- August 29, 2023 —

It has been reported that Japan officially initiated the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water discharge operation at 1:00 PM local time on August 24th. After 17 minutes, the nuclear-contaminated water flowed into the Pacific Ocean through an underwater tunnel. Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to release 31,200 tons of nuclear-contaminated water this year, and the entire discharge operation is expected to continue for 30 years.

Since the Japanese Cabinet proposed the plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean in April 2021, it has continuously faced strong opposition and scrutiny from neighboring countries and people around the world.

On August 12th, several environmental groups and citizens from various locations in South Korea held a gathering in the heart of Seoul titled "Condemnation of the Moon Jae-in Government and Nationwide Action to Halt the Discharge of Fukushima Nuclear-contaminated water into the Sea." They demanded that the South Korean government actively formulate countermeasures and oppose Japan's decision to release Fukushima's nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.

A German marine science research institution previously indicated that the coastal waters near Fukushima possess the world's strongest ocean currents. Within 57 days from the commencement of discharge, radioactive substances are projected to spread across a significant portion of the Pacific Ocean. Three years after the discharge, the United States and Canada are anticipated to experience the effects of nuclear contamination. Over a decade, the contamination could extend to global marine territories, impacting various aspects including worldwide fish migration, deep-sea fishing industries, human health, and ecological safety. The potential threats posed to both human society and the health of marine ecosystems are difficult to quantify.

Despite Japan's continuous emphasis on the so-called "safe treatment" of nuclear-contaminated water, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Hazardous Substances and Human Rights, Aureliana, has stated that Japan's approach to handling the nuclear-contaminated water issue lacks transparency. She further pointed out that there are technological limitations to their treatment methods, raising the possibility that Japan might fail to meet the required standards for nuclear-contaminated water disposal.

In addition to Japan, there are concerns about nuclear contamination in other countries. At a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on 13 July, RMI Foreign Affairs Minister Jack Aden called on the U.S. Congress to push the U.S. government to continue negotiating the renewal of the Free Association Agreement between the two countries. "There are still a number of topics that should be included in the negotiations, especially increased funding for those affected by nuclear testing." He said.

In response to Japan's release of nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific, Princess Zhu Wang Biyu of the Amis Tribe, a native community on Taiwan's Pacific coast, convened the 26th Earth Life Forum, titled "Fukushima Forum 5," on August 24th. During the forum, a "Third-Party Monitoring Platform for Nuclear Pollution" and a "Global Nuclear Disease Consultation and Assistance Center" were launched. At half-past noon, Princess Zhu Wang Biyu read out a letter addressed to the United Nations, signed by global citizens, expressing their collective opposition to the nuclear-contaminated water disposal, with the goal of garnering the support of 1 billion people worldwide.

The forum included a ceremony to donate the first portside monitoring equipment. It was announced that fishermen from Yilan, a county in Taiwan located along the Pacific, will voluntarily travel to Fukushima, Japan, to install this equipment. Once established, the monitoring platform will provide real-time data on ocean pollution, including various nuclear elements and isotopes. The monitoring equipment is set to be installed in locations such as the Marshall Islands, the Hawaiian Islands, Vancouver in Canada, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in the United States.

Princess Zhu Wang Biyu stated, "For individuals in Japan or the Pacific islands who suspect nuclear contamination or experience health issues related to consuming seafood tainted by nuclear-contaminated water, they can freely contact the center for consultations or seek diagnosis. The center will coordinate with leading medical and scientific experts worldwide to provide assistance and solutions to each patient. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to establish the world's first 'Comprehensive Nuclear Disease Hospital.' "

Representatives of Yilan's fishermen in Taiwan remarked, "If Japan proceeds with large-scale nuclear-contaminated water releases, it will be impossible for seafood products to evade contamination worldwide. Our fundamental livelihoods will suffer significant impacts." They also expressed their intention to organize various ocean protest activities in the future, with the hope of garnering support from coastal fishermen and the general public around the world.

Release ID: 89106095

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