UN rapporteur visits Okinawa to inspect US base surroundings for PFAS. (19no24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Marigold, roadside Futenma, 25oc24


High concentrations of reputedly cancer-causing PFAS chemicals have been discovered around US Military bases in Okinawa Prefecture.   So, Okinawa Prefecture invited UN Rapporteur Marcos Orellana, a specialist in environmental issues, to inspect the problem within the prefecture. He arrived on 18 November and held a discussion with Governor Denny Tamaki.


During 3 days, Mr. Orellana will investigate rivers, creeks, and springs neighboring US Military bases.


The Prefecture, suspecting that the source of the PFAS pollution is within the US Military bases, had requested an onsite inspection. However, the US side showed a negative attitude, since its management of the bases has been determined by the US-Japan Status of Forces  Agreement (SOFA).


The special rapporteur has been given authority by the UN Commission on Human Rights to investigate human rights issues everywhere. So, the Prefecture decided to bring its PFAS problem to international  attention through the special rapporteur’s visit this time.


Original Japanese article: Kyodo Communications, published Monday 18 November 2024 at 17;25

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/a9c58f300557af0c6207e4cd51e0ced06ecda3b4


Denny in the News:

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. 


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 my translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


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 gratefully appreciated.

 

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