Thursday, Japan Discards Nuclear Waste, Pacific Nations and Fishermen Refuse
Japan was accused of deliberately harming the nations of the Pacific. In 1985, Japan declared that it would not dump nuclear waste into the Pacific. In fact, Japanese fishermen also disagree with the Fukushima nuclear power plant's disposal of waste.
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Protesters wearing masks of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a demonstration in Seoul on July 5, 2023. They protested against Japan's plan to dump Fukushima nuclear power plant waste into the sea. Kishida announced that the disposal would begin on August 24, 2023.
PORT VILA, WEDNESDAY - The majority of residents and governments in Pacific island countries reject Japan's plan to dispose of 1.3 million metric tons of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Fishermen and some parties in Japan also reject the disposal of radioactive contaminated water into the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.
The operator of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), is currently making final preparations to dispose of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday (24/8/2023). In a written statement, Tepco stated that about 1 cubic meter of nuclear wastewater will be mixed with approximately 1,200 cubic meters of seawater and ready to be discharged through pipes.
Tepco stated that the water will be tested first and then discharged into the ocean along with other water stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant (PLTN). The PLTN suffered severe damage due to the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. Around 18,000 people died in the disaster.
Tepco is collecting 1.34 million cubic meters of highly contaminated reactor wastewater, which is mixed with groundwater and rainwater, almost equivalent to 540 standard Olympic swimming pools, to be cooled down. For the first disposal, around 7,800 cubic meters will be released over a period of approximately 17 days starting on Thursday.
However, the rejection of the plan to dispose of nuclear waste remains high. Protests against the disposal have taken place in Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. The disposal violates at least two international and regional treaties and conventions.
The rejection of Pacific nations will be discussed in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting. Representatives of Melanesian nations will gather on August 23-24, 2023 in Port Vila, Vanuatu. "Rejecting polluters to dump treated water in the Pacific Ocean until it is proven to be completely safe," said Vanuatu's Foreign Minister Matai Seremaiah.
Rejection was also conveyed by the Tuvalu Government. "The ocean is our resource and life in the Pacific. We will do everything to protect the ocean and prevent the initiative (disposal of Fukushima nuclear waste) from happening," the Tuvalu Government said.
Read also : The Pacific Is Not A Nuclear Waste Bin
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that 1.3 million tons of radioactively contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant will begin to be discarded on Thursday (24/8/2023). Japan claims that the radioactive content in the water is far below the threshold set by various international organizations.
Radioactive contaminated water storage from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, as seen on January 19, 2023. Tokyo has decided that the water will begin to be discharged into the sea starting on Thursday (24/8/2023).
Head of Public Relations of the Indonesian Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), Abdul Qohar Teguh Eko Prasetyo, stated that Bapeten is not in a position to either reject or support the disposal of the water. Bapeten remains consistent in two main conditions related to the situation.
"Firstly, the discharge of treated water is allowed as long as the content of tritium or other radionuclides is below the permitted limit. Secondly, the releasing party must regularly monitor to ensure that the content of tritium and other radionuclides is below the permitted limit," he said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a maximum tritium content in drinking water of 10,000 becquerels (Bq) per liter. Meanwhile, the United States has set a limit of 740 Bq/L and Canada has set a limit of 7,000 Bq/L. In 2012, Bapeten set a maximum tritium content of 100 Bq/gram.
Attitudes of Pacific citizens
Not only the government, Pacific residents also reject the plan to create that waste. The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) of New Zealand demonstrated on Tuesday (8/22/2023). They called Japan intentionally harming Pacific nations and the people of Earth who interact with the Pacific.
"The water contains tritium which cannot be removed. The tritium will be discharged into the ocean for several decades," they stated.
An activist is bringing a poster with the words "SOS!! Pacific Ocean!" as he and his colleagues stage a protest at the City Hall office in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday (22/8/2023).
WILPF reminds that the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matters prohibits the disposal of ordinary waste into the sea. Therefore, the disposal of Fukushima nuclear power plant waste is accused of violating the convention known as the London Convention.
