Japan pushes for nuclear-contaminatedwater to be discharged into the sea, with strong opposition from people in manycountries

Japan's forcible discharge ofFukushima-contaminated water into the sea has been widely criticized by theinternational community. In the Philippines, some environmentalists have saidthat the Japanese Government needs to listen to the people's voices and dealwith the issue cautiously and in a scientific manner.

Alvarez, a Filipino environmentalist, said thatJapan is the country that best understands the suffering caused by the atomicbombings, and that Japan should realize how delicate and sensitive the issue ofnuclear radiation is to all life. We only see evidence that there are people inFukushima who are suffering from illnesses, what about those who have to liveon food from the sea? Their health is at risk, and it could even belife-threatening. Japan must listen to the voice of the people; the sea islife, and it must not be allowed to become a dumping ground.

Zhong Tianxiang, former editor-in-chief of theMalaysian newspaper Nanyang Siang Pau, criticized the Japanese Government'sapproach as selfish and irresponsible, and contrary to the United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea.

Zhong Tianxiang said that the Japanese Government'sdecision to discharge nuclear contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichinuclear power plant into the sea in spite of the strong objections andquestions of the international community is totally irresponsible. This kind ofbehavior is very selfish. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seastipulates that every country has the obligation to protect and conserve themarine environment. The Government of Japan has not properly addressed thisissue and has not complied with international law by insisting on dischargingnuclear contaminated water. Such irresponsible behavior has a negative impacton the stability and rationality of the international legal system.

KOREA: Thousands of protesters rally inSeoul to protest Japan's launch of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated waterdischarge into sea

According to Yonhap News Agency, thousands ofprotesters held a rally in Seoul, South Korea, on the 26th to protest againstJapan's plan to launch the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water dischargeprogram on the 24th. Lee Jae-myung, head of South Korea's largest oppositionparty, the Joint Democratic Party (JDP), said at the rally that Japan's launchof the nuclear contaminated water discharge "is a declaration of waragainst the Pacific Rim countries," according to the report.

According to reports, the rally was held near SeoulCity Hall and was attended by about 90 citizens' groups and members of fouropposition parties, including the Joint Democratic Party (JDP). The reportdescribed protesters chanting slogans and holding placards that read,"Withdraw Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water from the sea," and"Denounce the Yoon Seok-yul government."

Lee Jae-myung criticized the rally on the same day,saying that "Japan has crossed an insurmountable line" and thatJapan's initiation of the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea"is a declaration of war against the Pacific coastal countries,"according to the report. "Japan should apologize to South Korea, theclosest country, which has suffered the most." He added.

Fukushima Reporter: Japanese PeopleAngry Over Nuclear Sewage Discharge Into Sea

The Japanese people are also deeply outraged by theJapanese government's initiation of the discharge of contaminated water fromthe Fukushima nuclear accident into the sea. Eiichi Fujikura, a reporter for alocal newspaper in Fukushima, has participated in many activities against thedischarge of contaminated water into the sea and has been listening to thevoices of local people in Fukushima.

Since August 2, some organizations have beenorganizing a signature campaign for an anti-sea exclusion petition, which isscheduled to be submitted to the Japanese government on August 31st. Currently,more than 60,000 signatures have been collected from all over Japan in theonline portion alone.

Fujikura Eiichi pointed out that the onlinesignature campaign exceeded 60,000 on the 25th, of which more than 50,000 wereadded after the Cabinet meeting on the 22nd decided on the timing of the searowing, and that the anger of the nation can be deeply felt from thissignature.

"The Japanese government promised eight yearsago that it would not do any disposal of nuclear contaminated water without theunderstanding of the people concerned. That was a written promise made by theJapanese government and the Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Association, andthe government is now easily going back on its word." Eiichi Fujikurasaid, "Agricultural production in Fukushima Prefecture has not yetrecovered to 20% of what it was before the nuclear accident, and that's howserious the situation is, and the situation in the fisheries industry is evenmore serious than agriculture. Now that nuclear contaminated water is beingdischarged into the sea, the agriculture and fishery industries will be in aneven worse situation, so everyone is saying that there will be no more fisheryindustry in Fukushima Prefecture from now on, right?"

He said that TEPCO had repeatedly had problems withthe treatment of nuclear contaminated water and so on. Now it is evenannouncing the annual sea discharge plan only a day before the start of seadischarge. "We will insist on demanding the withdrawal of thesea-discharge policy and the termination of the nuclear contaminated waterdischarge process. Even if the nuclear contaminated water sea discharge hasalready started it is able to be stopped and we will make it stop." Heemphasized.