Sept 16 @ New York

[Press Release for Immediate Release]

Korean Peoples' Action Against Japan’s Ocean Dumping of Radioactive Wastewater(KPAAJODRW)

From 15 to 18 September, thousands of people protested in 16 cities across 8 countries, calling on the United Nations and their governments to stop Japan's nuclear waste dumping.

• 2.15 million people signed petition will be submitted to the UN

• Anti-nuke, Ocean, and Peace groups voice up together not only targeting Japan but also the UN and the countries who support Japan 

Ahead of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit on 18-19 September, thousands of people in 16 cities across 8 countries gathered to call on the UN and their governments to stop Japan's discharge of nuclear waste into the ocean. 

The rally kicked off on 15 September in four cities in Germany and Australia, followed by 11 cities in seven countries on 16 September and Tokyo, Japan on 18 September. 

The New York rally featured a performance to deliver the Global People’s Joint Statement, signed by 2,149,442 people around the world, to the United Nations. The statement will be formally delivered to the UN in September.

Protesters also took part in global climate marches in their cities to raise awareness of the dumping of Fukushima radioactive wastewater into the ocean. The week-long Global Climate March, which took place around the world from 15 September to 18 September, brought together hundreds of thousands of protesters to call for an end to fossil fuels and bold action on climate action.

Political leaders from South Korea, Australia, and UK have supported the global protests. Three South Korean lawmakers, Lee Yong-sun and Lee Soo-jin of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kang Eun-mi of the Justice Party, who participated in the New York rally on 16 September and the Global Climate March on 17 September, called for international solidarity with the United Nations and governments to call on Japan to stop discharging nuclear waste. 

Citing the examples of Massachusetts and New York, which this year banned the discharge of contaminated water into Cape Cod Bay and the Hudson River, respectively, Lee suggested that "US politicians should actively respond to the issue of contaminated water from Japanese nuclear power plants at the state and federal levels."

"We call on the Japanese government to stop illegally discharging nuclear contaminated water into the ocean," said Representatives Lee Yong-seon of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kang Eun-mi of the Justice Party, adding that "attention and action by the international community, including the United States, ahead of the UN Sustainable Development Goals summit, can stop the illegal discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the ocean."

Cameron Murphy, a member of the New South Wales Parliament in Australia, who actively supports the opposition to the Fukushima dumping, has sent a video message of encouragement to the Sydney Rally. He promises to continue fighting together and believes, "Ultimately, we will prevail."

A Welsh parliament member Rhodri Mabon ap Gwynfor, who sent a complaint letter to the Japanese ambassador in the UK, said “It is with great concern that we hear of the Japanese government’s intention to release millions of gallons of radiated water back to the sea. Both the sea and the air connect all living beings on earth, and polluted radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant will inevitably find its way to each corner of the world. This therefore is a global concern”

At the New York and LA rallies, the desperate voices of fishermen, parents, and youth were heard.

"The damage to the Korean people caused by the Japanese government's dumping of nuclear waste has already begun," said Kim Young-cheol, executive director of the National Fishermen's Association, who joined the New York rally. "We strongly urge the international community to make efforts to prevent our common sea from groaning under the weight of radioactivity."

"We have been campaigning against TEPCO's ocean dumping of Fukushima nuclear waste for over a year," said Jenny Carrington, CEO of We Are Mother Earth who joined the LA rally. "We call on the Japanese government and TEPCO to think of all humanity and future generations and stop dumping in the ocean now and find another way."

Hendra Wiguna, General Chair of Indonesian Youth and Coastal Students (the youth wing of KNTI), “It is certain that “the bad material” thrown into the sea will return to us because the sea is a source of goodness, a source of shared prosperity. "All nations should protect the sea so that our food is protected forever," explained Hendra.

In addition, passersby and civil society activists participated in the rally on the spot and shared their opinions freely. "I eat, breathe, and live in the Pacific Ocean every day," said Jiji Manawis, a Hawaiian resident. She expressed her frustration and sadness, and thanked the Korean political and civil society for their active participation.

World-renowned author Trina Paulus, who joined the New York rally despite her advanced age of 92, said, "We call on South Korea to firmly oppose Japan's maritime dumping, on Japan to find alternatives to maritime dumping, on the citizens and governments of the world to support the demands of those gathered here, and on the UN Conference to persuade nations to abandon war at sea and pursue peace."

"Japan is setting a dangerous precedent for other countries to use the ocean as a dumping ground for nuclear waste," said Eban Goodstein, a vice-president of Bard college in New York State, adding that the Biden administration should demand an immediate end to Japan's environmental crime of discharging nuclear contaminated water into the ocean.

Peter Boyle from Socialist Alliance in Australia condemned the Labor party of Australia for endorsing the dumping of the Fukushima nuclear waste as “safe”. The Australian Embassy in Tokyo even staged a “Fukushima fish and chips” dinner as a public relations stunt in support of the nuclear wastewater release. Boyle said the Australian government was a “bad Pacific neighbor” because it is undermining a nuclear-free Pacific by supporting the dumping of nuclear waste, dumping nuclear waste on Aboriginal land and entering the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.

"We cannot allow barbaric nuclear waste to enter the peaceful Pacific Ocean," said Choony Kim, Secretary General of the Korean Federation of Environmental Movements (KFEM)/FoE Korea, and suggested that people from all walks of life around the world organize citizen candlelight vigils to call on local lawmakers, federal lawmakers, governors, presidents, the United Nations and relevant agencies to oppose Japan's ocean dumping.

"This global candlelight vigil is significant because it is the first time that anti-nuclear, ocean protection, and peace movements from eight countries have come together to speak with one voice," said Denise K.H. Yoon, Executive Coordinator of the Global Candlelight Vigil to Stop the Dumping of Nuclear Contaminated Water at Sea in Japan. "I expect that this joint action will build international solidarity to stop the dumping of nuclear contaminated water at sea and ultimately keep people and the ocean safe from nuclear weapons."

Ends…For more details about the media release, please contact Denise K.H. YOON, Lead Organizer of Global Campaign Network Against Japan’s Ocean Dumping of Nuclear Wastewater, by email at [email protected] or by mobile phone, 010-5434-9167

Attachment: Photos_https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1f2YN-kpiqHanT-BvpPMrMmJda6fRYni4?usp=sharing