NEW YORK: PRIME Minister of Solomon Islands has asked Japan to explore other options while treating nuclear waste water and immediately stop discharging it into the Pacific Ocean, Western media reported on Monday.
Manasseh Sogavare in his speech at the 78th United Nations General Assembly reiterated that Solomon Islands stands with likeminded Pacific Islanders who are unhappy by Japan’s decision to discharge a million tonnes of treated nuclear waste water into the Ocean.
He said that increased warming and acidification of the ocean, the discharge of treated nuclear water pose a serious risk to people’s health.
IAEA report is inconclusive
The PM added the IAEA’s (International Atomic Energy Agency’s) assessment report on Japan’s treated nuclear water is inconclusive and the scientific data shared remains inadequate, incomplete and biased.
Manasseh Sogavare was of the view that if this nuclear waste is safe then it should be stored in Japan. He noted that the way it is dumped into the ocean shows that it is not safe.
“So, the message is clear, our lives, our people do not matter,” said the PM.
Prime Minister Sogavare added if the world is interested to rebuild trust and reignite global solidarity then all countries must be honest and frank in protecting oceans which are the lifelines of the people.