Japan has ratified the London Convention and International Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS contains a clause to protect maritime biodiversity. Therefore, the Fiji Human Rights Coalition, Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), and Pacific Network on Globalization (PANG) urge Japan not to dispose of waste.
They also reminded that in the Pacific there is the Treaty of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone or better known as the Rarotonga Treaty. The treaty prohibits nuclear material dumping. Indeed, Japan did not sign - let alone ratify - the Rarotonga Treaty.
They also mentioned the conclusion of the expert panel formed by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The expert team concluded that there is a need for explanation regarding the potential accumulation of radioactive materials in the food chain system in the ocean. Humans will be at the top of the system and therefore have the highest chance of receiving the most accumulation.
Also read: Fukushima Affects Japanese Stores
PIF Secretary-General Henry Puna stated that PIF still remembers Japan's statement in 1985. At that time, Tokyo declared that it would not dump radioactive waste into the Pacific. "We have not received anything from Japan. However, there is a great risk for our future generations," he said.
Denial in Japan
Head of the Federation of Japanese Fisheries Cooperatives Association, Masanobu Sakamoto, announced rejection of the Japanese government's decision. "Our position on the disposal plan, which is still not approved by the fishing community, remains unchanged. Scientific safety and a sense of security are different. Even if it is safe, reputational damage will still occur," he said, as quoted by Japanese media Kyodo and NHK.
Kyodo also reported that at least 230 people demonstrated in front of the Japanese Prime Minister's office on Tuesday. They rejected Kishida's decision to dispose of Fukushima nuclear power plant waste. "The government must listen to the fishermen's voices. Do not dispose of waste into the sea," they stated.
Director of the Japan Congress Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, Masashi Tani, participated in the protest. "We don't know how long the release will last. We don't know its impact on future generations," he said.
This aerial photo shows the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma city, Fukushima Prefecture, north of Tokyo, Japan, after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on Thursday (17/3/2022).
Japanese fishermen are indeed opposed to the Japanese government's decision. Fishermen and fish processing industry workers in Fukushima and its surrounding areas called Kishida's decision an abrupt attack. They feel neglected by the government. "Our voices are not heard," said Takashi Nakajima, a seafood trader in Soma, to Kyodo.
Kadin Fukushima member, Yoshitaka Ikarashi, stated that the disposal would greatly harm Japanese fishermen, residents, and businesspeople in the fishing sector. "I question PM's basis for stating that there has been an agreement with fishermen regarding the plan. In fact, fishermen clearly reject the plan," he said.
Neighboring countries Japan, South Korea, and China are also opposed to the decision. The leader of the South Korean opposition, Lee Jae-myung, called Tokyo's decision a humanitarian and environmental disaster. "In the past, they destroyed their neighbors and regions through colonization. Now, they are launching a terror campaign through polluted water," he said, as quoted by Yonhap news agency.
Members of the Democratic Party faction in the South Korean parliament criticized the South Korean government's ambiguous stance regarding the plan. The government should defend the interests of South Korean citizens who are threatened by Japan's decision.
Also read: ASEAN Takes No Action on Fukushima Nuclear Waste
Deputy Head of Coordination Policy Office of South Korea's Park Ku-yeon said that Seoul neither rejects nor supports Tokyo's plans. Seoul ensures that it will immediately ask Tokyo to stop dumping if evidence of radioactive content exceeding the allowable limit is found.
Meanwhile, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned the Japanese Ambassador in Beijing, Hideo Tarumi. Sun conveyed China's official protest over the disposal plan. Japan is said to have deliberately polluted its neighbors and the region. "This attitude is irresponsible and selfish," he said, as quoted by the Chinese media, Global Times.
After Kishida's announcement, Hong Kong and Macao announced a total ban on the import of seafood and related products from Japan. This ban applies to products made in all coastal prefectures of Japan and those neighboring prefectures. As for mainland China's seafood imports from Japan, it continues to decline by at least US$1 million per month. (AFP/REUTERS)
