Greenpeace Press Release

Environmental Impact Assessment threatens Okinawa's marine environment
--- Greenpeace demands current assessment is abandoned and sends ship to save dugongs

Naha, Okinawa, 3 September, 2007 -- Greenpeace in Naha, Okinawa, today demanded that the proposed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the construction of two runways for the U.S. Marine Corps on the North Eastern side of the island, Henoko, be scrapped as it would destroy the home and feeding grounds of the endangered dugong.

©Greenpeace

The EIA procedure, written by Japan's Defense Ministry, does not contain adequate information to properly assess the impacts to the dugongs, of which there are only 12 remaining. Only last month, the dugongs of Okinawa were placed on the highest grading of the Government's 'Red List' of endangered species, which asks for full and proper protection of species on the list. The current EIA procedure does not reflect the urgency or care needed to protect the dugong; instead it would allow the dugongs' habitat, a vitally important marine environment, to be destroyed.

"The Defense Ministry's idea of an Environmental Assessment is an utter sham. The correct procedure for an assessment has been completely disregarded and they appear determined to build these runways no matter what or whom they destroy," stated Greenpeace Japan's Executive Director, Jun Hoshikawa in Naha. "To accept the document means to accept irreversible destruction of the environment and probable extinction of the dugong. The only logical assessment to be made is that the waters of Henoko are designated a marine reserve."

The Greenpeace ship, Esperanza (2), will arrive in Okinawa on 22 September in time for the deadline on 27 September for public comments about the assessment. Together with the local people in Okinawa, Greenpeace is helping to raise awareness about the threat to the area and the dugongs (3); an online action will be launched across the world on 22 September asking for people concerned about the fate of the dugongs to send their message and Greenpeace will deliver them to the Minister of Defense, Kohmoto, and the Minister of the Environment, Kamoshita, on 27 September (4).

For further information, please contact:
Junichi Sato, Ocean Campaign Project Manager, Greenpeace Japan
Keiko Shirokawa, Communications Co-ordinator, Greenpeace Japan

Notes to editors:

1. The EIA methodology document, written by Japan's Defense Ministry was made available to the public at the newly named Bureau of Defense Policy. Greenpeace viewed the document at the bureau and in a letter, asked for an immediate nullification of the EIA methodology document, as well as of the construction plan itself.

2. The Esperanza is a 2076t, Dutch flagged ship

3. In March 2005, Greenpeace sent her flagship, Rainbow Warrior, to Henoko to work with the local people to protest the construction of the airbase. Greenpeace supporters across the world sent messages of support and encouragement were sent to the local people.

4. http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/campaign/oceans/dugong/en/

The schedule of Esperanza in Okinawa is as follows:

Sept 22: Docked at Naha port.
11:00AM On board press conference.
Sept 24: Flotilla at Henoko bay
Sept 27: To deliver messages to the ministry of defense
Sept 29: Open boat at Naha port
Sep 30: Open boat at Naha port
Oct 1: Leave Okinawa