【National Nuclear Abolition Action Platform Statement】

Opposing Japan's Disposal of Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater into the Ocean!

This morning (August 22), Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that the discharge of nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant will commence on August 24. Disregarding long-standing opposition from both domestic and international communities, the National Nuclear Abolition Action Platform (NNAAP) [1]condemns and protests this action. We will continue to oppose Japan's plan to discharge nuclear wastewater and collaborate in joint actions with international environmental organizations.

NNAAP has stated that in response to the impending discharge decision, the " Global Campaign Network Against Japan’s Ocean Dumping of Nuclear Wastewater" organized an international virtual press conference in Seoul, South Korea on August 10. Attendees included representatives from three distinct groups from eight countries, encompassing the United States, Fiji, the Philippines, Australia, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. These groups consisted of scientists, fishermen, and civil society organizations. This marked the first transnational collective press conference since Japan's announcement in 2021 of its plan to discharge nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. Despite the international press conference and subsequent appeals, Japan has remained steadfast in its plan to discharge nuclear wastewater, disregarding the opposition of fishermen from various countries and international appeals, leading to disappointment and regret.

Warnings from Scientists and Fishermen

During the international press conference, scientists repeatedly issued warnings, particularly expressing concerns about the impact of radiation on public health. Independent marine pollution researcher Tim Deere-Jones pointed out that long-term radiation could have adverse effects on the marine environment and could impact inland regions through sea-to-land transport. He cautioned, "Organically bound tritium (OBT) is bioavailable within organisms and highly mobile within the marine food chain. Organically bound tritium (OBT) has a greater impact in terms of radiation compared to tritiated water." In cases of coastal winds, radioactive isotopes such as cesium and plutonium could be carried from the ocean to the land through marine aerosols and sea spray, potentially causing radiation pollution to extend up to ten miles inland.

Fishermen from various countries also shared their concerns about the impact of nuclear wastewater discharge on their livelihoods during the press conference. Haruo Ono, who has been engaged in fishing in Fukushima Prefecture for over 55 years, stated, "It's not just me; fishermen from Fukushima Prefecture are opposed to discharging nuclear wastewater into the ocean." He expressed worries about the potential livelihood effects due to radioactive pollution in Fukushima's waters. He further noted, "After the Great East Japan Earthquake, I heard someone at Tsukiji Market say they wouldn't buy fish products from Fukushima. Now, with the discharge of contaminated water into the ocean, it seems like that nightmare will repeat itself."

NNAAP will continue to collaborate internationally in opposition

Since the Japanese government's announcement of this plan in April 2021, concerns about the safety and implications of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant have been strongly questioned by the global scientific community and civil society groups. Both the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) pledged not to take any actions without the understanding of relevant parties. However, Japanese civil society organizations have stated that this commitment has not been fulfilled and strongly protested against the decision, which disregards domestic and international opposition and concerns, especially from the fishing industry.

Moreover, since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, the Japanese government has failed to adhere to the basic safety principles outlined by maritime law and the International Atomic Energy Agency, including prior notification and consultation. Their reputation is further tarnished due to their reluctance to disclose information. Japan has also violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This raises doubts about the content of reports by Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency, particularly when such assessments rely on data provided by TEPCO rather than independent scientific analysis.

NNAAP responds to the international collective call and presents the following demands：

1. The Japanese government adopts a state-of-the-art scientific standard and BAT(Best Available Technology) for ensuring radioactive safety and fulfills the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS), the London Convention, and the IAEA’s General Safety Standards including all other international safety standards and related international conventions.
2. All the organs of the UN, including the IAEA, must oppose and stop Japan’s plan to dump radioactive wastewater from Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific Ocean, and recommend or adopt more scientific alternatives, which have already been suggested.
3. No country in the world should support Japan’s plan to jeopardize our lives and the earth without verification of the Justification Principle of International Standards of Radiation Protection.

In response to the Japanese government's decision to discharge wastewater, the "Global Campaign Network Against Japan’s Ocean Dumping of Nuclear Wastewater" has announced plans to initiate new collective actions. These actions may include various measures, such as organizing a global candlelight rally at the United Nations headquarters in New York before the UN Sustainable Development Summit on September 18-19. Taiwan will also participate in these initiatives.

Attachment：NNAAP "Timeline of Actions Against Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater Discharge"

In May 2020, NNAAP called on civil society organizations to protest outside the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (the de facto embassy in Taiwan) and formally submitted a statement of opposition to the Japanese government. In November, a press conference was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reiterate the opposition stance. A petition letter was also submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for transmission to the Japanese government through diplomatic channels.

On April 13, 2022, the Japanese government convened a cabinet meeting and decided to discharge wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean during the spring to summer period of 2023. NNAAP issued a statement urging the Japanese government to explore alternative disposal methods. It emphasized that the Taiwan government should take into account potential future impacts and express opposition through official diplomatic channels to safeguard public health and the surrounding marine environment. The international petition "Approaching the 10th Anniversary of Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, Oppose Radioactive Wastewater Discharge into the Ocean, End Nuclear Power!" was jointly launched by 311 organizations from 24 countries, with nearly 40 Taiwanese organizations also joining in the opposition.

In August 2022, NNAAP responded to an international petition against nuclear wastewater discharge with participation from 161 cross-border organizations. An open letter was submitted to the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, once again urging the Japanese government to reconsider the action of discharging wastewater from Fukushima.

In August 2023, NNAAP once again invited Taiwanese organizations to join the international petition effort. Representatives participated in an international press conference and collectively submitted a signed opposition letter to major international organizations including the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the U.S. government, the European Union, ASEAN, and the Pacific Islands Forum.

