Kumpei Hayashi, affiliate professor on the Fukushima University, criticized the Japanese authorities for releasing the nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean when being interviewed by a Chinese Media Group reporter. /CMG
A Japanese scholar criticized the Japanese authorities for sacrificing the pursuits of marine employees in its cussed insistence of releasing the nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean.
The Japanese authorities and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) unilaterally launched the discharge of Fukushima nuclear wastewater into the ocean from August 24, which aroused robust opposition at house and overseas.
“There were various options, including geological disposal, land burial and atmospheric release as steam. However, the Japanese government rejected all these options and made the decision to release the nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean,” mentioned Kumpei Hayashi, affiliate professor on the Fukushima University.
He mentioned that the federal government selected to focus on probably the most deprived, as folks engaged in marine-related work are underprivileged in Japan.
The discharge course of would final for a minimum of 30 years. Hayashi has raised issues over the rationale behind such an announcement, mentioning the shortage of supervisory organizations overseeing the method.
“What will happen after 10 years, after 20 years and, ultimately, after 30 years?”
Currently, there have been already 1.3 million tonnes of nuclear-contaminated water saved in tanks, and the amount continues to extend day by day.
“The TEPCO said it will try to reduce the daily increase. However, the methods and pace at which it will achieve this remain unclear,” he mentioned.
Apart from that, a portion of the 1.3 million tonnes of nuclear-contaminated water has to undergo secondary remedy. “Will this process proceed smoothly?” he requested.
“All of these should be carefully investigated. If only the government is responsible for supervising the TEPCO in the future, it would be quite likely that they may adopt a lax approach and neglect their duties,” mentioned Hayashi.
Japanese folks collect for a protest in opposition to the radioactive wastewater launch from the broken Fukushima nuclear energy plant, in entrance of Japanese prime minister’s workplace in Tokyo, Japan, August 25, 2023. /CFP
Protests aroused amongst Japanese folks
A serious Japanese civic group, the National Liaison Council in opposition to the Discharge of Polluted Water from Nuclear Power Plants, has filed a proper grievance in opposition to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and TEPCO president Tomoaki Kobayakawa over their discharge resolution.
Kaoru Iwata, co-representative of the group, advised China Media Group in an interview that he was deeply shocked after listening to the federal government’s resolution to discharged the radioactive wastewater into the ocean.
“As Japanese people, we also feel deeply ashamed,” mentioned Iwata, including that the federal government and TEPCO should take accountability.
Amidst Japanese protesters, employees from the fishing business voiced their disappointment and anger in direction of the Japanese authorities and TEPCO for betraying their commitments and discharging radioactive water into the ocean.
“In August 2015, the government promised the fishermen that the nuclear-contaminated water would not be discharged into the sea without the permission of people concerned, but now they have initiated the water discharge recklessly,” mentioned a protester.
Many protesters condemned the choice to discharge the nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, asserting that it’s unequivocally fallacious, and urged the Japanese authorities to halt the method and discover safer options.
“I will never forgive this … It is disappointing that our country has done such a thing. We should stop the discharge immediately and implement solidification with mortar as an alternative,” mentioned a protester.
The protester added that there’s sufficient cupboard space, so the contaminated water ought to be saved moderately than discharged into the ocean.
Source: CGTN