On Oct. 10, some 1,000 delegates from about 140 countries adopted the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which regulates the use and trade of mercury to prevent health hazards and environmental disruptions attributed to the liquid poisonous metal. The international conference, which was held in Minamata City on Oct. 9 and in Kumamoto City the following day, was organized by the U.N. Environment Program. The convention was signed the same day by 87 countries including Japan, the European Union, China and Brazil. The treaty will go into force in 90 days after 50 countries have ratified it.
On Japan's proposal, the convention was named after Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, where Minamata disease caused by methyl mercury released into the Minamata Bay by Chisso Corp broke out. The dreadful disease damages the central nervous system and has affected thousands of people.
As a country that has shown its resolve not to repeat the tragedy of the Minamata disease by playing an important role in writing the treaty, Japan has an international responsibility to ratify it as soon as possible and to extend effective aid to emerging economies and developing countries to help realize the goal and spirit of the treaty. Japan has pledged to extend $2 billion over three years from 2014 to developing countries.