JAPANESE Nuclear Energy Commission Members and South Korean Opposition Lawmakers discussed alternative solutions to treating the nuclear-contaminated water, rather than releasing it into the sea, at a meeting in Japan.
Dumping the nuclear-contaminated water from the cripple Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is not a solution for the members of the Japanese Nuclear Energy Commission and South Korean Opposition Lawmakers, this is why they joined together to look for alternative solutions to the plan.
Experts from the Citizens’ Commission on Nuclear Power agreed that the impact of discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is long-lasting with complicated results, pointing out that it is irresponsible to release nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.
South Korea’s opposition lawmakers reiterated their opposition to the discharge plan as its safety cannot be guaranteed, and worried that nuclear-contaminated water will bring irreversible harm to the global marine environment.
Japanese Expert Kawai Yasuro also briefed the lawmakers on several more scientific ways to deal with the contaminated water.
“If solidified with mortar, the accumulated nuclear-contaminated water will not have to be discharged into the ocean. We think that preserving it in solid form on the ground is the best solution. Nuclear-contaminated water does not need to be discharged into the sea because there are other disposal options. We introduced these plans to the delegation of the Democratic Party of Korea,” Kawai Yasuro, Member, Citizens’ Commission on Nuclear Energy said.
Sugenami Tamotu, another commission member, said that the discharge of radioactive substances into the sea is an international issue that involves major international responsibility, and criticized Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) for dumping wastewater into the Pacific Ocean.
“The discharge of radioactive substances into the ocean is an international issue that involves major international responsibility. It won’t do by simply diluting the water. Water in the Pacific Ocean does not belong to TEPCO and the polluted water cannot be poured into the ocean just as it likes. I think such an attitude is very arrogant. People of other countries, including South Korea and Pacific island countries, will certainly see this as a problem,” Sugenami Tamotu added.
Experts, lawmakers, and concerned citizens are hoping that the Japanese government and TEPCO will listen to their voices and will scrap their plans to look for alternative and safe solutions.
