The Dalai Lama braves radiation threat, Interacts with victims

[rug]

Phayul
By Sherab Woeser

KORIYAMA, November 6: Arriving into Koriyama city in the Japanese prefecture of Fukushima, it is hard for the naked eye to notice any striking difference from the other places that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been visiting for the last ten days.

But a Geiger counter device, used for detecting radiation, when placed on the ground in the middle of the city just before the Dalai Lama’ s arrival, showed a reading of 2.28 microsievert/hour – a mark, dangerously bordering the radiation level considered hazardous for human life if continuously exposed for a year.

On March 11, following the magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, 60 kms from Koriyama, suffered major damage to its cooling system, leading to nuclear radiation leaks.

Over 200,000 people were evacuated from the Fukushima prefecture. Many never returned, while those who did, had their families separated and livelihoods destroyed.

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=30337

[Nelson Tondreau]

1. I'm speechless...

I have nothing but admiration and respect for the His Holiness Dalai Lama. If there's one religious leader in the modern world we can respect, it would be the Dalai Lama.

On the other hand I wonder when the pope will show up in his bullet-proof popemobile with a radiation suit.


FREE TIBET!

[Sanity Claws]

2. I also admire him greatly

I was shocked that he, like everyone else, has detractors. I'm not talking about the Chinese government.
I know someone who is a practicing Buddhist and strict vegetarian. When she found out that the Dalai Lama occasionally eats meat on the advice of his doctor, she said he really is not a Buddhist. In her mind, a real Buddhist would rather cut off his right arm rather than eat meat.
Sigh. Sigh.

[rug]

6. Right after PZ Myers.

[RC]

3. Let's see now...

A few hours versus a whole year? I smell spin.

"But a Geiger counter device, used for detecting radiation, when placed on the ground in the middle of the city just before the Dalai Lama’ s arrival, showed a reading of 2.28 microsievert/hour – a mark, dangerously bordering the radiation level considered hazardous for human life if continuously exposed for a year."

The soil is radioactive, yes. The air above it is not. Applying the square of the distance rule, how long would you have to stay to get a "considered hazardous for human life" exposer if the Geiger counter were placed a more realistic one, two or three feet above the ground?

The Dalai Lama needs to wear decent shoes. That is all the protection he needs for his short visit. There is noting 'brave' about it.

[rug]

5. Oh good, now the atheist convention can move to Fukushima and praise the wonders of science,

[trotsky]

7. Aren't you just full of sunshine today!

Why are you so angry at others, rug? Doesn't your religion give you peace and tolerance?

[rug]

8. I'm positively glowing.

[Raster]

9. Fukushima with Hello Dalai?

[rug]

10. No, I hear it's safe.

[cleanhippie]

16. I think he may be upset that Penn State got one meant for the priests.

[rug]

17. On the contrary, I anticipate 80% of your post being moved to the Sports Forum.

[Raster]

4. Shouldn't he be able to wave his majick whatever...

...oh, nevermind.

There is no heaven and there is no hell.
There are no gods, no angels, no devils or demons.
There is only our real, natural world all around us.
Religion is but myth and superstition.
Religious conviction hardens hearts.
Religious faith enslaves minds.

[Nihil]

11. Gosh ... that sounds so dogmatic ...

> There is no heaven and there is no hell.
> There are no gods, no angels, no devils or demons.
> There is only our real, natural world all around us.
> Religion is but myth and superstition.
> Religious conviction hardens hearts.
> Religious faith enslaves minds.

... almost as if ... no, wait ...

:evilgrin:

[Leftist4Life]

12. Not to split hairs

I don't think that Buddhism is so much a religion as it is philosophy. And for the record, I think the Dalai Lhama is a actually swell guy as far as "religious" people go. He is at least open to science (he was good friends with Carl Sagan, I think) and Buddhism doesn't preach any kind of creationist myth that Christianity does. He frequently collaborates with scientists and isn't afraid of having things like meditation checked out by scientists.

(Could you imagine what would happen if some scientist wanted to test the communion wine to see if it was really blood?)

[AsahinaKimi]

14. Not to mention

that Buddhists don't think its their mission in life to convert others.. You either are buddhist, or you are not. If you want to become one, fine, if not..fine also. I appreciate the Dali Lama.. I think he's a rather cool guy. I follow him on twitter...and have found him to be always very interesting.

I am glad he went to Fukushima.. There are so many still struggling there.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. He'd receive more in a plane

the cosmic ray dose received in a plane at 35,000ft is about 5 microsieverts per hour

http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1262704915658

I highly doubt he thought he was braving anything. He's intelligent enough to know that being there for a few hours is an insignificant risk compared to living there. But it's good of him to go - I'm sure it meant a lot to Buddhists, and maybe others too.

[Silent3]

15. Besides, even if the radiation was much stronger...

...he's going to be reincarnated anyway, right? ;)