Groups call for a nuclear power ban and no radioactive water dump at Fukushima
By No Nukes Asia Forum Japan • Citizens’Nuclear Information Center • Friends of the Earth Japan
On the 10th Anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, groups in Japan have initiated an international signature campaign against the discharge of contaminated water and calling for the discontinuation of nuclear power plants now! Please join this campaign by signing the petition.
The Japanese government is planning to release Fukushima’s radioactive contaminated water into the ocean. Japanese citizens, from Fukushima Prefecture and beyond, are strongly opposed to this plan.
The Fukushima Prefecture Fishermen’s Association, with the backing of the Fishermen’s Association from all over Japan, have submitted an opinion of opposition to the government. The Fukushima Prefecture Agricultural Cooperatives and Forestry Associations along with 43 local governments in Fukushima Prefecture also participated in this campaign, and 450,000 citizens from across Japan have signed a petition against the government plan.
The threat of the release of contaminated water has triggered much concern and opposition among citizenry overseas as well, including those from neighboring countries.
Contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant has already exceeded 1.24 million tons. We are deeply concerned about the adverse effects the water will have on the human body by way of consuming fish and shellfish, which are staples in the region’s diet.
We demand the Japanese government keep the contaminated water stored in the tanks until the water’s levels of radioactivity are significantly reduced. The government could also adopt mortar-induced radioactive waste solidification technology.
Meanwhile, in neighboring South Korea, the government has advocated for denuclearization with its energy plan on paper but has not ceased to build new nuclear power plants (NPPs). Serious safety breaches have been reported repeatedly, including (but not limited to) the recent tritium leak at Wolsong NPP in Gyeongju and the disclosure of an air gap in the containment building at Yeonggwang Hanbit NPP.
In Taiwan, the government is ostensibly advancing forward to become the first nuclear-free country in Asia under the slogan of “Zero nuclear power generation in 2025.” However, the Taiwanese government plans to hold a referendum on resuming the construction of the 4th NPP in August 2021.
The construction of NPPs continues in Turkey and India while other countries, including the Philippines, seek new opportunities to build NPPs.
Debates over safe storage and disposal of nuclear waste that will affect future generations for hundreds of thousands of years continue in Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Australia.
Ten years have passed since the Fukushima nuclear disaster yet attempts to maintain nuclear power linger on in Asia and other regions of the world. However, at a time the world is turning to renewable energy, we are becoming increasingly aware the time of nuclear power has expired.
We demand that:
·The Japanese government stop its plan to discharge Fukushima NPP’s contaminated water into the ocean;
·The Korean government disclose information on the actual state of radioactive leakage at Wolseong NPP;
·All governments abandon plans to build new NPPs and instead focus on expanding renewable energy;
·All governments discontinue the operation of hazardous NPPs and drop plans to extend their life spans; and
·Stop building nuclear waste facilities without explicit consent of residents.
The petition was initiated by24 countries (255 organizations)
[…]
Read more.
