2023-08-12 15:37:22
Hundreds of South Korean activists gathered in central Seoul today to protest against the planned Japan discharge into the sea of treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Japanese authorities plan to begin dumping treated radioactive water from Fukushima into the ocean at the end of August, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported earlier this week, citing Japanese government sources.
“If these are discarded, the radioactive substances contained in the contaminated water will eventually destroy the marine ecosystem,” said Choi Kyongsuk of activist group Korea Radiation Watch, which organized the demonstration.
“We oppose this… because we believe that the sea does not belong exclusively to the Japanese government, but to all of us and to humanity,” he stressed.
Hundreds of protesters held placards reading “Keep it inland” and “Protect the Pacific Ocean!” singing and listening to the organizers of the demonstration.
Japan’s nuclear power watchdog last month approved the start of dumping by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) into the ocean. The Japanese authorities and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assure that it is safe, but countries in the region fear that the catch and other food will be contaminated.
US President Joe Biden will meet on August 18 with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Sok-gil in a trilateral summit.
“It is reported that the disposal of contaminated water will be on the agenda of the summit. The governments of South Korea, the US and Japan should treat this as an environmental disaster rather than a political issue and agree to prevent it… for the sake of future generations,” Choi concluded.
Source: RES-MPE
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