At U.N., Micronesia denounces Japan plan to release Fukushima water into Pacific





 

The president of the Pacific island state of Micronesia denounced at the United Nations on Thursday Japan's decision to discharge what he called nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the Pacific Ocean.

In an address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, David Panuelo said Micronesia had the "gravest concern" about Japan’s decision to release the so-called Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) water into the ocean.

"We cannot close our eyes to the unimaginable threats of nuclear contamination, marine pollution, and eventual destruction of the Blue Pacific Continent," he said.

The impacts of this decision are both transboundary and intergenerational in nature. As Micronesia’s head of state, I cannot allow for the destruction of our Ocean resources that support the livelihood of our people."

Japan said in July that its nuclear regulators had approved a plan to release into the Pacific ocean water used to cool reactors in the aftermath of the March 2011 Fukushima disaster.

The water has been stored in huge tanks in the plant, and amounted to more than 1.3 million tonnes by July.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/un-micronesia-denounces-japan-plan-release-fukushima-water-into-pacific-2022-09-22/

Comprehension

What will Japan do about its nuclear-contaminated water?
What is the decision of the UN about this?
What was the reaction of the president of the Pacific island state of Micronesia to the UN's decision?
Why did they denounce such a decision of the UN?
How did he describe the impact of releasing this ALPS water into the ocean?
How much water has been stored in huge tanks?

Discussion

What do you think of when you hear the word 'contaminated water?
What are your thoughts about Japan's decision to release contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean?
What would be the impact of the Japanese government's decision to release Fukushima wastewater into the ocean?
Is disposing of nuclear-contaminated water safe for the public and the environment?
Are you concerned about the nuclear-contaminated water in Korea?

Vocabulary

gravest concern - Something with utmost importance, very concerning, and worthy of attention
transboundary -moving or having an effect across a boundary or boundaries.
intergenerational - existing or occurring between generations
aftermath - the consequences or aftereffects of a significant unpleasant event