A fishing port, minamata was also the home of nippon chisso hiryo co. It is situated near the southern end of yatsushiro bay. Methyl mercury discharged from the factory contaminated fish and shellfish, which in turn caused illness in the local inhabitants who consumed them and birth defects in their children. In searing photographs and words it chronicles the last few years of the fight by a group of japanese fishing families to stop the poisoning of themselves and their children with toxic mercury by the local chisso chemical plant in the city of minamata. Minamata disease is caused by methylmercury poisoning. Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning the name corresponds to the name of the minamata bay in kumamoto prefecture where the disease was first identified. The minamata convention on mercury is the first global agreement specifically designed to address contamination from a heavy metal. Minamata by eugene and aileen smith is an extraordinary book in many ways. With powerful individual vision, magnum photographers chronicle the world and interpret its peoples, events, issues and personalities. April 1, 2010 3 compensation of minamata disease patients. The effects of mercury pollution from the chisso factory quickly doublebacked onto the citys residents.
Minamata convention on mercury the parties to this convention, recognizing that mercury is a chemical of global concern owing to its longrange atmospheric transport, its persistence in the environment once anthropogenically introduced, its ability to. The minamata fisheries coop agrees to the total removal of the dividing nets in minamata bay at a special general meeting. Signatory countries must stop the production, export and import of. During 19321968 local residents, especially fisher families have been suffering from a variety of symptoms.
Minamata bay is a bay on the west coast of kyushu island, located in kumamoto prefecture, japan. Timothy george wrote the 2002 englishlanguage history of minamata disease minamata. The bay is part of the larger shiranui sea which is sandwiched between the coast of the kyushu mainland and the offlying islands of kumamoto and nagasaki prefectures. F 1974, subacute toxicity of methyl mercury in the adult cat. For years, residents of minamata, a town located on kyushu japans most southwesterly island, had. After world war ii, the production of acetaldehyde boomed. Lessons from the mercury disaster at minamata bay, japan. Consumer electronics, economics, business and finances, fashion and lifestyle, travel and country, knitting and sewing, photo and video, health, sport and music this is even not the full list of categories you can find in our library. Kumamoto gakuen university the open research center for minamata studies 251 oe, chuoku, kumamoto city, kumamoto ken 8628680, japan phone. For years, residents of minamata, a town located on kyushu japans most southwesterly island, had observed odd behavior among animals, particularly household cats. Starting in the 1940s and continuing through 1968, a chemical plant in minamata bay released the industrial effluent containing mercuric compounds into the river and bay. The minamata fishing cooperative had managed to win small payments of sympathy money. Minamata disease, sometimes referred to as chisso minamata disease, is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning.
Mar 22, 2016 the convention prohibits the export and import of mercury except for certain kinds of use. Methyl mercury discharged from the factory contaminated fish and shellfish, which in turn. First look at katherine jenkins movie acting debut with johnny. Measures against minamata disease 1measures against environmental pollution 2 relief of minamata disease patients 3 environmental health measures for inhabitants 4 financial assistance to the responsible company 5 promotion of research and investigation. North macedonia brings to 119 the number of parties to the minamata convention on 12 march 2020, the government of north macedonia deposited its instrument of ratification, thereb. In july 1959, the minamata disease study team of the faculty of medicine, university of kumamoto reported that it had reached the conclusion that the substance causing minamata disease was a mercury component, most likely an. It is on the west coast of kyushu and faces amakusa islands. Finalized after four years of negotiations and signed by delegates. In 1974, the kumamoto prefectural government installed dividing nets to contain polluted fish inside. Minamata, minamatashi is a city located in kumamoto prefecture, japan.
Media in category minamata, kumamoto the following 79 files are in this category, out of 79 total. Oct 10, 20 the minamata convention, a united nations pact launched thursday, is designed to limit mercury use and emissions internationally. The disease is characterized by peripheral sensory loss, tremors, dysarthria, ataxia, and both hearing and visual loss. Minamata new clip official from berlin film festival 2020 23 this is a clip for press use epk, for any enquiries you can reach us on. The city of minamata grew along with the expansion of chisso. Smith was awarded the 1974 robert capa gold medal for his work in the. Minamata map illustrating chisso factory effluent routes2. Shinobu sakamoto,minamata disease survivor call to end mercury poisoning globally duration. Minamata disease, disease first identified in 1956 in minamata, japan. Pollution and the struggle for democracy in postwar japan.
Minamata new clip official from berlin film festival 2020 23. Minamata disease sometimes referred to as chissominamata disease is a neurological. Minamata is a fishing and farming town on the southern japanese island of kyushu. In japan, minamata disease is known as one of four major health. Minamata is a city in kumamoto on the island of kyushu, japan understand.
The bay is part of the larger shiranui sea which is sandwiched between the coast of the kyushu mainland and the offlying islands of kumamoto and nagasaki prefectures the coastline is rugged, with many inlets and coves which act as the spawning grounds of. A documentary about the plight of the victims of minamata disease, which was caused by the ingestion of fish containing abnormal amounts of mercury released into the sea by a fertilizer factory owned by the chisso company. Other sources of maternal exposure to methyl mercury have included flour made from seed grain treated with methyl mercury which affected at least 6,500 people in iraq and meat from animals raised on. During 19321968 local residents, especially fisher families have been suffering from a. Across the bay is amakusa island, which produced some coal. These materials were brought into minamata village and wood and mountain products were shipped from the port. Minamata is located on the coast of japans westernmost island. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from minamata at the discogs marketplace. During 19321968 local residents, especially fisher families, suffered the consequences. The secretariat of the minamata convention on mercury. The bahamas become the 117th party to the minamata convention on 12 february 2020, the government of the bahamas deposited its instrument of accession, thereby be. The felines would suddenly convulse and sometimes leap into the sea to their deaths. The convention prohibits the export and import of mercury except for certain kinds of use.
