MEMBER for Nipa Kutubu Hon. Dr. Blly Joseph in a statement today has condemned outright, the Japanese Government’s irresponsible act in dumping “partially treated nuclear waste” into the waters of Pacific Island countries.
He said the operator of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant of Tokyo Electric Power Company, was reportedly very unreliable in terms of transparency in its reporting and handling of the disaster.
Dr. Billy said according to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCER) report 2020; about 80 percent of the radioactive waste discharged from Fukushima has been eventually deposited over the Pacific.
He said the treatment was supposed to remove radionuclides, however, experts have doubted whether treatment can remove radioisotopes like carbon-14 and Tritium – an isotope of hydrogen.
“ALPS Multi Nuclide removal equipment removes 62 types of radioactive materials including strontium and Caesium; but not carbon-14 and Tritium.
“Over the course of the next 30 years; we will learn the result of this great experiment in the pacific by a superpower,” said Dr. Billy who is also the professional doctor.
“Lest we forget; two of earths existential threats arise from the actions of industrialized countries are: Nuclear weapons and Climate Change.
“When will small nations rally together and hold industrialized nations to account,” he questioned.
While condemning the dumping of “partially treated” nuclear waste by the Government of Japan in the Pacific, the MP for Nipa Kutubu said Japan is being very irresponsible in dumping partially treated nuclear waste in the pacific.
“We are reminded of the events of 1946 and 1958 when the United States detonated 67 nuclear bombs on, in and above the Marshall Islands – vaporizing whole islands, carving craters into its shallow lagoons and exiling hundreds of people from their homes.
“As a result, many people have eventually died of cancer, especially thyroid cancer.
“More than any other place, the Marshall Islands is a victim of the two greatest threats facing humanity — nuclear weapons and climate change,” Dr. Billy expressed.
“If we are not careful, the story of Marshall Islands will be the story.”
He is suggesting that human rights for the tiny pacific counties and duty of care from the industrialized countries should be the major talking point on the issue.