 Chinese version of statement

【全國廢核行動平台聲明】反對日本於海洋傾倒福島核廢水！

今日（8月22日）上午日本首相岸田文雄宣布，將於8月24日開始排放福島核電廠的核廢水，漠視國內與國際社會長期以來的反對意見，全國廢核行動平台對此表達譴責與抗議，將會持續反對日本排放核廢水的計畫，與國際環境組織共同串連行動。

全國廢核行動平台表示，針對即將面臨的排放決定，「反對日本在海洋傾倒核廢水的全球運動網絡」組織，在8月10日時於韓國首爾舉辦國際線上記者會，與會者來自包含美國、斐濟、菲律賓、澳洲、英國、台灣、日本和韓國等8個國家的三種不同團體代表，包括科學家、漁民和民間團體。這是自從2021年日本政府宣布計劃將福島第一核電廠的核廢水排放至海洋以來，首次跨國團體共同發起的國際記者會。在國際記者會後，日本仍堅持排放核廢水的計畫，不顧各國漁民反對以及國際呼籲，令人遺憾與失望。

來自科學家與漁民的警告

在國際記者會上科學家一再提出警告，特別是擔憂輻射對大眾健康的影響，獨立的海洋污染研究專家Tim Deere-Jones指出，輻射長期可能對海洋環境產生的不良影響，並通過海陸的轉移對內陸地區造成影響。他警告說：「有機結合的氚（OBT）在生物體內具有生物可利用性，並且在海洋食物鏈中是高度流動的，有機結合的氚（OBT）在輻射方面比起氚水具有更大的影響」。在海陸風影響的情況下，銫、鈽等放射性核種會通過海洋氣膠和海水飛沫從海洋轉移到陸地，輻射污染可能向內陸延伸十英里。

記者會中各國漁民也分享了對於核廢水排放後對生計影響的擔憂，在福島縣從事漁業超過55年的小野春雄（Haruo Ono）表示：「不僅是我，福島縣的漁民都反對將核廢水排放到海洋中」。他表示對於福島的海洋受到放射性污染，可能造成生計的影響感到擔憂。並指出「東日本大地震後，我在築地市場聽到有人說過，他不會購買福島縣的魚產品。現在，隨著污染水排放到海洋，這樣的噩夢似乎將再次重演」。

廢核平台將會持續與國際串聯反對

日本政府自2021年4月宣布該計畫以來，福島第一核電廠放射性廢水的安全及其影響，一直飽受全球科學界與民間團體的強烈質疑，日本政府和東京電力公司曾承諾，在未經有關各方理解的情況下，不會採取任何措施，但日本民間團體表示，這一承諾並未兌現，對這一無視國內外包括漁業界反對和關切的決定表示強烈抗議。並且福島第一核電廠自2011年3月發生事故以來，日本政府從未能遵守海洋法和國際原子能總署所明定的基本安全原則，包括事先通知與事先協商，更因吝於揭露訊息而惡名昭彰。日本亦違反《聯合國海洋法公約》。這使人如何相信，日本和國際原子能總署的報告所述的內容，尤其這類評估是依賴東京電力所提供數據，而非獨立的科學分析？

全國廢核行動平台在此響應國際共同訴求，提出以下要求：

1. 日本政府應採用最先進的科學標準與最佳可行技術以確保放射安全，並履行《聯合國海洋法公約》、《倫敦公約》乃至於國際原子能總署就安全標準的一般規定，包括所有其他國際安全標準以及相關國際公約。
2. 包括國際原子能總署在內的聯合國所有機關，必須反對與阻止日本排放福島核電廠的廢水進入太平洋的計畫，同時應建議或採用已經提出更為科學的替代方案。
3. 在未受輻射防護國際標準正當性原則檢驗的情況下，全球任何國家皆不應支持日本危害我等生命與危害地球的計畫。

面對日本政府的排放廢水決定，「反對日本在海洋傾倒核廢水的全球運動網絡」表示將會展開新的共同行動，如在9月18日至19日的聯合國永續發展峰會之前，在紐約聯合國總部舉行的全球舉行燭光集會在內的各種可能手段，台灣也將響應。

附件：全國廢核行動平台「反對福島核廢水行動大事記」

1. 2020年5月，號召民間團體赴日台交流協會外抗議，正式遞交反對意見書給日本政府。11月，外交部前召開記者會，重申反對立場，也向外交部遞交陳情信，透過外交管道遞交給日本政府。
2. 2022年4月13日，日本政府召開內閣會議，決議福島第一核電廠核污水在2023年春季至夏季期間排入大海。廢核平台發聲明呼籲日本政府應改採其他處理方式，台灣政府也應該重視未來可能的衝擊，經由正式外交管道表達反對，為國民健康與周遭海洋環境把關。跨國發起的「福島核災將屆10週年，反對輻射汙水排入海洋，終結核電！」連署已有24個國家、311個團體共同聯名發起，台灣也有近40個團體加入連署表達反對。
3. 2022年8月廢核平台響應161個跨國組織參與的反對核廢水國際連署，並在日台交流協會遞交公開信，再度呼籲日本政府撤回福島污水排放的行動。
4. 2023年8月，廢核平台再次邀請台灣組織響應參加跨國組織連署，派代表參加國際記者會，並共同向國際各大組織（聯合國、國際海事組織、聯合國環境署、美國政府、歐盟、東協和太平洋島國論壇等）提交連署反對信。

[1] National Nuclear Abolition Action Platform (NNAAP) is comprised of 126 anti-nuclear groups from across Taiwan.