ABOUT two months ago, the Pacific Alliance of Municipal Councils or PAMC launched an online petition (https://chng.it/JLT2btJQB6) protesting Japan’s plan to dump its Fukushima nuclear waste water drums into the Pacific Ocean.
As a result of that petition, two researchers from Japan will visit Tinian and meet with the members of the councils and the mayors from Tinian and Rota.
The two are Mr. Seichiro Takamine, a researcher of nuclear testing on the Marshall Islands, and Ms. Hiroko Takeshima, a researcher studying nuclear history with emphasis on the Fukushima nuclear plant accident.
PAMC hopes that this meeting will lead to networking and collaborating with other environmental advocacy groups to increase awareness and prevent Japan and any country from using the oceans as dumping grounds for nuclear wastes.
“It has been a pretty rough start, with only less than 400 signatures since the launching of the petition, but we remain hopeful that this movement will gather momentum as we continue to reach out to the world for help to achieve our goal,” said PAMC Vice President Juanita Masga Mendiola from the 18th Tinian Municipal Council.
PAMC President Jim Atalig stated that he would like to see the people of Marianas take the lead in this petition, and while the low number of signatures is a little disappointing, he remains hopeful that things will change and see this cause end at the United Nations for global address.
Members of the Pacific Alliance of Municipal Councils include Ana Demapan Castro, Saipan and Northern Islands chair; Jonovan Lizama, 18th Rota Municipal Council chair; Joseph E. Santos, 18th Tinian Municipal Council chair; council members Antonia Tudela, Daniel Aquino, William Taitano and Thomasa P. Mendiola.
