‘Nobody wants to lose fish’ – Hundreds march in Tokyo to protest against Fukushima water release

« Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Tokyo on Monday to rally against the release of treated radioactive water from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Footage shows protesters chanting and holding banners as they marched from the Shimbashi station to the headquarters of the Japanese energy company Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).
“Fish is important, we eat fish, and we buy fish. Nobody wants to lose fish. In this regard, I am absolutely against the release of contaminated water,” a protester said.
“Even if treated, tritium is still a radioactive material. Even if treated, contaminated water is still contaminated water. Such things should not be thrown into the sea, » added a second.
At the time of publication, Japan has completed the first round of nuclear wastewater discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Around 7,800 tons of treated water have been released into the Pacific Ocean, according to TEPCO.
China announced a ban on seafood imports from Japan to ‘prevent the risk of radioactive contamination of food’, accusing Tokyo of being ‘extremely selfish and irresponsible’. There have also been concerns from the fishing community.
An inquiry by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that the Japanese proposal to release the water was ‘consistent’ with international safety standards and would have a ‘negligible’ impact on people and the environment.
The Fukushima nuclear power plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown following a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami in 2011.
An estimated 1.33 million tonnes needed to cool the cores of nuclear reactors that went into meltdown are stored on-site and were expected to reach maximum capacity imminently. »



Source link