STORY: Japan's nuke wastewater dumping plan irresponsible: experts 
DATELINE: Aug. 23, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:58
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Fukushima
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RIZWANA ABBASI, Associate Professor of Security Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KALINGA SENEVIRATNE, Consultant with journalism program at the University of the South Pacific
4. various of protesters
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): RIZWANA ABBASI, Associate Professor of Security Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad

STORYLINE:

Many experts have voiced concerns over Japan's discharge plan for nuclear-contaminated water, saying the decision is irresponsible.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RIZWANA ABBASI, Associate Professor of Security Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad
"I think scientifically and legally the Japanese government has not demonstrated its position transparently at a global level. 
This radioactive material would lead to radiological hazards which in turn would induce diseases that would generate an impact on millions of lives and of course, livelihoods in the broader Asia-Pacific region."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KALINGA SENEVIRATNE, Consultant with journalism program at the University of the South Pacific
"What Japan is doing, what I see is, in the international context, quite an irresponsible thing, because Japan is part of the Western alliance, which always talks about protecting a 'rules-based order.' And there's the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, which was signed by almost all the member states of the Pacific Islands Forum, which includes Australia and New Zealand. So under that treaty, it's very clear, especially in Article 7, it says each party undertakes not to dump radioactive waste and other radioactive matter at sea anywhere within the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone.
And now, Japan is not a signatory to it, but it's a dialogue partner to it. And Japan lies just on the border of the zone. But what Japan will be dumping would flow into this zone, and impact the water. It could pollute the water with nuclear substances. And in the long term, it could also have an impact on the fisheries. So if you're talking about protecting a 'rules-based order,' Japan should be responsible in following the rules."

Japan plans to dump nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean later this week.

The decision was made amid strong opposition from neighboring and Pacific island countries, as well as local fishermen over the irreversible impacts on the marine environment and public health.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): RIZWANA ABBASI, Associate Professor of Security Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad
"I think yes, broadly the environment and livelihood and human security are at huge risk. So what I think we need to do is that the Japanese government needs to postpone this hasty decision, and there is an urgency that the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) now arranges a panel of international independent experts, those who you know, evaluate and assess and give an assessment of environmental impact and an assessment of the impact of maritime transboundary pollution."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)