STORY: Japan should find "alternative solutions" on Fukushima wastewater: Spaniards
DATELINE: Sept. 14, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:25
LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of nuclear facilities in Japan
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): DANIEL BOREGUERO, Local resident
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): BEGONA CORDERO, Local resident
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, Local resident
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): MARIA JIMENEZ, Local resident

STORYLINE:

Some residents living in the Spanish city of Barcelona have voiced concerns over Japan's decision to release nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean and suggested that Japan should find alternative solutions. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): DANIEL BOREGUERO, Local resident
"To think you can treat this wastewater and pour it into the sea seems impossible and they should find a different solution. For all that they have studied the situation, it's hard to believe that this water can ever be really clean again, and it's normal that people don't want to buy fish because of the risk caused in the past at the plant."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): BEGONA CORDERO, Local resident
"They say that it's safe but who knows? It seems unfortunate that they have to pour the water into the sea, especially given the state of the environment. I think they should look for an alternative."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, Local resident
"Maybe they could have found another site in Japan to continue storing the water for as long as necessary. The water doesn't have to be kept at the plant but nor does it have to be poured into the sea."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): MARIA JIMENEZ, Local resident
"If you buy fish knowing about this wastewater in the sea, then you're going to be fearful."

Struck by a massive earthquake and an ensuing tsunami in March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear power plant suffered core meltdowns and generated a massive amount of water tainted with radioactive substances from cooling down the nuclear fuel.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain.
(XHTV)