Int't community should work together to prevent Japan from discharging waster water into Pacific Ocean: Greenpeace campainger
- 5 years ago
With radiation concerns back in the spotlight due to Japan's reported plan to discharge hundreds of thousands of tons of contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean,...a local activist has warned against such an option ever being considered.
Yoon Jung-min reports.
Amid reports that Japan is planning on dumping more than 1 million tons of radioactive waste water into the Pacific Ocean, an official at Greenpeace Seoul raised concerns over the potential damage such action may cause to the Pacific ecosystem and neighboring countries.
"The Pacific Ocean is an enormous body of the waters. So once you discharge the water, which shouldn't happen in the future, but once it discharges, it disperses into ocean currents.
(...)It's very clear that once the water gets out of the reactors, it would definitely impact the ocean."
When asked about how South Korea, one of Japan's closest neighbors, can do to prevent Tokyo from releasing the waste water into the ocean,...Chang said Seoul can raise the issue to the international community as the risks of contamination concerns to all nations on the Pacific rim.
"They can speak out about this problem towards the whole world. Basically, such international organization, like IMO, International Maritime Organization, and there are also meetings coming up this year, IAEA, and also UN meetings as well. There are plenty of opportunity for the Korean government to raise this issues to the international society."
Japan's plan to contaminate the Pacific Ocean with radioactive water is also raising concerns over the safety of everyone slated to be part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including athletes, organizers, and visitors. Chang said there is still time to raise the issue directly with the Japanese government.
Chang said dumping waste water into the ocean can't be an option. Greenpeace advises Japan to have a long-term storage plan until they develop the adequate technology to completely remove all traces of radioactivity from the contaminated water.
Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.
Yoon Jung-min reports.
Amid reports that Japan is planning on dumping more than 1 million tons of radioactive waste water into the Pacific Ocean, an official at Greenpeace Seoul raised concerns over the potential damage such action may cause to the Pacific ecosystem and neighboring countries.
"The Pacific Ocean is an enormous body of the waters. So once you discharge the water, which shouldn't happen in the future, but once it discharges, it disperses into ocean currents.
(...)It's very clear that once the water gets out of the reactors, it would definitely impact the ocean."
When asked about how South Korea, one of Japan's closest neighbors, can do to prevent Tokyo from releasing the waste water into the ocean,...Chang said Seoul can raise the issue to the international community as the risks of contamination concerns to all nations on the Pacific rim.
"They can speak out about this problem towards the whole world. Basically, such international organization, like IMO, International Maritime Organization, and there are also meetings coming up this year, IAEA, and also UN meetings as well. There are plenty of opportunity for the Korean government to raise this issues to the international society."
Japan's plan to contaminate the Pacific Ocean with radioactive water is also raising concerns over the safety of everyone slated to be part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including athletes, organizers, and visitors. Chang said there is still time to raise the issue directly with the Japanese government.
Chang said dumping waste water into the ocean can't be an option. Greenpeace advises Japan to have a long-term storage plan until they develop the adequate technology to completely remove all traces of radioactivity from the contaminated water.
Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.