[Press Release for Immediate Release]

Peoples' Action to Stop Dumping of Fukushima Daiichi Radioactive Water

“The Japanese government should immediately withdraw from dumping contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean!”

“The Japanese government should give up dumping Fukushima-contaminated water in the ocean and store it in the country!”

“The Korean government should resolutely oppose dumping at sea and appeal to the International Court of the Law of the Sea!”

“Politicians from the ruling and opposition parties must take the lead in preventing Fukushima’s dumping of contaminated water into the ocean!”

On June 12 (Mon) at 2:00 PM, 3,000 fishermen and citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Ahead of the Japanese government's dumping of contaminated water this summer, the 2nd National Action against Dumping Fukushima radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean, hosted by Peoples' Action to Stop Dumping of Fukushima Daiichi Radioactive Water, continued with fierce opposition from participants. Also, this day is the first day that the Japanese government has announced that it will conduct a test run for two weeks to check problems such as the core facilities for discharge of contaminated water to the sea.

The Japanese government has repeatedly lied about the contaminated water problem. In particular, it broke its promise to the public that there would be no discharge of contaminated water without the understanding and consent of Fukushima fishermen and stakeholders. Despite the stance that fishermen from three prefectures near Fukushima recently announced that they “resolutely oppose” the discharge of contaminated water and the opposition of citizens around the world surrounding the Pacific Ocean, they are showing that they are sticking to ocean discharge this summer.

Korea, which is adjacent to Japan, is also not free from potential threats from ocean dumping of contaminated water. On the 5th of June, TEPCO announced that rockfish with 180 times the standard level of radioactive cesium was detected in the waters off Fukushima, and in April, greenlings with 1200 becquerels of cesium were detected. Even if the polluted fish are not sold, the polluted sea water flows into the world.

In his speech at the event, Hae-gun JU, a Chairperson of National Fisheries Federation, said that the rally was “a place to gather the voices of fishermen across the country to prevent discharge,” adding, “Even though the Japanese government’s procedure for discharging contaminated water into the sea has been completed, the Korean government and politicians are not taking any measures to stop the Japanese government’s action. He then emphasized, “I hope the Korean government and parliament will resolve the fear and threat felt by the people.”

Making a statement of solidarity, Kim Eun-ju, chairman of the Public Meal Service Cooperative, said that the dumping of contaminated water into the ocean is “a thunderbolt from the blue sky for both fisheries workers and the people who consume seafood. The sea is connected. If the sea is polluted over several decades, our survival dependent on the sea may be shaken,” she said, “it is a matter of survival and health in the present and future” and “it is not a matter of dilemma or ghost story, but a matter that must be prevented. We have to respond and act,” she mentioned.

Jong-sik KIM, vice-chairperson of National Fisheries Federation, a spokesman for the struggle, recalled that “Japan and the IAEA were in one accord,” and that “even at the time of the Fukushima nuclear accident, only fishermen shed tears of blood. If the country does not protect us, who will protect us? We gathered in Seoul to protect us,” he revealed the reason for the gathering. “We cannot take away the sea, our home, from radioactive terrorism. Fishermen should unite and pool their strength.” he emphasized.

Then, the participants proceeded to picket surf.

A Japanese fisherman Haruo Ono, who participated in the event as a solidarity speaker, said, “The sea is a fisherman’s workplace and also a place where fish live.” However, it seems that the same nightmare will repeat again due to the release of contaminated water into the ocean.” He then pointed out that “there are many ways other than ocean discharge”, asking to prevent the Japanese government's insanity of spilling tritium-contaminated water in the sea of Fukushima.

Jeong-yoon LEE, president of Nuclear Safety and the Future, who participated as an expert speaker, gave his word that “the Fukushima nuclear accident, which had been stressing that it was safe, was an accident that should not have occurred scientifically, and that it was nonsense, not science”. He also argued that the IAEA report should be rejected because it supports the discharge of polluted water. He then spoke bitterly, “How can IAEA be called as an international organization if it plays the role of polluting the environment without researching the impact over the international community?” and criticized the governments of Japan, South Korea, and the United States for being united in dumping contaminated water.

Lastly, the remarks of fishermen from Busan/Jeollanam-do/Gyeongsangnam-do were followed.

Jeong-mo YANG, a fisherman who was the first speaker from Busan, urged, “those who lead the country should implement proper policies so that we can live according to the law without obstacles on our way to live and eat.”

