Page 17 - Islands Business September 2023

Fukushima

FUKUSHIMA DISCHARGE BEGINS
C L I M A T E F I N A N C E :
PACIFIC REMAINS DIVIDED
P A R A M E T R I C I N S U R A N C E I N V A N U A T U

By Samantha Magick and Prerna Priyanka sure that the water is safe. So that is our course of action
A big VINAKA VAKALEVU (thanks) to Vanuatu Young Women For now,” Puna said.
Change, Anne Pakoa and the diverse rural women leaders and first As Pacific Ocean experts gathered in Fiji in August to New Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni says he
respondents of Vanuatu for opening up your space and affirming our is personally concerned about Japan’s plan.
feminist media work in Fiji and in the region. discuss the role of the Pacific Ocean Commission, Japan
begun discharging more than one million tonnes of treated “But as you know, all of our positions are driven by leaders
radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power and I will take my guidance from what the leaders say and
We held our first Climate Finance awareness session in Vanuatu with
almost 50 diverse rural women leaders from communities around plant into the Pacific Ocean. then move forward to help the region along those lines.
Port Villa. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) commenced In Suva, protestors marched through the city centre in
the first round of release, which will continue for 17 days, to opposition to Japan’s action.
There was an emphasis of discussion on disaster preparedness, violence against women and girls, information discharge 7800 tons of the radioactive wastewater. Reverend James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific
access and sharing climate finance information that the grassroots and low income earners should understand The issue has divided Pacific Island nations. Conference of Churches asserted that Japan was treating the
in order to help in their disaster responses and recovery. We acknowledge the space where there were lots of Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare Pacific Ocean as a cheap dumping ground.
sharing especially post COVID and their genuine gratitude to a space where they can connect and learn each “delivered a strong statement against Japan’s decision to “If Japan believes the wastewater is safe,” he questioned,
other's work and of course our feminist media work and it's important role in amplifying their voices towards release nuclear treated water into our ocean which has an “why not dispose of it in their own waters?”
influence and advocacy towards change. There were lots of discussion and joy we all shared. impact on our people, ocean, economy and livelihood,” Reverend Bhagwan emphasised the intergenerational
according to a Solomon Islands government release the consequences of such decisions, highlighting that today’s
We all look forward to a much strengthened regional relationship building and networking that is needed in Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in Vanuatu. politicians won’t have to bear the brunt of their action’s
connecting all our feminist and social movement building work. Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister, Matai Seremaiah said Japan’s decades down the line.
Vinaka VanCare Insurance Limited for your attendance and useful information session to support climate Noelene Nabulivou, a representative from feminist
finance access to our rural communities. decision needed robust actions, urging polluters to “seriously
Acknowledging UN Capital Development Fund for this collaboration work with femLINKpacific and seeing the consider other options.” collective DIVA for Equality, said that the Pacific’s concerns
value and significance of diverse rural women in accessing climate insurance and helping build stronger Tuvalu’s Minister for Finance, Seve Paeniu says they will were being overlooked in favour of short-term economic
community resilience in the face of climate crises. continue to oppose the planned discharge. gains.
“The ocean is our resource, our source of survival for “Our Pacific elders have spoken out against this too,” she
our communities here in the Pacific, and we want to do added, emphasising the need to consider the perspectives
F E M L I N K P A C I F I C A T W O M E N D E L I V E R - O C E A N I A everything possible to avoid that sort of initiative going of those who have held high-level roles and possess deep
ahead,” he said. knowledge of the region.
The 2 days Women Deliver Oceania conference took place in Niue Premier, Dalton Tagelagi said his country is worried Meanwhile, the head of the Pacific Community (SPC) says
Melbourne that convened around 300 participants that about the release as the impacts to human health and the region should develop scientific capability “that is owned
included Oceanic representatives. This was a build up from environment are still unclear. and trusted” to monitor and advise on radioactive isotopes.
the Pacific Feminist Forum we had in Fiji.
“The majority of Niue are coastal peoples, and the ocean is Dr Stuart Minchin says it’s not a panic situation, as in the
Panels during the sessions included a few prominent and an integral part of our culture, traditions and livelihoods, and short term, the Pacific Islands region is unlikely to see any
fierce women in leadership including Fiji's former Minister we must protect it at all cost.” immediate impacts from the release from Fukushima, due
for Women and Poverty and now the SPC's Principal However other leaders, including Fiji’s Sitiveni Rabuka and to our distance from the discharge site and the way ocean
Strategic Lead, Ms Mereseini Rakuita and Ambassador for Cook Islands’ Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum Chair, currents work.
Gender Equality (Pacific) Louisa Wall.
Mark Brown, say they accept the International Atomic Energy However, he says when it comes to Fukushima and other
On gender mainstreaming, Ms Rakuita shared that we have Agency’s assessment that the release is safe. nuclear legacy issues, “the region is currently completely
great global commitments however when it comes down to Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna dependent on the science undertaken and scientific advice
resourcing at national level, there is no budget to properly Maria together with our We Rise partners being hosted by the IWDA provided by the same nations that are responsible for the
resource violence against women work and responses. team in their Melbourne office noted: “We’ve done our best to get Japan not to permit
the discharge until there is full contamination.”
Ambassador Wall spoke strongly on dismantling colonialism and how it continues to affect our lives today, how agreement that it’s verifiably As a result he notes, “it’s
resourcing should prioritise those that are working with diverse and grassroots communities and resourcing safe to do so, but Japan has difficult for nations in our region
communities to drive the change especially within the climate crises.
taken a sovereign decision and to fully trust the advice that
Second day discussions emphasised a lot on the planning and logistics of representatives that will be attending that point is now past. they’re given by the scientists
the Women Deliver in Kigali, Africa. The Women Deliver 2023 Conference (WD2023) will take place in-person in “What we need to focus on of those nations that are
Kigali, Rwanda, as well as virtually, from 17-20 July 2023. WD2023 will convene 6,000 in Kigali, Rwanda which now is to hold Japan to account actually responsible for the
will become the first biggest Gender Equality Conference to take place in the African continent. There will be
almost 60 Oceanic delegation which is a big achievement for the Pacific and we will be taking with us our for the undertaking and the contamination,” even if that
regional outcomes document from the Pacific Feminist Forum that was held in Fiji in May, 2023. guarantees they have given us science is robust.
to ensure that if the water is The Fukushima issue is sure to
The We Rise Coalition partners that consists of Brown Girl Woke of Samoa, Sista Vanuatu, FWRM,Voice for not safe, based on monitoring be discussed by the Pacific Islands
Change-PNG, femLINKpacific and IWDA-Australia also utilised the opportunity to meet with the IWDA team in
Melbourne. by the International Atomic Forum leaders when they meet in
Energy Agency (IAEA)...then the Cook Islands in November.
Programme Manager and Co-Lead Maria Nailevu attended the Melbourne event. discharge will not continue until
steps have been taken to make In Suva, citizens demonstrated against the Fukushima treated water editor@islandsbusiness.com
We acknowledge the Australian Government through the International Women's Development Agency - IWDA release.
under our We Rise Coalition for supporting the participation of femLINKpacific in this global space.
Islands Business, September 2023 17