Current location:Global Grasp news portal > travel
Fukushima discharge case hearing begins
Global Grasp news portal2024-05-21 22:09:41【travel】7People have gathered around
IntroductionJapanese citizens have called for a halt to the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the cri
Japanese citizens have called for a halt to the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean and demanded that the government revoke the permission for the controversial program at the first public hearing of a lawsuit in Fukushima on Monday.
The hearing of the lawsuit, filed by 363 Japanese fishery stakeholders and ordinary citizens nationwide against the Tokyo Electric Power Company and the government over the ocean discharge, was held at the Fukushima District Court in Fukushima City.
TEPCO started releasing nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean on Aug 24 last year. It is now in the fourth round of discharge.
Tsuguo Hirota, a co-representative of the plaintiffs' lawyers, said the discharge constitutes a deliberate "double harm" to the victims of the nuclear disaster, following a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, and is by no means permissible.
"In August 2015, the government promised Fukushima Prefecture that it would not proceed with ocean releases without the consent of stakeholders," Hirota said.
"For the past eight years, news on this matter has been widely discussed. Nevertheless, the government and TEPCO have blatantly ignored such promises and have calmly released contaminated water into the sea. For the citizens, it might be said that the government of this country is a government that can lie without hesitation," Hirota added.
He stressed that what is being released into the sea in Fukushima this time is not just tritium-contaminated water but also a wide variety of radioactive substances. These have raised clear concerns about harm to the human body.
Shigeo Suzuki, a resident of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, and one of the plaintiffs, used to be a junior high school teacher. The last school where he worked was located along the coast in Iwaki and was affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.
"Some of the students affected have been working hard since the earthquake," Suzuki said.
"And for those students, there's a possibility that the release of contaminated water into the ocean could cause even more damage. To encourage those hardworking children, I participated in this lawsuit as a plaintiff."
Suzuki said he wants to see the lawsuit achieve its goal of stopping the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water.
'Not logical'
The process leading to the contaminated water release does not follow the logic that ordinary Japanese people would expect, he said.
"The government and TEPCO are deciding to release it forcibly against our will. Additionally, there have been various accidents related to nuclear power plants in the past, and the government and TEPCO have hidden information or lied," Suzuki said.
"That's why various things that they are saying, such as the tritium concentration, are not trusted by the public," he said.
Chikara Yoshida, an Iwaki resident who served on the board of directors of a welfare facility for people with disabilities, said he believes in above-ground storage as the radiation dose will decrease over time.
"Is it OK for the side that caused the Fukushima nuclear accident to casually break such procedures? That's a lack of responsibility. They don't understand their own problems. A lack of responsibility could lead to even more frightening things in the future," Yoshida said.
Lawyer Hirota told China Daily that Japan's legal proceedings will progress in stages through the district court, high court, and then the Supreme Court of Japan.
It is difficult to predict how long the current hearing at the Fukushima District Court will take, as it will depend on how the government and TEPCO respond.
"Particularly noteworthy in this trial is that there will likely be considerable scrutiny of scientific matters such as the toxicity of the contaminated water. We want to simplify those disputes as much as possible so that the conclusions are easily drawn," Hirota said.
The lawyers and the plaintiffs hope to conclude the district court proceedings within three years. However, regardless of who wins, it is highly likely that the case will be appealed to the high court and Hirota estimated that decision could take about five years.
Earlier reports said the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water could take at least 30 years.
Address of this article:http://newzealand.brianlynch.org/content-15f699917.html
Very good!(7455)
Related articles
- I visited the most crowded island on Earth
- Shanghai airports see surge in inbound foreign travelers in Q1
- DR MAX PEMBERTON: Why Joe Wicks is WRONG about diet and the real reason children are getting ADHD
- NFL's first medical summit brought teams together to collaborate on improving player safety
- China vows to actively promote restoration of int'l flights
- Roma's Ndicka discharged from hospital a day after collapsing during game
- China's largest freshwater lake sees rising water level
- California officials sue Huntington Beach over voter ID law passed at polls
- Sienna Miller's lookalike daughter Marlowe, 11, makes her first ever red carpet appearance
- Justin Verlander is likely to make his season debut for the Astros this weekend at Washington
Popular articles
- Judge orders man accused of opening fire outside Wrigley Field held without bail
- Bill meant to improve math skills passes as Kentucky lawmakers approach end of legislative session
- Kentucky Senate confirms Robbie Fletcher as next state education commissioner
- NFL's first medical summit brought teams together to collaborate on improving player safety
Recommended
Jerry Seinfeld's stand
Photo exhibition in Macao displays ancient civilization in Shanghai
China's national political advisory body holds leadership meeting
Zion Williamson, at long last, set to suit up for the Pelicans in the NBA postseason
Tamara Ecclestone is criticised as her daughter Fifi, 10, heads out wearing heavy make
Mariners call up 21
LaMelo Ball again considering ankle braces after injuries limited him to 58 games over two seasons
Prominent New York church, sued for gender bias, moves forward with male pastor candidate
Links
- Top Hunk! Tom Cruise, 61, proved he's still got it with THAT shirtless snap
- FIFA vote awards Brazil 2027 Women's World Cup
- Youngkin vetoes bills on skill games, contraception and Confederate heritage tax breaks
- Lynn, Gallese make big plays late to help Orlando City beat Earthquakes 1
- Beijing parks present 109 cultural events for Spring Festival holiday
- Liaoning overwhelm Guangdong in CBA semifinal decider
- China's sci
- CNN commentator and political adviser Alice Stewart dies at 58
- Jáder Obrian scores 2 goals, Austin beats Sporting Kansas City 3
- Katie Holmes exudes boho chic as she layers up in a loose