[영문성명서] We Condemn the Japanese Government’s Decision to Release Fukushima Radioactive Wastewater into the Sea

Joint Statement from South Korean Civil Society Groups:
We Condemn the Japanese Government’s Decision to Release Fukushima Radioactive Wastewater into the Sea
- The sea is not a dumping ground
- What right does Japan have to unilaterally pollute the sea?
- Withdraw the decision to release radioactive wastewater into the sea
On April 13, the Japanese government officially announced its decision to discharge contaminated wastewater from Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. In the decade since the Fukushima nuclear accident, the issue of radioactive wastewater discharge has been strongly opposed not only in Japan, but also by neighboring countries including South Korea.
The Japanese government insists that through staggered releases and dilution the contaminated water will be harmless to humans. However, even if diluted the total amount of radioactive material thrown into the sea remains unchanged. If the radioactive wastewater is discharged, it will be a irrevocable disaster not only for marine ecosystem but for the human.
On April 12, a joint Korean-Japanese committee for 10th anniversary of Fukushima nuclear disaster delivered an international petition to the Japanese government. The petition was signed by 64,600 people from 86 countries. Calls have grown internationally for the continued long-term storage through building additional storage tanks etc., rather than ocean discharge.
Today, the Japanese government made a choice that should not have been made. Anti-Nuke Citizen Action Committee defines the Japanese government's decision as nuclear terrorism, and will take all measures to prevent the discharge of radioactive wastewater into the oceans in the future.
April 13, 2021
Anti-Nuke Citizen Action Committee
Christian Environmental Movement Solidarity, Workers' Solidarity, Green Party, Green Alliance, Daejeon Nuclear Hope, Buddhist Ecological Contents Research Institute, Buddhist Environment Solidarity, Samcheok Nuclear Power Plant Anti-Committee, Civic Radiation Monitoring Center, ICOOP Cooperative (Gangnam, Gangseo, Dobong Nowon Stepping Stone, Seodaemun Mapo Eunpyeong, Seoul, Songpa), Energy and Climate Policy Research Institute, Energy Justice Action, Joint Action to Secure the Safety of Yeonggwang Nuclear Power Plant, Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Adjacent Region Migration Countermeasure Committee, Justice Party, Political Mothers, Post-nuclear Race Gyeongju Citizens Joint Action, Anti-Nuke Energy Transition Jeonbuk Solidarity, Jeju North Koreans' Action, Participation Solidarity, Catholic Men's Ministers' Council Justice Peace Environment Committee, Catholic Jesus Company's Independence Committee, Drawing Abstracts, Korea YWCA Federation, Korean Catholic Women's Capital Presidents' Association JPIC Division, Hansalim Association, Nuclear Free Daegu Citizen's Action for the World, Chungbuk Action for a Nuclear-Free Society, Gochang-gun Action for a Nuclear-Free World, Gwangju-Jeonnam Action in a Nuclear World, Korean Federation of Environmental Movements, Environmental Justice
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ⓒ환경운동연합[/caption]
4대강 사업 당시 남한강 바닥에서 퍼 올린 준설토 더미에서 멸종위기 식물인 단양쑥부쟁이 꽃이 만발한 것으로 최근 확인됐다. 여주환경운동연합은 28일 보도자료를 통해 4대강사업 남한강 준설토 적치장과 남한강 지류인 청미천 합수부에서 환경부 지정 멸종위기야생동식물 2급으로 지정된 단양쑥부쟁이 군락지가 발견됐다고 밝혔다. 단양쑥부쟁이는 단양에서 충주에 이르는 남한강가 모래땅에서 자라는 식물로 4대강 사업 당시 서식처 훼손논란을 불러일으킨 바 있다.
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ⓒ환경운동연합[/caption]
이번에 단양쑥부쟁이가 발견된 곳은 청미천 합수부에서 준설토 적치장으로 이어지는 곳에 500여평에 이르는 광범위한 면적이다. 특히 청미천 합수부는 4대강사업 당시 남한강을 준설하며 하상보호공을 쌓아올렸으나 지금은 모래 재퇴적이 진행되고 있다. 환경단체와 전문가들은 모래가 재퇴적된 지역과 준설토 부지에서 단양쑥부쟁이가 발견된 것에 주목하고 있다.
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ⓒ환경운동연합[/caption]
여주환경운동연합 김민서 사무국장은 “4대강사업 준설 시점으로부터 꽤 오랜 시간이 흐른 지금도 여전히 남한강의 준설토가 거대한 생명의 씨앗을 품고 있었다."고 언급했다. 환경운동연합 신재은 자연생태국장은 “이런 모래를 골재로 사용하는 것은 안타까운 일”이라고 주장하며 “준설토가 적치된 부지를 비롯해 남한강의 단양쑥부쟁이의 분포 민관공동조사 및 준설토 반출 중단을 환경부에 제안할 것”이라고 밝혔다.
전문가들은 남한강의 준설토가 4대강 재자연화에 역할을 할 수 있다고 설명한다. 인제대학교 토목공학과 박재현 교수는 “4대강은 이후 재자연화 과정에서 하상안정화 과정으로 일정구간을 여울형태로 만들어 하상을 안정시키는 방안이 긴급하게 적용할 수 있는 방안"이라며, "지금 강변에 남아 있는 준설한 모래가 유용하게 사용될 수 있을 것."이라고 밝혔다.















































































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