December 7, 2009

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)-Japan and 48 environmental and citizens’ organizations in Japan on December 4 published a joint statement demanding that the Hatoyama government cancel the plan to build new military base facilities off Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa.

The statement points out that the sea off Henoko, which is to be reclaimed to build state-of-the-art facilities to replace U.S. Futenma Air Station, is a habitat of the dugong, an endangered species of marine mammal, the number of which is said to be only around a dozen. It further points out that the area has a huge community of rare blue coral.

Also referring to the recent discovery of 36 new species of shrimps and crabs in the area, the statement asserts that the irreplaceable ecological system must not be destroyed.
- Akahata, December 7, 2009