"The Pacific should not become a dumping ground for hazardous waste" (International perspective) Oppose | International Atomic Energy Agency | Perspective
Recently, thousands of fishermen from various parts of South Korea held a large-scale rally near the Seoul National Assembly Hall, holding signs strongly opposing Japan's Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yiliang
According to Japanese media reports, Tokyo Electric Power Company has recently launched a trial operation of the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge equipment, which will last for two weeks. Various parties criticized the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company for persistently pushing for a plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. Many people from multiple countries have expressed that Japan should take practical responsibility, respond to the legitimate concerns of the international community with a scientific attitude, and not let nuclear contaminated water harm the international marine environment and human health. The strong push by Japan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea is an extremely irresponsible move and a transfer of risks to the world.
"Ignoring numerous opposing voices and focusing solely on personal gain is outrageous."
Recently, multiple citizen groups in Japan have once again launched protest rallies near the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company, strongly opposing the unilateral promotion of the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. Tokyo citizen Makoto Shirakura, who participated in the protest rally, told reporters, "The Japanese government and TEPCO are continuously promoting the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, ignoring numerous opposition voices and only pursuing personal interests, which is outrageous. The ocean is a precious treasure of humanity, and forcing the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea is a crime."
The Tokyo Atomic Power Civilian Regulatory Committee, a citizen group, has submitted a written inquiry to TEPCO, emphasizing that the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea will further put Fukushima residents in pain. TEPCO should immediately withdraw its plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea and prioritize studying alternative solutions to reduce the increase in nuclear contaminated water and ensure long-term safe preservation. "TEPCO has the responsibility to restore the natural environment that has been contaminated by radioactivity to its pre Fukushima state, and the ocean is not a dumping ground for discharging nuclear contaminated water."
In recent days, fisheries related industry organizations and experts across Japan have expressed their firm opposition to the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea. During a meeting with fisheries officials from Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki prefectures, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Yasumi Nishimura, expressed opposition to the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The President of the Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Cooperation Association, Tetsuya Nozaki, stated that fishing groups oppose the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea, and there is no intersection with the government's position. Masami Feida, President of the Ibaraki Coastal Fisheries Association Federation, said that the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea will continue for decades, increasing fishermen's anxiety about the future and raising local concerns about the survival of the fishing industry.
On June 15th, the Iwaki City Council in Fukushima Prefecture passed a resolution with a unanimous vote in favor, strongly demanding that the Japanese government and TEPCO fulfill their written commitment to the fishing industry that nuclear contaminated water will not be treated without the understanding of relevant personnel. The resolution points out that, from the current situation, the sea discharge plan has not yet been fully understood by relevant personnel. On the same day, the Iwaki City Council also passed a public opinion emphasizing: "The Japanese government and TEPCO are responsible for the revitalization of the disaster area after the Fukushima nuclear accident, and should engage in serious dialogue with local fishermen, ordinary residents, etc., and fulfill their obligation to explain and explain."
"If nuclear contaminated water is truly safe and reliable, Japan can fully use it domestically."
Recently, about 3000 fishermen from various parts of South Korea held a large-scale rally in Seoul, holding banners such as "Oppose Fukushima Nuclear Polluted Water Discharge into the Sea" and shouting slogans such as "The Japanese government immediately stops the Fukushima Nuclear Polluted Water Discharge Plan", strongly opposing the Japanese nuclear polluted water discharge plan and demanding the protection of the rights and interests of South Korean fishermen. The organizers of the rally stated that if the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea becomes a reality, the livelihoods of about 100000 fishermen in South Korea will be severely affected.
Several South Korean civic groups held a protest rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in South Korea, stating that they will jointly launch an action to prevent nuclear contaminated water from being discharged into the sea. Citizen groups have condemned Japan for insisting on discharging nuclear contaminated water into the ocean despite being able to store it on land. The South Korean environmental protection group "Green Alliance" stated that the Japanese government lacks transparency and credibility in the treatment of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water. "The Japanese claim that the treated nuclear contaminated water is clean and safe is completely a lie.". Nuclear contaminated water not only cannot be consumed, but also poses a threat to the health and marine ecological security of people around the world.
Several citizen groups in Jeju Province recently held a joint rally, strongly urging Japan to withdraw its plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, stating that Japan's actions are criminal and that "if nuclear contaminated water is truly safe and reliable, Japan can fully use it domestically.".
According to a report by the Korean National Daily, the final report of the International Atomic Energy Agency has not yet been released, and TEPCO has begun trial operation of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant's nuclear contaminated water discharge facility, which is actually a strong push for the process of nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea.
"Anyone questioning Japan's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water is completely legitimate and legal."
Recently, TEPCO announced that the radioactive elements in the body of a sea fish caught in the harbor of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in May this year exceeded the standard, with cesium content reaching 18000 becquerels per kilogram, which is 180 times the standard set by Japan's food hygiene laws. Suzuki Ran, an honorary professor at the University of Tokyo who has long been engaged in research on fish physiology, pointed out that the emergence of "contaminated fish" indicates that radioactive pollution has not been effectively controlled. "The Japanese government and TEPCO's grand plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea is simply absurd behavior.".
"12 years after the Fukushima nuclear accident, fish with severe levels of radioactive substances have reappeared in the harbor of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which is shocking. This indicates that fish near the Fukushima nuclear power plant are still affected by radioactive substances. Opposing the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea is to protect the ocean from radioactive pollution. To safeguard the common interests of all mankind, all parties need to unite and cooperate."
Ken Bushler, a senior researcher at the Woods Hole Institute of Oceanography in the United States, said that substances such as cesium-137 and cesium-134 may take weeks or months to be excreted from the body, while strontium-90 and plutonium may deposit in the bones and take several years to be excreted. "For the past 12 years, I have not seen any evidence to suggest that radioactive waste can be cleared, and I am skeptical about this," Buseller emphasized, stating that the London Dumping Convention prohibits the discharge of radioactive waste into the sea.
Greenpeace nuclear expert Sean Bernie believes that the Japanese government has decided to adopt the lowest cost discharge plan, which means that radioactive materials will be artificially discharged into the Pacific Ocean and cause pollution in the coming decades. Bernie said, "Anyone questioning Japan's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water is completely legitimate and legal. The Japanese government's failure to provide answers at all levels is clearly unacceptable."
"We cannot ignore urgent issues such as pollution, illegal fishing, warming, acidification, and the destruction of marine biodiversity. Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the Pacific will exacerbate marine environmental problems," said Philemon Manoni, Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum and upcoming Commissioner for Pacific Affairs
Lavetanaraj Seru, Regional Coordinator of the Pacific Island Climate Action Network, stated that the risks posed by Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water to the environment and human health are clearly too high, and that "the Pacific should not become a dumping ground for hazardous waste.".
During the June meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors, Li Song, the Permanent Representative of China to the International Atomic Energy Agency, emphasized that Japan completely disregards its international obligations, disregards international maritime security and human health, ignores widespread questioning and strong opposition from the international community, including its own people, disregards the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and stubbornly promotes plans to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The Japanese side cannot hear the voices of opposition both domestically and internationally, and does not allow other countries to express legitimate concerns. This is a cowardly act, extremely selfish and irresponsible.
Li Song stated that China once again urges Japan to pay attention to the legitimate and reasonable concerns of the international community, conscientiously fulfill its international obligations, fully consult with stakeholders, including neighboring countries, and relevant international institutions, dispose of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water in a scientific, open, transparent, and safe manner, and accept strict supervision from the international community, so as not to let Fukushima nuclear contaminated water pose a long-term threat to the international marine environment and human health.
