Rainy Day Friends and The Atomic Samurai

I have been seriously stressed this week. With a number of friends going through personal crisis, others dealing with health issues and then my aging dog to take care of, there were times I wished I coped better.

Then I looked at Japan again - the small miracles that have occurred and solidarity that has been expressed by the global community. If they can cope with this massive disaster and nuclear uncertainty, then I can cope with my small world of disorder...


So here's an update on Japan.  


In the three weeks since the 9.0 earthquake and massive tsunami hit Japan, the life and death struggles these polite, industrious people still face have largely been marginalized by the news media.

In addition to leaving 9,800 dead and 17,500 missing, March 11's massive earthquake and tsunami has left numerous stray and stranded animals throughout the disaster zone. 

A baby porpoise was rescued recently and hailed as a miracle amidst so much devastation. 

Yet the repercussions continue, as workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant believe they are going to die trying to save their country and other parts of the world from this insidious threat.

The technicians, soldiers and firemen have been repeatedly exposed to dangerously high radioactive levels.


"My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary to save the nation," said a mother of one of the men. "He told me they have accepted they will all probably die from radiation sickness in the short term or cancer in the long-term."

The group of about 300 workers have been battling to cool dangerously overheating reactors by working in shifts of 50 after the plant's cooling system was knocked out during the March 11 tsunami. Hailed as local heroes, these technicians, soldiers and firemen are known as The Fukushima 50 or the "Atomic Samurai," a name the Japanese have given them.

"They have concluded between themselves that it is inevitable some of them may die within weeks or months," the mother said. "They know it is impossible for them not to have been exposed to lethal doses of radiation."

Radiation has been leaking from the complex, contaminating food produced in surrounding farmland and seeping into groundwater beneath the site.

Radioactive iodine was found in nearby seawater that is 4,385 times the legal limit. An abnormal level of radioactive cesium has also been found in beef from the area.

Although there likely will be an extended food ban on farming and harvesting within a 30 kilometre area surrounding the reactors, experts say there is the option of applying remedial measures. 

Cesium 137 is one of the radioactive compounds found in the soil. With a relatively short half-life of 30 years, chemical compounds like Prussian blue can help. Prussian blue binds to cesium preventing it from being taken up during the digestion in animals like cows, goats and sheep. This method is still used in Norway today to counter the effects of the radiation fallout from Chernobyl.

A squad of U.S. 'radiation-resistant' robots was dispatched to help the stricken nuclear power plant.


Controlled from afar by human handlers - these robots will be used primarily to take pictures and measure radiation levels in places where they wouldn't send a person. 


With France being the most nuclear-dependant nation in the world, President Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed a global conference that would create new nuclear rules so this type of accident wouldn't happen again.


To show his support, Sarkozy flew to Tokyo - the first visit by a foreign leader since the earthquake hit. Prime Minister Nato Kan thanked him for coming citing the Japanese proverb, "A friend who comes on a rainy day is your true friend."


May we all be "rainy day" friends, whatever our circumstances!

Faithful Companions - Japanese Dogs Display Ultimate Loyalty

There have been over 23,000 people either missing or dead from Japan's earthquake and tsunami to date. As the world has watched and held it's (collective) breath, there have been a few miraculous rescues...but far fewer than hoped for.

One of the stories that seems to embody the nature of these stalwart people is of a Japanese dog that refused to leave his injured friend behind. In the last few weeks the YouTube video of this news coverage has become increasingly popular.

It shows Japanese rescuers coming upon two dogs, wet, dirty and shivering amidst massive wreckage. They had been caught in the tsunami and though one appeared unharmed, the other was thought dead until it raised its head. What is so endearing about this pair, is the faithfulness of the healthy dog. Even as rescuers approached, the dog would run to them but then trot back to his injured friend, sitting by his side (sometimes on his face), letting the world know that he would not leave - a loyal companion to the end. Both dogs were rescued and by all reports the injured dog is making a complete recovery.

This week our aging dog, Pokey, suffered a personal tsunami that brought us face to face with the potential death of our own faithful companion. 


