Over 93 percent of the respondents in a global poll conducted by CGTN Think Tank strongly oppose Japan's nuclear-contaminated water disposal plan as the plan has raised great concerns and numerous doubts among the international community.

In 2021, Japan unilaterally decided to discharge more than a million tonnes of nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean, starting from the middle of this year. This wastewater comes from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was crippled by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

The nuclear-contaminated water contains more than 60 radionuclides, many of which have no effective treatment technology. Despite this, the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) claim that the treated water is safe, as they claim to have eliminated almost all radionuclides from the contaminated water.

According to the poll, 90.28 percent of the respondents say that they do not trust the statement of the Japanese government and TEPCO, and 86.45 percent criticize Japan for not handling its nuclear-contaminated water in a science-based, open and transparent manner.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not completed its assessment of Japan's disposal plan nor drawn specific conclusions, and all its three reports published so far pinpoint the plan's non-compliance with the agency's safety standards. Nevertheless, Japan has approved its own plan and expedited the construction of discharge facilities.

This has been seen as extremely irresponsible by 91.21 percent of the global respondents since the available scientific means cannot ensure the absolute safety of the treated water. In addition, 92.33 percent of the respondents are deeply concerned about the negative impact of nuclear-contaminated water discharge, and 90.78 percent believe that the release of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea will be detrimental to the marine environment and public health.

According to a survey conducted by the German Institute for Marine Research, once Japan starts discharging nuclear-polluted water, the radioactive material will spread across most of the Pacific Ocean within 57 days and around the world within 10 years.

"All mankind should have the right to know about Japan's nuclear wastewater treatment plan," said a post on CGTN's French platform. In this regard, 86.79 percent of the respondents agree that the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water is not Japan's "private matter," but concerns its neighbors, Pacific Island countries and even the whole world and humanity. If Japan insists on releasing the contaminated water into the sea, it will transfer the risk to other countries and mankind.

In addition, 88.56 percent of the respondents urge Japan to dispose nuclear-contaminated water in a scientific, open, transparent and safe manner, fulfilling its obligations under International Law. Japan should fully and prudently study and research its nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan, and should refrain from arbitrarily starting the discharge before fully consulting and agreeing with relevant international organizations and stakeholders such as neighboring countries.

Filipinos protest against Japan's nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan

Protesters in the Philippine capital of Manila on Thursday gathered in front of the Japanese embassy, voicing strong opposition against Japan's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean.

Dozens of members from the Nuclear Free Bataan Movement, local fishermen and youth groups held up placards and banners, calling on the Japanese government to stop their plan of releasing the radioactive water.

Even if Japan is thousands of kilometers away from the Philippines, local people feel it's their responsibility to speak out, saying they only have one ocean and one ecosystem.

"Our message is very very clear. The action, or the plan, to throw the water to the Pacific Ocean is desperate, and it's illogical, and it's unacceptable. So, stop throwing the water to the Pacific Ocean, protect the human rights, protect the rights of the communities, vis-a-vis, or versus the corporation," said Derek Cabe, coordinator of the Nuclear Free Bataan Movement.

South Korean lawmakers protest Japan's move to dump nuclear-contaminated water

The lawmakers, all from the South Korean major opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) had a meeting with Daisuke Namioka, a minister at the Japanese Embassy, to voice their anger and objection.

The National Assembly members later told the press that with the safety of people in Japan and neighboring countries at stake, Japan should withdraw its plan to discharge the radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant damaged in an earthquake in 2011.

"We demand that not only South Korea, but also other neighboring countries can directly participate in the safety check process [of the nuclear contaminated wastewater]. Japan should withdraw its plan to discharge the contaminated wastewater into sea until the neighboring countries express their consent clearly," said Yang Yi Won-young, member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party.

For more

China urges Japan to dispose nuclear-contaminated water in safe manner

Japanese people protest against plan for radioactive water discharge

Japan's Fukushima wastewater harms world via trade, ocean current, food chain: expert

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