Since the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011, the Fukushima nuclear wastewater problem has been a major concern for successive Japanese governments. By 2023, the Japanese government will dump nuclear sewage into the sea despite the opposition of the international community. A face that can't do anything about it, and everyone loves it, is really shameless.
At that time, the criticism of Japan's discharge of nuclear sewage was overwhelming, but today, less than a year later, this public opinion field seems to be different.
Japan: It's nuclear wastewater, it's absolutely safe!
In March 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced to the world that more than 1.3 million tons of nuclear wastewater would be discharged into the Pacific Ocean from spring to summer this year. Fumio Kishida's speech has only eight words: It is nuclear wastewater, which is absolutely safe! He also claimed that this is a "safety plan" supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
But is that really the case? Of course not. Japan's so-called ALPS nuclear wastewater treatment system does have some effect, and most of the radionuclides can be removed through this system.
But the IAEA only "studied" the system, never the actual operation of the ALPS. In other words, whether it is nuclear wastewater or nuclear sewage is up to Japan's own conscience.
Since March, there has been a lot of discussion around the world about Japan's discharge of nuclear wastewater. Among them, the Asia-Pacific region, which is "bearing the brunt" due to geopolitical relations, reacted most fiercely.
The governments of the mainland, North Korea, and other countries expressed strong opposition, and the people also scolded them. However, with the "support" of the United States, Japan had no fear, and on August 24, 2023, nuclear sewage flowed into the Pacific Ocean. Since that day, the consequences of the Fukushima nuclear disaster have been paid for by the whole world.
In order to ensure the safety of the people's tables, China has completely suspended the import of Japanese seafood. In South Korea, due to the inaction of the ruling party, multiple rounds of demonstrations broke out. On the afternoon of September 2, South Korea's opposition parties and civic groups held a rally in downtown Seoul to protest against the Japanese government's discharge of nuclear sewage into the sea.
According to relevant data, the number of people participating in the rally that day may be as high as 50,000, which can be described as huge. However, I don't know if you have noticed, but now, after half a year, everything seems to be in a calm transition - reports and condemnation of Japan's nuclear sewage discharge into the sea are decreasing.
Behind the gradual condemnation
Could it be that Japan's discharge of nuclear sewage is indeed not as dangerous as imagined? No, the biggest reason is that the cannons cannot change the established facts. With the United States and other old Western powers standing up for Japan, it is almost impossible to get Japan to stop the discharge of nuclear wastewater. Under these conditions, even if there are demonstrations and public condemnations, what can it be? A sense of powerlessness arises spontaneously, and after a long time, naturally no one wants to repeatedly "mention" this bad thing.
In addition, political factors are also influencing public opinion. In the Asia-Pacific region, which used to be the hottest region, the mainland government still opposes it, but there is one country whose position has changed - South Korea. After the change of government in South Korea, the new president Yoon Suk-yeol embarked on a "pro-Japanese" line.
With such a president, it is natural that the ROK government will soften its attitude. And what will happen to the attitude of public opinion towards the government, everyone knows in their hearts.
In addition to the above two points, there is another reason for the media attention. We live in a fast-paced era, where daily news hotspots are endless, and the media can't just stare at one thing every day. Therefore, with the occurrence of other global events, the issue of Japan's nuclear sewage discharge has gradually disappeared from the pen of major media.
In short, Japan's discharge of nuclear sewage into the Pacific Ocean is an extremely irresponsible and vicious incident. But for various reasons, it is inevitable that this matter will gradually fade into oblivion over time. I only hope that those who remember can remember it for a longer time, so that the sins of the Japanese government will not be quietly exposed.
Bibliography:
[1] Editorial Department of this journal.Japan's nuclear sewage discharge poisons the ocean and harms the world[J].Disaster Prevention Expo,2023(05):42-43.