DAY3:DDD
Monday, November 15, 2010 @ 7:33 AM
We visited Minamata Yesterday and this was one of the places that we are focusing for our Biology component. We went to the Minamata Disease Municipal Museum and we found out some information on how the Minamata Disease started. It started out by a factory called Chisso factory. Chisso used mercury sulfate as a catalyst when manufacturing acetaldehyde a raw material of acetic acid. This mercury sulfate underwent change to become methyl mercury. It is then released in to the Shiranui Sea ,causing accumulation of methyl mercury in the tissue of the fish and other aquatic life.
Rice production was low in the fishing villages along the coast of the Shiranui Sea in the first half of 1995. Consuming Mercury Polluted in large quantities as the staple food caused Methyl Mercury to accumulate in the body. Fetus in the mother’s womb is also affected and born with the Minamata Disease.
Before this trip to japan, we didn’t expect that this Minamata Disease was that serious to this extent. Today Minamata Bay which was once polluted with the Methyl Mercury is now a beautiful place. The water in the Minamata Bay was clear and clean; we could even see what was underneath the water. Chisso Factory is still around however they stop pouring waste in the Sea and use other methods to dispose of the waste.
Some Symptoms of Methyl Mercury poisoning are:
· - Trembling and numbness in the limbs
· - Convulsions
· -Tunnel vision and even becoming blind
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| A sick patient on one of the newspapers |
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| the Minamata Bay |
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A few years back when they put up the net to prevent the contaminated fish with the non-contaminated fish.
We also went to the Minamata Eco Park, where it used to be the polluted Minamata Bay. It was said that the reclaimed land of Minamata Bay is buried with many barrels of dead fish which are contaminated by the Methyl Mercury. There are also lots of small little statues about 50 or so facing the Sea, this little Statues are either made by the Victims of the Minamata Disease or their supporters. This little Statues are to remind people about the Minamata Disease and also to remind us not to do it again |
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| Beautiful scenery(: |
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| THE CLEAR SEA:D |
We then went to Hotto House. We saw with our own eyes the victims of the Minamata Disease. We didn’t know that the Minamata Disease could have a huge impact on their lives. We even heard their stories of what happened to them when they were young. Its quite sad to hear about their past and after hearing their stories, I feel very sympathetic towards the few. As I known through their stories that they are very driven people, as when they were young and not thoroughly affected by the disease they were very hardworking and wanted to help their communities. But I’m also very proud of their achievements as even though they’re living with such a disease, they did not let it affect their daily life. And are trying hard to give back to their communities as best as possible for them .
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| The victims of the Minamata Disease. |
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| Victims again, |
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A photo with one of the victims, he is a very cheerful guy though!(:
We then headed towards Gogasake, for our over-night farm stay in the country-side. We arrived at our respective host families traditional Japanese houses as we were split up into groups and all in all it was a wonderful night with and awesome dinner. Even though it was seriously cold in the night, we were introduced to heavenly heated blankets- a heater’s hot air goes through the tube and under the blankets thus heated blankets :b - that kept us warm while eating our scrumptious dinner , some of us got to learn to make moochi ( accepted that it did not look nice, but at least it tasted good. :B) Some groups also got to try on the Kimono!(: Shall put up the pictures soon about the Kimonos!(: |
