Joseph Veramu
In the Pacific, Japan prides itself as a pacifist state. Their diplomats are known for being polite, respectfully bowing to dignitaries and emphasising that they have the interest of the Pacific in their peaceful hearts. Now Pacific islanders are distressed and hoping Japan does not have the heart of aggression.
The Japanese Government has been firm in its stance that the planned discharge of treated radioactive waste from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean in 2023 is safe despite strong opposition from Pacific leaders.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) plans to discharge more than 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated water in stages after treatment and dilution, starting around spring 2023. The contaminated water was a result of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit north-east Japan.
Pacific islanders hope that Japan will look at the harmful effects of radioactive dumping that has the very high possibility of negatively affecting current and future generations of Pacific islanders.
Even local Japanese fishermen have strongly objected to the discharge of radioactive water. Hiroshima survivor Toshiko Tanaka pleaded that, “We share one water on the earth and what leaks from Japan will leak everywhere. I think it’s very bad and it’s got to stop. All the wastewater has to be kept on land and not be released into the ocean.”
It is noted that the Pacific Ocean is the largest mass of water on Earth, having the greatest biomass of organisms of ecological, economic, and cultural value. It has 70 percent of the world’s fisheries. The health of the ocean ecosystems is failing due to climate change, over-exploitation of resources, and pollution. The discharge of radioactive waste water by TEPCO will worsen the situation.
The Pacific Islands Forum, comprising of 18 countries, set up an expert panel of global experts on nuclear issues. Their research was to support Pacific nations in their deliberations on the matter. The Panel noted that “..we’re unanimous in saying we don’t see enough information to support dumping the radioactive contaminated water into the ocean. Our first recommendation is to take that option (of dumping nuclear waste) off the table.”
There are huge concerns that the movement of ocean currents will enable pelagic fishes to accumulate radionuclides in their systems and widely distribute it over the vast Pacific ocean.
What should be understood is that fish consuming radioactive materials from Japan travel very widely. Unlike people who show their passports and visa before entering a country, fish do not stop to get visas before entering the waters of Pacific nations.
If the research that TEPCO is using to argue that the radioactive wastewater is safe to dump in the Pacific is found later to be wrong, then there is the real possibility of genocide of Pacific peoples who rely on the ocean for their food needs. Consuming contaminated marine foods can affect the next generation of Pacific islanders.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna emphasised that, “Our ultimate goal is to safeguard the Blue Pacific—our ocean, our environment and our peoples—from any further nuclear contamination. This is the legacy we must leave for our children.”
Henry Puna was invited to Japan to discuss the release of the treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. There is deep concern that Japan (who facilitate the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) every three years may be using chequebook diplomacy to entice Pacific leaders to agree to the dumping by promising them more money. In the last leaders meeting in July 2022, the then Japanese Prime Minister Suga had announced the Pacific Bond (KIZUNA) Policy, which would provide resources to “strengthen the cooperation between Japan and Pacific Island countries”
The President of the Federated States of Micronesia, for example, is quoted later as saying, "our country is no longer fearful or concerned about this issue (wastewater dumping)".
The PIF panel of experts who have been trying to independently verify the safety of the operation say they have not been sent data that proves it is safe. Alarm bells were raised over discrepancies in the data provided. The Panel noted "We immediately noticed problems with the data that the panel has considered to be serious red flags. The panel has found that some of TEPCO's sample extraction has been inadequate, incomplete and at times inconsistent and even biased.
Some good news for the Pacific is that Japan has agreed to delay the discharge of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean until Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) science experts verify it is safe to do so.
The incoming Chairperson of the Pacific Islands Forum and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown travelled to Japan as part of the PIF delegation in an effort to convey their deep concerns. He requested a deferral of Japan’s plans to dump wastewater into the ocean.
It has been suggested that Japan needs to reform its foreign policy in the Pacific. At the 9th Pacific Leaders Meeting held 2 July 2021, Forum Leaders emphasised the importance of ‘ensuring international consultation, international law, and independent and verifiable scientific assessments with regards to Japan’s announcement (of dumping radioactive wastewater).’
Japan cannot unilaterally dump radioactive materials. While it is a very powerful Asian powerhouse, it has a moral responsibility to respect and protect small Pacific Island nations that are already suffering from the negative effects of climate change. These nations rely on the ocean for almost all their food sources and national incomes to support their economic development.
It is noted that Japan is the only country to have suffered from atomic bombing. This history should make Japan empathize with the fears of Pacific islanders to radioactive waste dumping. It seems tragic that Pacific nations are being put through these huge challenges. They are already suffering from rising sea levels flooding their islands. They can only appeal to Japan for goodwill to prevail and that it will not take unilateral action on dumping radioactive water in the Pacific.
It should also be obvious that the dumping will also affect the entire world who source their marine foods from the Pacific.
We hope that common sense will prevail in the end and that the right action will be taken that will ensure harmony in the Pacific environment.
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