Japan starts to dump radioactive water into ocean

On August 24, a group of demonstrators gathered outside the Tokyo Electric Power Company's (Tepco) headquarters in Tokyo to protest the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean, Reuters reported. 

The protest lasted for approximately an hour and was characterized by passionate chants and slogans demanding that Tepco adhere to its promise of storing the treated waters in tanks rather than releasing them into the ocean.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 2011 was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami that led to a catastrophic meltdown of multiple reactors. The subsequent accumulation of radioactive water used to cool the reactors posed a significant challenge in the aftermath of the disaster. Over the years, Tepco implemented a comprehensive treatment process to remove various radioactive contaminants from the water, except for tritium.

The Japanese government approved the release of the treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean two years ago as part of a broader strategy for decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi plant. This decision was recently endorsed by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, acknowledging the rigorous assessments and safety standards that had been met.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, initiated the release of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean at 1:03 p.m. local time on August 24. 

"We are planning to release the water continuously, 24/7 (over the period of 17 days). If we see any failures in our system or any problems, we will halt (the release) immediately,"

TEPCO mentioned. The company reported that no abnormalities were identified with the seawater pump or the surrounding facilities involved in the release process. Initially, the water will be released in smaller quantities and subjected to additional inspections. The initial discharge will consist of 7,800 cubic meters (approximately 275,454 cubic feet) of water, which is roughly equivalent to three Olympic-sized swimming pools. This release will occur gradually over a span of approximately 17 days.

The protest outside Tepco's headquarters reflects the broader concerns surrounding nuclear waste management and environmental responsibility. As the treated radioactive water disperses into the Pacific Ocean, ongoing monitoring and transparency will be crucial in assessing potential impacts. The public discourse and activism surrounding this release highlight the need for continued international collaboration and the engagement of various stakeholders to address the challenges posed by nuclear accidents.

Earlier Daryo reported that the major opposition Democratic Party (DP) in South Korea orchestrated a sizable demonstration in downtown Seoul in July, strongly objecting to Japan's intention of releasing nuclear-contaminated water and urging the South Korean government to explicitly voice its dissent against the proposal.