Report from the Protect Our Ocean March and Rally

On October 2nd, the “Protect Our Ocean” March and Rally to protest the Japanese government’s and TEPCO‘s (Tokyo Electric Power Company) release of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was held in Manhattan.

Japan and TEPCO have plans to release 1,250,000 tons of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific Ocean starting in 2023 and continuing for more than 30 years.

The dumping of this radioactive water could cause irreparable damage to our planet, and will affect everything from the smallest sea creatures to our human living conditions and everyday lives.

The “Protect Our Ocean” project was for stopping this radioactive water release. Many friends from Morningside Monthly Meeting attended to support this movement.

The march started from Bryant Park at 11 a.m., and walked on 42nd Street, then 2nd Avenue to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on 47th Street. Volunteers and police officers escorted us.

The rally started at 12 noon. The messages from speakers were sincere and powerful and touched participants’ heart. Singers energized participants and made them smile. Two Morningside friends were among the performers.

The importance of the message, “Protect Our Ocean,” was deeply engraved in the hearts of the participants.

We also collected 70 signed letters to President Biden to ask to instruct his Special Envoy Kerry for Climate, to raise the issue of the release of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific Ocean, at the COP 26 conference that takes place from November 1st to 12th in Glasgow, Scotland. We have been asking people to send emails to the White House about this issue.

Sample letter

Dear President Biden,

I am writing to ask you to instruct your Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, to raise the issue of the release of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific Ocean, at the upcoming COP 26 conference that takes place from November 1st to 12th in Glasgow, Scotland.

We are very concerned that the system being proposed cannot remove all radioactive materials before the dumping. The contaminated water being released was used to cool the melted core of multiple nuclear reactors of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power station.

We request that Special Envoy Kerry urge the Japanese government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to explore alternative safer options of long-term storage at the Fukushima Daiichi or near the site to minimize the health impacts on people and all living things as well as to protect the environment of the Pacific Ocean.

Sincerely, ____________