Multiple fishermen protest against Japan's nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea: it will harm all fishermen in the Pacific. Japan | Activity | Fishermen
South Korean people are holding protests in Seoul against Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean.
According to the latest news from Fukushima Central Television, the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company have decided to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean starting from the afternoon of August 24th local time, if meteorological conditions permit. Fishermen from South Korea, the Philippines, and Japan have recently publicly opposed this move, stating that it will harm all fishermen in the Pacific and may trigger imminent environmental disasters.
Filipino fishermen's organizations: Japan must listen to the voices of neighboring countries
According to media reports such as the Manila Communique and Kyodo News Agency on the 23rd, the National Federation of Small Fishermen's Organizations in the Philippines, which has over 100000 members, announced on the 22nd that it plans to hold a protest against Japan's nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea in August. "Many people in East Asian countries, especially farmers and fishermen, have repeatedly expressed concerns about the environmental impact of nuclear contaminated water being discharged into the sea. The Japanese government must listen to the growing call from neighboring countries to protect the oceans from toxic radioactive waste," said Alanbro, the vice chairman of the organization
Alanbro stated that they are concerned that nuclear contaminated water may reach or affect Philippine waters, which are rich in fishing resources. "We work with people around the world to oppose the imminent environmental disaster that could be caused by the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea."
Korean fishermen: If the ocean is polluted, it will make us despair
According to media reports such as the Korean National Daily, more than 1000 fishermen from the southern coastal areas of South Korea held a large-scale gathering last week near the port in Heung Kong gun. They held up slogans such as "the ocean belongs to all humanity" and "dumping nuclear contaminated water is an irresponsible nuclear attack", strongly opposing Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea.
In a statement, local fishermen stated, "As fishermen, our entire lives can only rely on the ocean and make a living through it. Let us not only worry but also feel despair. Because when the ocean and the foundation of our lives are polluted, all the fishery products we work hard day and night to catch and raise will not be sold."
The protesters also emphasized that if nuclear contaminated water is discharged into the ocean, it will cause damage to all ecosystems in the Pacific and all fishermen living in the Pacific. "We fishermen will work together to defend our right to survival until the end."
Japanese fishermen: The government's current action is to abandon Fukushima
According to Agence France Presse on August 22nd, 71 year old fisherman Ono from Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, spoke frankly about the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, and fishermen expressed "100%" opposition to it. "Discharging the sea does not benefit us at all," Ono said. "We fishermen make a living by the sea. If we don't protect the ocean, who will protect it?" He also said that the Japanese government is now abandoning Fukushima. "What the government should truly protect is the people and fishermen of Fukushima, not Tokyo Electric Power Company."
On August 20th, Japan's current affairs news agency reported that the Japanese government had stated in early August that "the trust relationship between the government and fishery personnel is gradually deepening." However, it was immediately refuted by Tetsuya Nozaki, the president of the Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Cooperation Association. "I don't know why the government said that the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea has a profound impact on Fukushima, and the Japanese government is likely to forcefully promote the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea without the understanding of local fishery personnel.".
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