Civil society organisations called on Pacific leaders to prioritise the ongoing disposal of treated nuclear wastewater from Fukushima and the contentious issue of deep-sea mining during their retreat in Vava’u yesterday. The call follows a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) dialogue with Forum leaders in Nuku’alofa, where concerns about these critical issues were strongly voiced.
Joey Tau of the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) emphasised the urgency of these matters. “We hope the leaders give serious consideration following the PALM Summit,” Tau said, urging leaders to reinstate the expert panel on Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater disposal, which has been sidelined in recent discussions with Japan and TEPCO. Tau pointed out the need for Pacific leaders to hold Japan accountable, even suggesting the suspension of Japan as a Forum Dialogue Partner due to its continued actions despite regional objections.
Tau also explained the long-term dangers of nuclear waste disposal, particularly in a region still recovering from the devastating impacts of nuclear testing in French Polynesia and the Marshall Islands. “If this continues for the next 30 years, the accumulated impacts will be severe,” he warned.
Sharon Bagwan Rolls of the Pacific Women Mediators Network echoed these concerns, stressing the importance of upholding the Treaty of Rarotonga, which establishes a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in the South Pacific. She raised alarms about the movement of nuclear waste in the Pacific Ocean, noting the health impacts on women from previous nuclear testing.
Deep-sea mining was another focal point, with Tau highlighting the differing positions within the region. He called for caution and greater civil society involvement in future discussions, emphasising that these issues remain top priorities for civil society groups seeking a more inclusive approach in regional decision-making.
