We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
[[The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency is visiting the Asia-Pacific this week after giving Tokyo the green light on Tuesday to release over 1 million metric tons of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The IAEA says the water is safe for release, but the decision has done little to ease concerns of fishing and environmental communities throughout the region. VOA’s Jessica Stone reports.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptJAPAN FUKUSHIMA WATER
HEADLINE: IAEA Chief to Asia-Pacific: Japan’s Radioactive Water Release Plan Is Safe
TEASER: Decision by UN-linked body prompts skepticism, outcry
PUBLISHED: 07/06/2023 at 7:40 pm
BYLINE: Jessica Stone
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Jessica Stone; Kim Hyungjin
PRODUCER: Jessica Stone
SCRIPT EDITORS: cobus, Reifenrath, DJ (ok)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Reuters, AP
VIDEO APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TRT: 2:39
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB__ TV _X_ RADIO _x_
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO)) [[The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency is visiting the Asia-Pacific this week after giving Tokyo the green light on Tuesday to release over 1 million metric tons of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The IAEA says the water is safe for release, but the decision has done little to ease concerns of fishing and environmental communities throughout the region. VOA’s Jessica Stone reports.]]
((NARRATION))
The U.N.’s top nuclear regulator – is traveling across the Asia-Pacific with a message: Japan’s discharge plan for the shuttered Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station – meets international safety standards. On Tuesday, the agency approved the release of one million metric tons of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean.
((Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General))
“I am going to explain what the IAEA — not Japan — what IAEA is doing to ensure that there is no problem and that the environment is not getting any negative impact."
((NARRATION))
The IAEA will create a task force to monitor radioactivity during the releases and report the information publicly. The Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, [[Tep-coe]] has been publicly reporting radioactivity levels since 2011, says Jonathan Cobb of the World Nuclear Association.
((Jonathan Cobb; World Nuclear Association)) ((Zoom))
“I think TEPCO understands that transparency in this process is absolutely vital to gaining support, gaining acceptance that this is the process that’s the best way forward.”
((NARRATION)) ((Mandatory CG: IAEA/YouTube))
Cobb says the IAEA-approved process uses chemistry to remove heavy radioactive elements, while diluting the isotope tritium, which is impossible to remove completely.
((Jonathan Cobb; World Nuclear Association)) ((Courtesy: ZOOM))
“They will not be discharging any higher levels of tritium than they would have been allowed to do over a year when the plant itself was operating.”
((NARRATION))
Still, Japanese and South Korean fishermen are protesting the plan, warning it will destroy their livelihoods.
[[Lee Hyung-Mae is a South Korean fishing industry leader]]
((Lee Hyung-Mae, South Korean Fishing Industry Leader (female, Korean))
“Not just South Koreans but people around the world will feel unsafe about consuming seafood and fish.”
((NARRATION))
Beijing has called for a pause on releases until the IAEA reveals more details about its monitoring plan.
[[Radio: Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao]]
((Wu Jianghao, Chinese Ambassador to Japan))
"Who will monitor the discharge that has so much uncertainty for so long?”
((NARRATION))
Doctor Ivana (ee-VAH-na) Nikolic Hughes, president of the Nuclear Peace Age Foundation,
((courtesy: Ivana Nikolic Hughes))
a nonprofit that advocates a nuclear-free world, shares that skepticism.
((end courtesy))
She says she’s disappointed that the IAEA did not examine any other alternative methods of disposal, such as trapping the tritium in concrete.
((Ivana Nikolic Hughes; Nuclear Peace Age Foundation)) ((Zoom))
“They simply said, 'We’re going to look at this plan by TEPCO,' and then they rubber stamped it, essentially, without saying, ‘Oh, well, let’s look at alternatives, let’s look at potential costs and benefits.’”
((NARRATION))
TEPCO has said it will run out of storage capacity by next year and indicates it will start releasing the water over the summer.
((Jessica Stone, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Washington D. C.
Embargo DateJuly 6, 2023 19:44 EDT
Byline
Jessica Stone, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
