The Pacific Is Not A Nuclear Waste dumping ground.

This is the message from a group of former Pacific islands leaders who got together to speak out against the discharge of treated nuclear water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.

Pacific Elders Voice

The former leaders include Hilda Heine, former President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Anote Tong, former President of the Republic of Kiribati, Dame Meg Taylor, former Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Robert Underwood, former Member of U.S. Congress & President of the University of Guam.

The group known as Pacific Elders Voice said the Japan and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)’s reckless decision to discharge over 1.3 million tonnes of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into our Blue Pacific was a testimony to the dangers of nuclear power.

“No Pacific State is reliant on the nuclear power industry,” the group said.

“Now, Pacific Islanders and future generations will have to bear the brunt of Japan’s dependence on nuclear energy.

“We note with disappointment that this brazen act of environmental vandalism will compound the brutal nuclear legacy of over 315 weapons tests in our region for which genuine nuclear justice has not been fully achieved.”

The statement said the act furthermore represents a palpable disrespect towards the Pacific region’s historically strong stance against nuclear pollution in all forms and commitment to a Nuclear Free Pacific.

This was through international and regional agreements such as the London Convention (1972), the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), the Rarotonga Treaty (1986), the Noumea Convention (1986) and the Waigani Convention (1995).

“History repeats itself with Japan again testing the limits of the Pacific’s friendship through an absence of consultation, accountability, dialogue and consensus building with Pacific states, NGOs and civil society groups.

“We believe that this will set a dangerous precedent that breaches the human rights of Pacific peoples, especially by other states who wish to engage with nuclear power and are looking to dispose of any form of toxic waste into the Pacific Ocean.”

It adds that the plan represents an irreversible risk of severe human rights violations, especially those relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; as well as, many others concerning the rights to an adequate standard of living, physical and mental health, safe food, drinking water and sanitation.

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