This article is within the scope of the wikiproject japan, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of japanrelated articles on wikipedia. Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. In 1969, the law concerning special measures for the relief of the pollutionrelated patients that specifies the allowance of medical cost and other miscellaneous expenses necessary for. While documenting the maiming effects of mercury poisoning from factory pollution on the residents of the fishing village of minamata 197173, he was brutally beaten. Minamata disease medical definition merriamwebster. The culprit, chisso corporation the towns largest employer. In minamata which premiered at the berlin festival on friday evening. Minamata, minamata shi is a city located in kumamoto prefecture, japan. A master of twentiethcentury photojournalism, smith was obsessive in the pursuit of his vision. Study on eu implementation of the minamata convention on mercury u. Minamata disease top 10 environmental disasters time. Information and translations of minamata in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
Minamata was established as a village in 1889, redesignated as a town in 1912 and grew into a city in 1949. The movie star reminds us that he is a talented character actor with a. The history and measures, the ministry of the environment, 2002, retrieved 17 january 2007 minamata disease archives by the national institute for minamata disease, retrieved 29 october 2006. The history and measures, the ministry of the environment, 2002, retrieved 17 january 2007 minamata disease archives by the national institute for minamata disease, retrieved 29 october 2006 harada, masazumi. Smith said, photography is a small voice, at best, but sometimesjust sometimesone photograph or a group of them can lure. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project, participate in relevant discussions, and see lists of open tasks. Minamata byo, sometimes referred to as chisso minamata disease, chisso minamata byo, is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning. Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in. Comienzan a aparecer personas con extranos sintomas. Minamata was traditionally a fishing port and has regular searoute connections to amakusa island, the main island of the amakusa archipelago.
Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in japan. The city and the adjacent minamata bay form a relatively closed ecosystem. The station building was designed by makoto sei watanabe citation needed and opened on march 2004. Jenkins sings and stars in the harrowing new movie, which shows the. Mercury contaminationwhat we have learned since minamata. The history 19081955 the rapid expansion of the minamata factory spurred on the local economy chisso prospered, so did minamata chisso had great influence in minamata in 1932, chisso minamata factory first started acetaldehyde production producing 210 tons per year by 1951, production had jumped to 6,000 tons per year over half of japans. Feb 11, 20 shinobu sakamoto, minamata disease survivor call to end mercury poisoning globally duration. The victims and their world 1971 1971 bluray 2160p 4k ita uhd4k. Minamata definition of minamata by medical dictionary. Minamatabyo, sometimes referred to as chissominamata disease, chissominamatabyo, is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning. Minamata, city, kumamoto ken prefecture, southeastern kyushu, japan.
The person who originally tagged the article also didnt provide a reason on the talk page prior to tagging. Are you looking for a great variety of magazines to download. Signatory countries must stop the production, export and import of products containing mercury such as. The minamata convention, a united nations pact launched thursday, is designed to limit mercury use and emissions internationally. Photos from 1975s minamata by aileen smith and w eugene smith inspired many current mercury researchers. Signs and symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and damage to hearing and speech. Official designation of minamata village upon nationwide adoption of the village system.
Both mad hatter disease and minamata disease are examples of mercury poisoning but i cant see the value in the minamata disease article mentioning mad hatter disease. The minamata fisheries coop and chisso sign the document confirming the completion of the removal of the dividing nets. Opened for signature in october 20, the convention seeks to address issues related to the use and release of mercury including trade, industrial uses, and major sources of atmospheric emissions and releases of mercury into the environment, as well as longterm. Magnum photos is a photographic cooperative of great diversity and distinction owned by its photographer members. Jun 05, 2012 the answer comes from a hard lesson we learned over a half century ago involving an environmental disaster at a place called minamata bay, japan. Minamata disease, or methylmercury poisoning, was first discovered in 1956 around minamata bay.
All this was well established by the beginning of the twentieth century. Read more guidance on contaminated sites available in 6 languages the conference of the parties adopted this guidance at its third meeting and encouraged the parties. Minamata movie download full free minamata movie free download full minamata movie free full. As the gulf of mexico oil spill shows little sign of abating, time takes a look back at historys greatest environmental tragedies. Dec 11, 2018 minamata disease has not been confined to minamata where the source of the mercury was primarily from eating fish caught in the contaminated bay. In 1974, kp installed dividing nets to contain polluted fish inside minamata bay.
The village of minamata, located on the west coast of southern kyushu, was traditionally supported by rice farming and by a cove in the port which allowed the production of salt. Minamata, the japanesemade documentary that opened the film forums fall season last night. Polluting wastewater had damaged the fisheries around minamata ever since the opening of the chisso factory in 1908. Otherwise, minamata was no different from other villages found throughout the country. The answer comes from a hard lesson we learned over a half century ago involving an environmental disaster at a place called minamata bay, japan. A disorder caused by methyl mercury poisoning that was first described in the inhabitants of minamata bay, japan and resulted from their eating fish contaminated with mercury industrial waste. Minamata syndrome paresthesias and degenerative changes caused by ingestion of fish contaminated by methyl mercury. Its people joined the industrial age when the chisso corporation built a chemical factory there. Os sintomas incluem disturbios sensoriais nas maos e pes, danos a visao e audicao. The name comes from minamata bay in kumamoto prefecture where the chisso factory released industrial waste. The disaster that then befell them, and the ways in which some have managed to respond, reach far beyond japan. A company town of the nippon chisso hiryo company, its main products are chemical fertilizer, carbide, and vinyl chloride.