinyerface]

I think its terrible that these people are being told a surgical mask is going to stop anything radioactive.

[cyberteque]

This is just horrible.

I can only liken it to the bushfires that wiped out Kinglake.

How could you build there again?

I hope the survivors are alright and I hope that it is not a vain hope.

To all my Japanese YouTube friends and those I subscribe to,

I am thinking of you.

Be well

Be safe.

[marshal1973]

Wow, 20,000 now. Thats just awful.

RIP. Thats a large toxic mess.

[MaCs1313]

@Marco81MX most likely next to the pile

[mohahalima]

:(

[Marco81MX]

It must be hard returning to a pile of rubble. A radioactive pile of rubble in some cases.

I hope they all find a better, safer place to live in.