okinawa

Important developments have unfolded in Japan since we wrote earlier this month about the threatened dugongs and plans to expand a U.S. military base on Okinawa's coast. The large marine mammals and their habitat on the north-east coast of Okinawa Island can be saved, but our window of opportunity to act is closing fast.

Dugongs living on the coast of Japan’s Okinawa island are threatened by the proposed expansion of a U.S. military base there. Throughout September, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed airbase site is open for public comment. Greenpeace are using this opportunity to let the Japanese government know what the people of the world think - by delivering a petition of thousands of names to the environment and defence ministries, and calling on the government to establish a marine reserve in the area.