With her 16th birthday just one month away, Pokey picked up a nasty bug that caused the most violent intestinal expulsions imaginable. Then she started throwing up. After four days of this she was exhausted, but seemed to be on the mend. She was eating well again and her intestines appeared to be back to normal. She had a good weekend, begging for walks, food and attention.

But Monday morning Peter woke me up early. Pokey was disoriented, struggling to stand, unable to walk and in significant pain. Spasms wracked her stomach and she moaned with each one. Her breathing was labored and erratic.We couldn't understand the sudden change and had nothing for her pain so made a quick trip to our vet. Although we hadn't seen him in over two years, our vet has seen Pokey grow up from a tiny pup. He doesn't mince words and isn't in the profession for the money - he has often given us "extras" for no charge. He just really loves animals.


After he checked her over, got her to stand briefly and asked a few questions, he told us it was most probably a long-term chest cancer that had suddenly exacerbated overnight due to her coughing. There was the potential she had an intestinal bleed as well. The tests to confirm these diagnosis would cost about $600. He didn't recommend them. He didn't even recommend us putting her down. He said we were looking at palliative care and gave us some liquid pain relief. She might only last a few days, but some dogs rallied and we could have her for a few weeks, maybe a month...

Pokey has always been a trooper so we weren't ready to give up on her. By the next day she was walking on her own, climbing stairs (though very slowly) eating a whole bowl of food and then pooping on our kitchen floor. Pretty much back to normal. It is giving us the chance to pet her a lot, tell her what an amazing dog she is (we have to shout it because she is quite deaf), and enjoy these last days or weeks or maybe even months, with our ever loyal friend.


It's given me the chance to remember some of her 'greatest moments,' so I'll share one with you. From the time she was a puppy we began the training process. It included all the typical things - sit, stay, speak, down, shake-a-paw, treat, car ride and even bunny, mouse and gopher (she is part Basset Hound). But since we lived opposite an off-leash hill, we wanted her to be outside on her own without charging across the road every time she saw another dog. So we began making her stop before she crossed a street. EVERY street. Sometimes she even mimicked me by looking both ways for cars, before looking up at me for the go ahead. We often wondered if all this work was really getting through...

One day I was at a neighbour's house for tea. She lived just down the street but right across the road from the end of our block. I had told Peter when I planned on being back home. 
The only way I can understand what happened next is to believe Peter had an attack of temporary insanity. He let Pokey out of our front door around the time I said I would come home, and told her to go find me. Now Pokey could track me anywhere! One time she had eluded Peter and followed my scent through a London Drugs store, to the amusement of both patrons and employees.


I was completely oblivious to the time, just enjoying the conversation with our neighbour, when the phone rang. She picked it up and promptly handed it to me. 
A frantic Peter shouted, ''Where is Pokey?''


''What do you mean, 'Where is Pokey?' She's with you, of course,'' I replied.


''I let her out 15 minutes ago and told her to find you,'' he sheepishly admitted.


''You did what?'' I shouted back. ''She could be anywhere!''

I gripped the cordless phone and walked to the window facing the other side of the road. There was Pokey sitting patiently, staring at me through the window. When she saw me looking at her, she began frantically wagging her tail, but never moved from a sitting position. By now my neighbour was laughing loudly. As I dropped the phone I could hear Peter, in the distance, shouting, ''What's happening? What's going on there?''

I slowly walked out the front door and down the steps. Pokey's tail was wagging so fast it was a blur. I looked down one side of the road and then the other. And she did the same. Once her eyes were back on me I yelled, ''Good girl!'' and told her to ''Come!'

 

Pokey got an extra special treat that night (while Peter was 'in the dog house'). Ever since then we have been able to trust her outside, on her own, with no fear of her crossing the road. 


Even in her debilitated state, she is showing me how much she enjoys life - a good meal, a slow walk down the street, licking snow, tracking bunnies and a good night's sleep. Now we have to trust that she will let us know when she has sucked all the marrow out of this life.


The YouTube video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3TM9GL2iLI