Okinawa Environmental Justice Project

The Environment Ministry's New Report On April 7, 2021, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment released  its annual report  on the status of the dugong and its conservation efforts in the waters of Okinawa. The report has raised hope for the survival of dugongs in the waters of  Okinawa Island, the largest and most populated island of the prefecture. It has also underscored the need to enhance civil society's efforts to protect the endangered Okinawa dugong. The ministry's report informs that dugong feeding trails were found near Kouri Island, northern Okinawa Island, during the ministry's survey in June 2020. (No dugong trails were observed during its most recent survey in January 2021 survey). The report also describes that dugong feeding trails were observed in the Yaeyama and Miyako areas, confirming the ministry's previous reports on the status of dugongs in these areas.  Dugong feeding trails found near Kouri Island in June 2020 Image Source: Ministry of th...

Mage Shima Base Construction and EIA On April 1, 2021, the Okinawa Environmental Justice Project submitted its public comments on the Scoping Document , part of the Japanese Ministry of Defense's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its plan to construct a Self-Defense Forces (SDF) airbase on Mage Shima, Kagoshima.   We are glad that OEJP joined other environmental groups, environmentalists, and concerned citizens in submitting public comments.  We thank Mr. Shin-ichi Hanawa (formerly with WWF-Japan) and the Okinawa Environment Network for allowing us to share and post their comments on this blog page. (We can learn a lot from their expert comments) Mage Shima and Tanega Shima (in the back) Image Source: Nishinippon Shimbun News Expansion of SDF Bases in the Nansei (Southeast) Islands Chain Over the last decade, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has feverishly expanded its footprints and capabilities in the Nansei islands chain against China's and North Korea's t...