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Born right into a household hailing from Hiroshima, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida just lately stated in an interview with American journal TIME that the “unspeakable devastation” skilled by locals after the nuclear explosion was “inscribed vividly in my memory.” so he hopes to work towards “a world without nuclear weapons.”
However, Kishida’s “nuclear memory” is sort of selective as his administration has supposed to influence the G7 to consent to their proposal to discharge the contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy station into sea, which the Japanese authorities claimed could be “safe” and “rational.”
In truth, for the reason that nation introduced this determination in April 2021, the voices of sturdy opposition from all walks of life in each Japan and overseas have by no means ceased. But the Japanese authorities, figuring out that its determination is unwelcomed, nonetheless insists on going its personal means, repeatedly testing the underside line of the worldwide group.
Prior to the G7 summit, Japan even deliberate to rearrange a meals catering present on the primary day of the assembly, the place they’d serve political leaders from varied international locations a working meal made with substances from Fukushima, the realm affected by the “nuclear leak,” with a view to obtain endorsement from the taking part international locations for the Fukushima water discharge plan.
However, the federal government lastly gave up their “nuclear food” plan and altered to Hiroshima and Seto seafood, in response to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Maybe they had been fearful concerning the “indigestion” caused by “nuclear food.”
German Federal Minister of the Environment Steffi Lemke has made it clear that she “cannot welcome the release of the treated water,” as Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported. South Korea, though within the diplomatic “honeymoon phase” with Japan, additionally just lately noticed large-scale demonstrations as individuals in Seoul unfurled banners and shouted “oppose the G7 countries allowing the release of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water.”
People rally to protest in opposition to Japan’s deliberate discharge of radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean in Seoul, ROK, May 20, 2023. /Xinhua
The Pacific Islands Forum, of which the members embody Australia and New Zealand, additionally collectively referred to as on Japan to right away surrender on their plan to dump the contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean.
In truth, what makes the worldwide group much more puzzled is that why has Japan, a rustic that has suffered from nuclear radiation and air pollution disasters, chosen omission over mitigation? Why does Japan undertake an evasive perspective and refuse to meet its due obligations and obligations on a problem with such an enormous worldwide affect?
During the G7 Summit, Kishida talked eloquently concerning the sustainable improvement of the world, however exterior the summit, Japan tried to make use of “safety” as an excuse to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the ocean. How can such a transfer be thought-about “sustainable?”
Shaun Burnie, a British nuclear specialist within the discipline of environmental safety, stated that Japan’s determination ignores “science, environmental protection and international law.” The declare that it’s secure to filter and dilute nuclear-contaminated water and discharge it into the ocean is “obviously scientifically untenable.” This plan critically violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and is totally “unacceptable.”
The Japanese authorities has been claiming that the handled water is secure, wanting to discharge the water into the ocean shared by mankind. This can not help however make individuals surprise: Why would not Japan discharge the nuclear-contaminated water domestically, or use it as water for agriculture and trade?
The “nuclear” imprint of hegemonic international locations stays in individuals’s thoughts. The huge Pacific Ocean continues to be digesting the environmental and well being bitterness of the nuclear exams performed by the U.S.-led G7 international locations throughout the Cold War. If the Japanese authorities actually dumps nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, it’ll undoubtedly create a “maritime Chernobyl,” which is able to deliver enormous disasters to the already fragile ecosystems of the world.
While Japan has been showcasing its “care” for environmental safety, peace, and improvement, it has, however, insisted on conducting such a plan that harms the world and advantages itself. Should or not it’s ashamed?
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Source: CGTN