Why disagree?

From Fukushima to the decision to release treated water April 26, 18:24

This month, the word "treated water" has become a hot topic on the internet.

Water containing radioactive substances such as tritium that remains after "treatment" that removes most of the radioactive substances from the contaminated water generated at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of TEPCO.

The government this month 13 days, in terms of the treated water was diluted to concentrations below the standard of the country, we decided the policy to begin the release into the sea after two years in prospect.

On the other hand, fishermen in Fukushima Prefecture are strongly opposed.

The government says that the concentration of tritium will be reduced to about one-seventh of the international drinking water standard when it is released.

Why aren't you convinced?

Reporters from Fukushima Broadcasting Station interviewed.

* Details on tritium are explained at the end of the sentence.

(Fukushima Broadcasting Station Reporter Akito Yoshida Eri Takasu Shunsuke Goto)

“Thorough measures against rumors” Can we really do it?

"There is no national debate and no understanding of the safety of treated water, so we cannot be convinced of the release into the sea. In the first place, the government has left this problem for the last 10 years. I'm angry about what I've done without calling for discussions all over the country. I'd like to ask who is convinced that I'll take measures against rumors in such a situation. "

It is a word of Mr. Kazuyasu Takahashi (42), a fisherman in Soma City.

Mr. Takahashi is the chairman of the Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative Youth Division Liaison Council, which is made up of young fishermen in the prefecture.

Mr. Takahashi and his colleagues are strongly concerned about "rumor damage."

After the nuclear accident, agriculture, forestry and fishery products in Fukushima Prefecture have been plagued by "rumor damage", such as being left unsold or being sought after at a low price due to the image of being "dangerous".

In reality, even though the concentration of radioactive substances is measured before shipping and the safety is carefully confirmed, there is still a tendency to refrain from buying and the price difference with the whole country, and import restrictions are continuing overseas. there is.

Even so, the prices of fresh flatfish from Fukushima, which are sold in the Tokyo market, are gradually recovering, as they are on par with the national average.

It is a concern of fishermen that if treated water is released in such a situation, even if it is safe, it may be avoided by consumers who do not know it.

In response to these concerns, the government will take the following rumors measures before the release.

▼ Monitoring the concentration before and after the release with the participation of agriculture, forestry and fisheries industry and local governments

▼ IAEA = Disseminating highly transparent and objective information both domestically and internationally with the cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency

▼ Support for fishermen And attracting tourists, promoting sales of local products, etc.

If that's the case, some experts don't see it.

Associate Professor Yasumasa Igarashi of the University of Tsukuba points out the structural problems that are causing reputational damage.

University of Tsukuba Associate Professor Igarashi

"It is very important to foster a scientific understanding of the safety of treated water, but as a structural problem of reputational damage, business partners may be concerned at each stage of distribution. There is a situation in which demand itself declines due to the occurrence of excessive professors, and it becomes impossible to buy before consumers understand it. "

However, the government has also included the need for measures at each stage of production, processing, distribution, and consumption, and this point can be evaluated.

Will the dispelling of rumors that have not been achieved in 10 years be realized in the next two years until the release?

Professor Ryota Koyama of Fukushima University, who was also a member of the national subcommittee on how to dispose of treated water, emphasizes the need for discussions that can be attended by a wider range of people.

Professor Koyama, Fukushima University

"

Forcing the

release will increase the reputation, so it is important to be able to build a relationship of trust between the government and the people to prevent this from happening. To that end, it is important to be able to build contaminated water and treated water. We need a national discussion to help people understand the differences. "

“TEPCO compensates for damages” There are also grudges in the past

Another concern is compensation.

The government is asking TEPCO to compensate for the damage caused by rumors even after taking measures.

On top of that, we also ask for compensation that is commensurate with the damage, regardless of the period, region, or industry, and that we explain the compensation policy to the parties concerned and gain their understanding before the release.

However, in the past, there have been cases of conflict between TEPCO and residents regarding compensation for damages caused by the nuclear accident.

At "ADR", where the national Nuclear Damage Compensation Dispute Resolution Center mediates the settlement between TEPCO and those who are not satisfied with the amount of compensation, TEPCO has settled out of 19,163 cases for which procedures were completed from 2014 to last year. There were 55 cases in which the proposal was rejected, excluding complaints by TEPCO employees and their families.

In some cases, it has evolved into a proceeding.

Among them, in Namie Town, about 15,000 residents, which is about 70% of the population before the earthquake, filed a petition, and the center proposed a settlement plan to increase the compensation fee, but TEPCO continued to refuse, April 2018 The procedure was closed in the month.

Mayor Kazuhiro Yoshida told TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa, who visited to explain the response policy on the 19th of this month, "There was an unreasonable thing in the past. And expressed distrust.

Professor Masafumi Yokemoto of Osaka City University, who is familiar with the compensation for the nuclear accident, said that while doubts about the history of such past compensation could not be dispelled, even if reputational damage occurs after the release of treated water, appropriate compensation will be provided. It is unclear whether it will be paid.

Professor

Masafumi Yokemoto of

Osaka City University

"TEPCO says" I will make appropriate compensation "in writing and by mouth, but people who are worried whether it is okay to believe it because compensation has been discontinued in the past It is natural that there are many cases. It is difficult to prove that damages are occurring in individual cases in a wide range of regions and industries affected by treated water. , It will be important to create a framework for compensation by region and industry, and to have a careful discussion with the parties concerned to obtain their consent. "

And there's one more thing I don't want you to forget about compensation.

