Your current location:HOME >world >Rallies held against toxic water release 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 08:32:14 Source: Internet compilationEdit:world
People hold protest signs at a rally in front of the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on
People hold protest signs at a rally in front of the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on Friday. Takashi Aoyama via Getty Images
Japanese, ROK public submit petitions as Kishida visits crippled nuclear plant
People in Japan and the Republic of Korea continue to express strong opposition to the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean through new rallies and petitions to governments and the United Nations.
Hundreds of Japanese held a rally on Friday against the plan in front of the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo.
After the protest, they attended a meeting discussing problems related to the ocean discharge and handed a petition to representatives of the Japanese government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company.
"We strongly request the government to halt the unilateral ocean discharge without the understanding and agreement of concerned parties, and to explore alternative options," the petition said. "We demand a sincere response by Aug 31."
It said the government should not disregard the opinions of agricultural, forestry and fishery cooperatives, consumer cooperatives, and municipal assemblies in Fukushima Prefecture, as well as the opposition from neighboring prefectures and international voices.
Amid opposition from inside and outside the country, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the Fukushima plant on Sunday to inspect the progress of the plan to release nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.
Kishida intended to determine the specific timing of the release following the inspection and his meeting with fishing industry representatives later.
Kazuyoshi Sato, co-director of KOREUMI, a Japanese citizens' conference to condemn further pollution of the ocean, urged the Japanese government to abide by the promise that no disposal would be carried out without the understanding of the parties involved.
"Bearing the suffering from the Great East Japan Earthquake (in 2011), we have come this far over 12 years," he said at the rally on Friday. "Coastal fisheries have only recently recovered to about 20 percent of their normal catch. If the toxic water is released here, our livelihoods cannot continue. We absolutely cannot allow it to be released."
Kuni Nagatomo, a resident of Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture, said: "Radioactive substances do not decay over decades. Saying that it's OK because there's a small amount of radioactive substances or radiation in the nuclear-contaminated water is diluted is something I cannot accept."
Harm will occur in the future, she said, though the Japanese government and related agencies refer to the potential damage to human and environmental health as "baseless rumors".
Hiroshi Asano, a 70-year-old Tokyo resident, said: "The Japanese government is trying to release the water that already contains a lot of radioactive substances by just letting it flow into the ocean. I believe this is not an issue just for Japan, but something that will affect everyone around the world."
He urged the government to quickly develop technologies that can truly process nuclear-contaminated water and store it within Japan until then.
In the meantime, ROK opposition parties and civic organizations campaigned against Japan's decision to release nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, announcing their plan to submit a petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The Democratic Party of Korea, the Justice Party, the Basic Income Party and the Progressive Party, along with civic organizations and religious groups, said at a news conference on Thursday that the nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima plant will affect the sea beyond its borders.
Broader consultation
Therefore, it cannot be solely Japan's own decision, and the plan requires more sophisticated scientific analysis and broader consultation.
The petition calls for a UNHRC special rapporteur on environment, health and food to investigate human rights violations caused by the planned ocean discharge.
While protests continued, some ROK groups have started to question the ROK government's capabilities in protecting its people.
Lawyers for a Democratic Society, a human rights-focused nongovernmental organization known as Minbyun, said on Wednesday it filed a petition with the ROK's Constitutional Court, accusing President Yoon Suk-yeol and other officials of violating people's basic rights.
Minbyun said this is because the officials failed to fulfill their constitutional obligations such as using diplomatic measures to prevent Japan from releasing nuclear-contaminated water, conducting an independent assessment and radioactivity inspection, and providing its people with proper information and the opportunity to take part in the decision-making process.
The petition was signed by about 40,000 people, including fishers and related businesses.
What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky2024-05-21 08:12
Over 1,900 criminal rings busted as China intensifies crackdown on gang crimes2024-05-21 08:06
Former senior Chongqing municipal legislator indicted for bribery2024-05-21 07:59
Chinese cities mobilize new technologies to spur improved development2024-05-21 07:40
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs2024-05-21 07:27
39 killed in deadly building fire in Jiangxi2024-05-21 06:53
Tsitsipas sweeps aside Ruud to win Monte Carlo Masters for the third time, and then weeps2024-05-21 06:38
Basketball games boost rural development, foster sports culture2024-05-21 06:21
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky2024-05-21 05:59
China records its first use of terrestrial cable for power transmission between islands2024-05-21 05:55
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy2024-05-21 08:05
Criminal cases involving guns, explosives down 20 pct in China2024-05-21 07:02
China's Qinghai ends second2024-05-21 06:47
All to play for in Champions League quarterfinals as Mbappe looks to rekindle form for PSG2024-05-21 06:32
Devout Christian doctor, 68, who punched dementia2024-05-21 06:19
Excitement builds in Leverkusen ahead of expected Bundesliga title win2024-05-21 06:13
Uruguayan businessman savors success of meat trade in China2024-05-21 06:12
China sees fluctuating decline in child respiratory cases at medical facilities2024-05-21 06:02
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics2024-05-21 05:59
Maine is latest state to approve interstate compact for social worker licenses2024-05-21 05:50