Jung-hee PARK, the second speaker from Jeollanam-do, was concerned that “if the dumping of contaminated water started, seafood products such as fish caught by fishermen fighting against the raging waves and seaweed grown day and night in farms would not be sold due to a decrease in consumption”, “Every citizen thinks that it is best not to discharge polluted water.” Lastly, he asked the government and members of the National Assembly to absolutely stop polluted water.

Following this, Jeong-mi LEE, the representative of the Justice Party, opened her mouth by saying, “The Japanese government is conducting a trial run to discharge contaminated water into the ocean from today, the world is too quiet.” "The discharge of unsafe polluted water into the ocean is a terrorist act and a criminal act against citizens around the world," she said. 

Progressive Party representative Hee-sook YOON called the test run by the Japanese government a “declaration of war against the international community,” and emphasized, “Like the Pacific Islands Forum, Japan should be urged to stop the discharge of contaminated water at least until it is completely verified that the contaminated water is safe.” Also she pointed out that “it is impossible that two years ago it was science, but two years later ghost stories”.

In addition, Seong-gon WI, a chairman of the Fukushima Radioactive Water Discharge Prevention Committee of the Democratic Party said, "The dumping of contaminated water at sea is for the interests of Tokyo Electric Power, not the Japanese government." “The Japanese government is doing things for companies, but what the hell is our government doing?” he criticized. Also, “scholars and Pacific Islands Forum experts are talking about the fact that the discharge of contaminated water is not safe. We have to ask the government and the ruling party on what basis they believe it is safe,” he said.

Peoples' Action to Stop Dumping of Fukushima Daiichi Radioactive Water announced that it would hold the 3rd National Action on Saturday, June 24, and urged people’s active participation.

June 12, 2023

Peoples' Action to Stop Dumping of Fukushima Daiichi Radioactive Water

• Attached: Statement of National Fishermen Rally(English & Korean version)

Statement of the National Fisheries Rally

Stop Fukushima Wastewater Dumping! 

All 100,000 fishermen die!

The timing of the dumping of radioactive contaminated water at sea, which the Japanese government has announced, is just around the corner. The fear of fishermen in the face of the dumping of contaminated water from Fukushima is inevitable. Our fishermen, who have only looked at the sea all their lives and have made their lives through the sea, feel despair over fear that the sea, which is their livelihood, will be polluted as well as that the seafood they fished will not be sold.

In a public survey on the discharge of contaminated water conducted by the Korea Federation of Environmental Movement in May, 85.4% of the people responded that they opposed the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea. In addition, if the contaminated water was dumped, 72% of the people said they would reduce consumption of seafood after the Fukushima contaminated water was released. It is the result of a public opinion poll that showed that the concerns of Korean fishermen will become a reality if the contaminated water from Fukushima is dumped into the sea.

There is something called the ALARA principle in the radiation safety principle. The ALARA principle states that exposure to radioactive materials should be reduced to a level that is reasonably achievable. In other words, it is not that the contaminated water is safe enough to be dumped into the sea, but that if there is another way to avoid dumping the contaminated water into the sea, it should not be dumped into the sea. Instead of ocean dumping, Fukushima-contaminated water can be stored in long-term storage on land or hardened concrete.

The only problem that arises if Fukushima-contaminated water is not dumped at sea and stored for a long time on land is that the Japanese government suffers economic losses. However, if the contaminated water from Fukushima is dumped into the sea, all life in the Pacific Ocean and all fishermen living in the sea will suffer.

Who should be held responsible for the damage caused by contaminated water in Fukushima? Is it the Japanese government? Or is it all life in the Pacific and the fishermen who make their living in the sea?

Our government should abandon the attitude of accepting the Japanese government's dumping of contaminated water from Fukushima as it is now, and take all the actions to stop the Japanese government Fukushima wastewater dumping!

We oppose the plan to dump radioactive contaminated water that ruins the earth and its ecosystem. We will fight in solidarity until the end to prevent the dumping of radioactive contaminated water.

• We strongly oppose Japan's dumping of radioactive water at sea!
• Stop the Japanese government's plan to dump radioactive polluted water that is ruining the earth and the sea!
• The Japanese government should come up with solutions such as long-term storage on land!
• Our government should immediately file a complaint against the Japanese government to the International Court of Law of the Sea to prevent the dumping of contaminated water at sea!

June 12, 2023

Peoples' Action to Stop Dumping of Fukushima Daiichi Radioactive Water

National Fisheries Federation