Japan Press Weekly

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2023 July 5 - 11 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Zenroren and KCTU issue joint statement opposing ocean release of tritium-tainted Fukushima water

Japan’s national trade union center, the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), and its South Korean counterpart, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), on July 8 published a joint statement in which they expressed their determination to block the Japanese government plan to discharge radiation-contaminated water into the ocean from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

The statement calls on Japanese and South Korean workers to work hard together to pressure the Japanese government to cancel the ocean release plan.

Upon the publication of the joint statement in Seoul, Zenroren President Obata Masako delivered a video message. She criticized the Japanese government for going ahead with the discharge plan in violation of its commitment made with local fishermen. She said that this move may increase distrust of Japan among neighboring countries.

In South Korea, a recent opinion survey showed that 85% of the public were against Japan’s plan to release tritium-tainted Fukushima water into the sea.

Two days later in Japan, a rally took place in front of the Prime Minister’s Office building to oppose the wastewater release plan. Several South Korean parliamentarians and concerned citizens participated in the rally and delivered speeches in solidarity.

Past related article:
> JCP Iwabuchi opposes ocean release of tritium-tainted Fukushima water [March 16, 2023]