Fiji, Oct. 12 -- A local Japanese newspaper is looking back at 70 years of the Minamata mercury poisoning tragedy to remind people of the importance of speaking up and reporting the truth.
The Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun newspaper is revisiting its archives and publishing stories from the past to remember one of Japan's worst industrial pollution disasters.
The newspaper says the tragedy is also a reminder of what can happen when the concerns of local communities are not heard early enough.
The Minamata disease was caused by methylmercury released into the sea by the Chiso Corporation factory. The pollution affected fishing families living around Minamata Bay, on the southern island of Kyushu, many of whom suffered serious health problem...