History of the Teshima Waste Incident: Environmental Destruction and Residents' Struggles - 1975 to January 1997
From 1975 to the 1990s, approximately 830,000 tons of industrial waste was illegally dumped on Teshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture, seriously contaminating the groundwater and soil with toxic substances. Lack of government oversight and the contractors' prioritization of profits were behind this incident, and the residents suffered from health hazards and deterioration of their living environment.
In 1992, the residents filed a lawsuit against Kagawa Prefecture, demanding removal of the waste and environmental restoration, and in 1996, the court ordered the prefecture and the national government to remove the waste, and full-scale disposal began. This case led to revisions of the Industrial Waste Disposal Law and the strengthening of the monitoring system, marking a major turning point in Japan's waste policy.
The Teshima Incident was a symbolic case that highlighted the importance of persistent efforts by the local community and environmental conservation, and is being passed down as a lesson for a sustainable future.
No comments:
Post a Comment