ASIA ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE 2016: JAPAN
Industrial Pollution
Illegal Landfeild Dumping
Sea-Floor Garbage in Mizushima
Check out the Page on Teshima to learn more about the illegal landfill dumping that took place there.
Industrial pollution has also affected Mizushima's water quality. We worked with a girl's high school in Mizushima, where the students have been collaborating with local fishermen to take action against water pollution. The students focus specifically on sea-floor garbage, which unlike terrestrial or floating waste, is out of the view of the public eye. Since it is trapped on the bottom of the ocean's floor, it is difficult to remove without use of scuba or large equipment. The students in Mizushima remove sea-floor waste with the help of local drag-net fishermen, who often pull up sea-floor grabage with their catch. The students travel with the fishermen and remove the waste pulled up from the sea floor.
The students also focus on environmental education by teaching locals of various age groups about sea-floor waste, bringing this often overlooked form of pollution into the public eye.
Industrial Pollution in Mizushima
Mizushima is the site of largest industrial pants in the country, and is home to one of the worst cases of industrial pollution in Japan. Large-scale industrialization beginning in the 1940's caused wide-spread air pollution that forced many residents out of their homes. Countless residents of Mizushima suffered lung illness, many even dying from the contaminated air.
After 25 years of petitioning in the courts the Japanese government found the industrial company liable and granted the townsfolk full health care for the rest of their lives. However, the health coverage was only granted to those who were living at the time. That was back in 1994. Since then the factory has continued production, and the companies in charge have put better precautions in place for controlling pollution levels. Despite that, the worries of residents that this tragedy is still not over, especially for future generations, are still present.
Local news paper clips of our group working with a local girls high school enveronmental club cleaning up sea floor garbage in Mizushima.