A whitewash can’t eliminate the harm of nuclear pollution water discharging into the sea (bell)
The Japanese side is keen on whitewashing what is wrong, trying to create the illusion that nuclear polluted water is safe and harmless by launching an intensive public relations offensive at home and abroad. This practice exposes its selfishness of not caring about the global marine environment and public health but only caring about its own interests.
The legitimacy, legality and safety of Japan’s plan to discharge nuclear polluted water into the sea have been questioned by the international community. Protests in Japan and neighboring countries have come and gone, and the voices of opposition from the international community have continued. Japan should have seriously responded to the concerns of the international community and made every effort to dispose of nuclear polluted water in a scientific, safe and transparent way. However, the Japanese side is keen on whitewashing what is wrong, trying to create the illusion that nuclear polluted water is safe and harmless by launching an intensive public relations offensive at home and abroad. This practice exposes its selfishness of not caring about the global marine environment and public health but only caring about its own interests.
The Japanese side pushed the plan of discharging nuclear polluted water into the sea, which was accompanied by a well-planned public relations offensive from the beginning. Established in 2012, Reconstruction Agency is responsible for the reconstruction of disaster areas, but the agency allocates public relations funds every year to instill in people the message that the impact of Fukushima nuclear accident has been eliminated. On April 13th, 2021, on the day when the Japanese government unilaterally decided to discharge the nuclear polluted water into the sea, Reconstruction Agency released the propaganda posters and videos made in advance in its official website, in an attempt to "win a good impression" by packaging the indelible radioactive elements in the nuclear polluted water into a mascot image. This move caused serious dissatisfaction among the Japanese people and the international community. The people of Fukushima indignantly pointed out that "(these propaganda) is completely out of place with the grim reality facing Fukushima." In the end, Reconstruction Agency had to withdraw the related products.
For more than two years, instead of learning a lesson, Japan has continued to carry out a series of publicity actions to the public around the so-called safety of nuclear polluted water. Many Japanese newspapers, TV stations, etc. publish and broadcast a large number of advertisements about the so-called safety of nuclear polluted water, disturbing and covering up people’s worries and opposition. The Japanese government has repeatedly called the nuclear polluted water that has been treated by the "multi-nuclide treatment system" but still contains many radionuclides "treated water" in an attempt to dilute its pollution characteristics and potential harm. The Japanese government has also set up a special fund with a total amount of 80 billion yen (about 4 billion yuan), and plans to provide "compensation" to the fishing-related industries in areas affected by the discharge of nuclear polluted water into the sea, in an attempt to avoid troubles with the so-called "compensation fee". This is another proof that the Japanese side covers up the harm of nuclear polluted water discharged into the sea.
The Japanese side has also stepped up its public relations with some countries, international institutions and organizations, trying to win over all parties to endorse its plan to discharge nuclear polluted water into the sea. In April this year, at the press conference of the meeting of ministers of climate, energy and environment of the Group of Seven, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura said that the decommissioning of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, including the steady progress in the discharge of nuclear polluted water into the sea, would be welcomed. German Minister of Environment, Nature Protection, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Lemcke retorted on the spot, saying that "we cannot welcome the discharge of nuclear polluted water into the sea". The Japanese government also used the NATO Summit, the East Asia Cooperation Series Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting and other occasions to defend the Fukushima nuclear pollution water discharge plan.
Whether it is to launch a public opinion offensive at home or to lobby and win over internationally, the Japanese side has used its strength in the wrong place. All parties concerned strongly oppose Japan’s plan to discharge nuclear polluted water into the sea, and demand that Japan stop pushing the plan to discharge nuclear polluted water into the sea, fully communicate with stakeholders including neighboring countries in a sincere manner, effectively dispose of nuclear polluted water in a responsible manner, and accept strict international supervision. However, so far, Japan has been bent on promoting the plan of discharging nuclear polluted water into the sea, not only failing to fully study and demonstrate other disposal schemes, but also failing to seriously respond to the concerns of the international community. Its selfish approach has disappointed the international community.
No matter whether it is a public opinion offensive at home or lobbying internationally, Japan’s small moves can’t dispel the doubts of the domestic people and the international community about the discharge of nuclear polluted water into the sea. Recently, Japanese fishermen have repeatedly reiterated their opposition to nuclear pollution water discharging into the sea, and the opposition party in South Korea has also expressed the Korean people’s concerns and opposition to the plan through letters. People in many countries held protests in front of Japanese embassies and consulates in the Philippines, new york, Sydney and other places, demanding that Japan stop the plan of discharging nuclear polluted water into the sea. Because people are well aware that once Japan’s plan to discharge the sea is implemented, it will impose unpredictable nuclear pollution risks on the international community.
Discharging nuclear polluted water into the ocean is an adventurous gamble that harms human beings. Japan should face up to the concerns of the international community, shoulder its due moral responsibilities and obligations under international law, and find a proper way to dispose of nuclear polluted water. Until the concerns of the international community about the legitimacy of the nuclear polluted water discharge scheme, data reliability, effectiveness of purification devices and uncertainty of environmental impact are resolved, Japan should not start the nuclear polluted water discharge without authorization.