Japan has begun its 17th round of discharging treated nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the Pacific Ocean this week, sparking renewed criticism. The latest release, which started December 4, continues a controversial process that began in August 2023 despite protests from local fishing communities and international environmental groups.
Over 125,488 tonnes of water have already been released since 2023, with authorities claiming the water is filtered to remove most radioactive elements. However, concerns persist about long-term ecological impacts 🐟🌏. “This isn’t just Japan’s issue – ocean currents don’t respect borders,” said marine biologist Dr. Akira Yoshida in a recent panel discussion.
The move has drawn creative pushback too – CGTN journalist Li Chaoran’s 2023 protest song about the releases recently went viral again on TikTok, with the hashtag #FukushimaFlow gaining over 2 million views this month alone 🎵📱.