While interviewing in Fukushima, many fishermen say, "What we want is not to continue living while receiving compensation."

They hope to regain the normal fishing industry, where they go out to sea and earn their own money, aiming for a big catch, just like before the nuclear accident.

It's not just fishermen and fishermen.

People involved in tourism, such as hotels and restaurants, hope that people who visit Fukushima will like the local area, not that they will be compensated if the number of tourists decreases.

In that sense, the response between the government and TEPCO is required to never be compensated.

Responding to "promises" that ask whether trust can be regained

And the biggest issue is the relationship of trust with the local community.

Six years ago, the government and TEPCO promised the Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Federation that they would not dispose of treated water without the understanding of the parties concerned.

However, the government decided on the release policy without the understanding of the fishermen.

On the other hand, fishermen are angry asking, "Do you want to make a promise?"

Satoshi Nozaki, chairman of the Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Federation, said when a government official visited the explanation on the 16th of this month, "If there is no proper explanation on this matter, there is a concern that future measures will be dismissed. Yes, I want you to give a solid explanation. "

On the other hand, the government and TEPCO intend to gain understanding before the release.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kajiyama

"It will take about two years before the actual release begins, and we will do our utmost to make the best use of the period until then to dispel concerns and deepen understanding. Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Federation, We recognize that the contact point for dialogue continues with all Fisheries Federations. We will continue to persuade them after taking various measures. "

President Kobayakawa of TEPCO

"I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused to the fishermen for 10 years after the nuclear accident, and I would like to keep the promise I made with the Prefectural Fisheries Federation. I would like to do my best to gain the understanding and trust of many stakeholders. "

However, it is not easy to get the understanding of fishermen who have consistently opposed the release.

In the first place, there are many people who are angry at the composition that "presses understanding" after deciding the release policy first.

Prime Minister Suga said in a private meeting with Governor Uchibori of Fukushima Prefecture on the 22nd of this month, "I will take the thoughts of Fukushima citizens and especially fishermen seriously. I will do everything I can and be prepared to do it." It is said that it was done.

There are even local voices saying, "Prime Minister Suga himself should talk with fishermen on his knees."

The determination to "keep the promise" and its execution are being asked.

“The only thing to stop the reconstruction of Fukushima is ...”

Fukushima is proceeding with reconstruction from the unprecedented experience of the nuclear accident.

Off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, the trial operation was completed at the end of last month, and we are trying to return to the original form of fishing while gradually increasing the landings.

In terms of tourism, the beaches have finally reopened in Shinchi Town and Minamisoma City for the first time in nine years, and leisure activities in the sea are finally reviving, and efforts to utilize the once popular surfing etc. for town development have begun. ..

This is proof that the locals have been making bloody efforts for 10 years.

With this policy decision, the government and TEPCO are required to concretely solve issues such as "rumors," "compensation," and "relationship of trust" so that their efforts will not become a bubble.

What is treated water?

Water containing radioactive substances such as tritium that remains after the contaminated water generated at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is applied to a radioactive substance removal device called ALPS to remove most of the radioactive substances.

Tritium (T) is a radioactive substance called "tritium" in Japanese and is a member of hydrogen.

In the environment, it exists as water (H2O → HTO) by combining with oxygen in a form that replaces normal hydrogen.

Therefore, it is difficult to separate it from the water and remove it, and it cannot be removed even by using the radioactive substance removal device at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Tritium is produced by nuclear fission in nuclear power plants, but it is also produced in the natural world by high-energy radiation (cosmic rays) flying from space, and is also contained in the atmosphere, rainwater, seawater, and tap water. In addition, there are trace amounts in our bodies.

However, since the energy is weak and it is discharged from the body together with water, it is said that there is almost no effect if it is below the standard.

At the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 1.25 million tons are stored in more than 1,000 tanks, and the number is still increasing at a pace of 140 tons a day.

The total amount of tritium in the tank is 780 trillion becquerels, and it is estimated to be 2000 trillion becquerels including those in the building.

The government and TEPCO have said that they will be flushed into the sea at a level below 22 trillion becquerels annually for a while, but they are considering gradually increasing it while watching the situation.

In addition, some of the water in the tank does not sufficiently treat radioactive substances other than tritium with ALPS and remains at a concentration that exceeds the emission standard, and TEPCO repeatedly applies ALPS to fall below the standard before release. It is supposed to be processed.

Fukushima Broadcasting Station Reporter

Akito Yoshida

Joined in 2010

Experienced nuclear power coverage

at Aomori Station and Matsuyama Station

.

Since three years ago, he

has been in charge

of decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and

covering evacuation areas at the

Fukushima Bureau

.

Fukushima Broadcasting Station Reporter

Eri Takasu

Joined the

station

in 2015

After working at the Nara station, the Fukushima station.

Currently, he is in

charge of

nuclear power plant and prefectural government,

and covers recovery

from the nuclear accident

and issues.

Fukushimahosokyoku reporters

Shunsuke Goto

2016 joined

through the police in charge of

the South Soma bureau

of the earthquake-nuclear power plant accident

covered the reconstruction.