Environmentalists in Taiwan are urging Japan not to dump nuclear waste water into the Pacific Ocean.
The Japanese government is seeking public opinion about dumping waste water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. But the idea has faced opposition from more than 2,000 environmental groups worldwide, including the Taiwan-based National Nuclear Abolition Action Platform.
On Wednesday, representatives from over 20 environmental groups staged a protest in front of Japan’s representative office in Taipei.
Head of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union Liu Chih-chien called on Japan not to dump nearly 1.2 million tons of nuclear waste water into the ocean. Liu said that radioactive waste and pollutants will affect food supply chains.
Protestors accused the Tokyo Electric Power Company of trying to cut costs at the expense of public health and the marine environment.
A representative from Citizens of the Earth, Taiwan, Tsai Chung-yueh, said that if Japan does go ahead with the idea of dumping nuclear waste water, nearby countries will have to deal with the consequences. Tsai said the company that runs the power plant has enough land to store waste water, but that it is reluctant to do so due to the costs involved.