22 Years After Filing, Japan's Gvn Awards $703,000 To Minamata Victims

[hatrack]

TOKYO — "Japan's top court ordered the government to pay US$703,000 in damages to victims of the Minamata mercury poisoning 22 years after their famous case was filed over an industrial pollution disaster that killed more than 1,700 people and caused diseased mothers to give birth to deformed babies.

After the decision, several plaintiffs rushed from the courthouse and unfurled a banner declaring their victory to cheering supporters. The government apologized to victims for failing to prevent the pollution.

"We assure you that this horrific incident won't ever be repeated," Environment Minister Yuriko Koike said, making a deep bow to plaintiffs in a meeting after the verdict. "The government will tell about the lessons learned here for generations to come."

The Minamata poisoning was Japan's worst case of industrial pollution. Since the 1950s, hundreds of people have contracted Minamata disease — a neurological disorder caused by mercury poisoning — from eating tainted fish. The disease, first discovered in the 1950s, was named for Minamata Bay in southern Japan, where a company dumped tons of mercury compounds."

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=210

[madrchsod]

1. i remember the picture of a woman

holding her mercury poisoned baby..funny how some images never leave your mind.....