OEJP and AOCHR's Joint Submission to U.N. Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights

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On April 1, 2025, the Okinawa Environmental Justice Project and the Okinawa Human Rights Council jointly submitted a report, "U.S. Military's Central Training Area and Northern Training Area in Okinawa, Japan: Military Activities and Toxics," to Dr. Marcos A. Orellana, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights. The Ginowan Churamizu kai and AOCHR also submitted two reports regarding PFASS issues in Okinawa. The submission was our response to the Special Rapporteur's "call for input on military activities and toxics."

Joint press conference on the submission of reports to the U.N. on April 16, 2025
Image Source: OTV

Given the alarming state of war and peace around the world, a steadfast voice from Okinawa against war and militarization, as well as for the protection of human rights and the environment, and for peace, is needed more than ever before. OEJP is glad we teamed up with the AOCHR, one of Okinawa's leading civil society groups working with the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Our report was compiled based primarily on the documents from the Okinawa prefectural government and the U.S. military. 

In the "Concluding Notes" section, however, we wrote:

 "There is no doubt that the people of Okinawa and their environment have been exposed to toxic substances from the U.S. military's activities. However, as the people of Okinawa have limited access to information held by the U.S. military, most are unaware of the nature and extent of their exposure...  To ensure their right to a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment, the people of Okinawa must have access to information in Japanese regarding military activities and their toxic impacts. Their efforts to seek such information must not be hindered or threatened."


Note:
Our report wrote, "Eighty percent of the buildings and structures on the island were destroyed, and the environment was devastated." We used this number based on our examination of various sources, including the U.S. military's records available on the internet and local municipalities' histories and reports. For example, the often quoted report, "The Impact of Invasion and Occupation on the Civilians of Okinawa" (1946) by Commander Henry Stanley Bennet states:

"An estimated 60 or 70 per cent of the buildings on Okinawa appear to have been destroyed or severely damaged as a direct result of operations. Those remaining intact or slightly damaged after the fighting have not been left undisturbed. A great number have been or are destined to be dozed over to make room for roads, airfields, or other installations."

We recognize that the number, 80%, needs to be further examined. 


Here is our report.

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日本語のプレスリリースは下にあります。               October 19, 2022  PRESS RELEASE  Stop Henoko! Close Futenma!: 100 civil society organizations and 32 U.S. elected officials join the Letter of Request to U.S. Congress members   Critical momentum has been building up in the civil society's movement against the Japanese and U.S. government's plans to build a U.S. military base at Henoko-Oura Bay, Okinawa, Japan. As of October 19, 100 civil society groups and organizations and 32 U.S. elected officials at state and municipal levels have joined our Letter of Request to U.S. Congress members. We expect that more organizations and elected officials will join the Letter. Sit-in protest and blokade under Okinawa's Autumn Sky  at the Gate of Capm Schwab (Sep. 22, 2022) The Letter urges the U.S. federal legislators to take the initiative to stop the base construction at Henoko-Oura Bay and close the dangerous U.S. Futenma Air Station for which the Henok...
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プレス・リリース：オランダ軍、英国軍へ情報公開請求 世界自然遺産やんばるの森と米軍北部訓練場

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2024年11月24日 プレス・リリース オランダ軍、英国軍へ情報公開請求  世界自然遺産やんばるの森と米軍北部訓練場 2024年11月27日、Okinawa Environmental Justice Project（OEJP）は、環境省がユネスコ世界遺産「沖縄島北部」の「重要な事実上の緩衝地帯」と位置付ける米軍北部訓練場で、2022年と2024年に米軍と合同訓練を行なったとされるオランダ軍と英国軍に対し、両国の情報公開法に基づき、情報公開請求文を送付しました。今回OEJPが公開を求めている情報は、両国軍兵士が北部訓練場の訓練に参加する前に受けた環境保全に関する教育や訓練、および北部訓練場で訓練に参加している期間に兵士が講じた環境保全措置についての情報です。 現在OEJPは、「世界遺産条約履行のための作業指針」の174項に基づき、世界遺産地域と周辺のやんばるの森に対する米軍の軍事訓練活動による影響や、世界遺産地域内の米軍廃棄物に関する情報を収集しています。情報収集の結果は報告書にし、2025年初頭に、ユネスコ世界遺産センターおよびその諮問機関である国際自然保護連合（IUCN）へ提出する予定です。今回のオランダ軍、英国軍に対する情報公開請求も、この情報収集の一環として位置づけています。また、今回の情報公開請求文は、両国の駐日大使や、関係大臣、そしてユネスコ国内委員会事務局長にも送付し、それぞれの軍隊に情報公開を促すよう求めていきます。 なお、北部訓練場での合同訓練に参加している自衛隊が環境保護に関する教育や環境保全措置を行っているか、そして米軍の行っている環境保全の教育や環境保全措置を日本政府が把握しているかについては、2024年11月29日に行われるジュゴン保護キャンペーンセンターの環境省と防衛省との要請交渉のなかで質疑応答が行われます。 情報公開請求  (住所手書き、、、)
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Launched in November 2016, the Okinawa Environmental Justice Project strives to protect the environment and the lives of people in Okinawa, Japan through the means of "connecting the green dots." That is, we reach out to, connect, and make best use of available resources in local communities, environment NGOs, domestic institutions and laws, and international institutions and conventions in bringing environmental justice to Okinawa.  We believe that, by protecting the environment, we can also improve the quality of life and promote peace/genuine security in Okinawa and beyond. m ap enclosed with the letter  As our first action , we, along with 38 other Okinawan and Japanese organizations, are sending a l etter of concern and request to the U.S. government and the U.S. military regar ding the future of the Yanbaru forest in northern Okinawa Island.   Can the Yanbaru forest become a World Natural Heritage site ? Or would th e presence of the U.S. mil...
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