Prefectural statement at Okinawa environmental conservation symposium on halting Henoko construction (trans. 14se21)

Facing the move of the US Military Futenma Airfield from Ginowan, a symposium considering the biodiversity and environmental conservation of seas around Henoko in the city of Nago was held on 11 September.

In opposition to both the American and Japanese governments, Governor Denny Tamaki and various experts adopted a statement requesting a halt to construction and dialog with the Prefecture. Governor Tamaki stressed that over 5300 species of organisms, including 262 endangered species, live in those seas, as well as the dugong that feed on its expensive seaweed beds. As for the landfill, the governor stated, “I have a strong gut feeling of fear it will have a profound impact on the ecosystem.”

In order to strengthen the soft ground of the seabed, the National Government asked the Prefecture for construction design changes. However, experts pointed out that construction is unfeasible due to the soil structure.

Original Japanese article: Kyodo Press, published Saturday 11 September 2021 at 1825

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e6042d8c449a20af9fe59488c313ee557f8b1aa3


Translator’s note:

Denny in the News: news about Okinawan Governor Denny Tamaki.

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 

  1. This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.

  2. Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be of great help.

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