Decades Later the Minamata Disaster Is Still in the News

Decades after the dumping of tons of mercury into Minamata Bay in Japan the patients suffering from Minamata disease are still trying for retribution. I know that none of the mercury emission issues we face in the US are anywhere near the horrendous levels of mercury that caused this disaster in Japan, but it was this disaster that led to the movement to study the effects of mercury on humans and their fetuses.

Minimata should always stay as a reminder of what can happen when toxic emissions go totally unchecked. An excerpt from The Japan Times,

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner New Komeito have compiled an outline for a fresh rescue package for Minamata disease patients who have gone officially unrecognized, featuring payment of a lump sum, coalition sources said Tuesday.

While the efforts of the LDP are applauded in one sense they are also criticized in another. The fact that there was a settlement in 1995 that has proven to be insufficient has complicated the issue today since the new settlements cannot approach the old ones. A very touching editorial from Asahi.com details the dilemma. An excerpt follows,

In effect, the relief measures took a step forward in one sense but took a step back in another.

In the political settlement reached by ruling parties in 1995, about 12,000 uncertified patients received lump-sum payments. It was an ambiguous settlement that did not use government standards for certification or clearly position the patients as "victims."

In 2004, the Supreme Court said the government should expand its standards for certification to extend relief measures for a larger number of victims. The decision prompted more people to come forward as patients. Under two sets of standards established by the government and the court, work to recognize victims tended to fall behind in prefectures. That is why the coalition group decided once again to try to settle the issue.

I suggest reading the full editorial if you are interested in how this settlement is being handled. Again this is a reminder and a difficult one at that of what we should globally avoid at all costs. It is one of those "pay me now, or pay me later" kinda things.