A gaggle of older girls from Fukushima shake palms with „haenyeo“ (Korean feminine divers) throughout an occasion on Jeju Island, Tuesday, the place they supplied an apology over the discharge of handled wastewater from the Daiichi nuclear plant in northeastern Japan. Courtesy of Greenpeace
A gaggle of older girls from Fukushima, Japan, traveled to Jeju Island to supply an apology Tuesday to „haenyeo,“ Korea’s conventional feminine divers, for Tokyo’s choice to launch into the ocean handled wastewater from a disabled nuclear energy plant. In addition they pledged to work collectively to stop additional discharges sooner or later.
A 2011 earthquake and tsunami severely broken the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in northeastern Japan, resulting in meltdowns and radioactive leaks. Since then, Japan has began releasing handled wastewater from the plant into the Pacific Ocean. Whereas the discharge is taken into account secure by worldwide requirements, it has been met with considerations and apprehension within the area.
The gathering on the southern resort island was co-hosted by three organizations against the wastewater discharge. Members, together with the Fukushima residents and the Jeju haenyeo, expressed their considerations in regards to the potential environmental affect and urged for a right away finish to the discharge of contaminated water.
The older girls from Fukushima, a lot of whom have been actively opposing Japan’s wastewater discharge, supplied a heartfelt apology to the Jeju haenyeo.
„We’re deeply sorry,“ mentioned Ogawara Saki, a resident of Miharu, Fukushima, and a plaintiff in a lawsuit in opposition to the Japanese authorities and Tokyo Electrical Energy Firm. „The ocean connects us, and we should work collectively to guard it.“
The occasion additionally supplied a platform for solidarity between the communities of Korea and Japan, which each rely upon the ocean for his or her livelihoods.
Suzuki Mari, one other activist, emphasised the significance of defending future generations from the long-term penalties of contamination.
„We hold asking ourselves what we are able to do for our kids’s future,“ she mentioned. „Assembly the haenyeo, who’re preventing to guard this lovely sea, is really inspiring.“
Seven Jeju haenyeo additionally took half within the gathering, expressing considerations that the discharge of water may have an effect on close by waters and probably affect marine ecosystems.
Jang Quickly-deok, who testified on the UN Human Rights Council in 2023 in regards to the dangers of wastewater discharge, known as for stronger authorities intervention.
„This sea is our residence, our livelihood,“ she mentioned. „The federal government should discover a accountable resolution.“
Different haenyeo additionally urged motion on the nationwide degree, emphasizing that civil organizations alone have restricted energy to handle the difficulty successfully.
