More than 60 years on, Japan's mercury-poison victims fight to be heardMINAMATA, Japan (Reuters) - Shinobu Sakamoto was just 15 when she left her home in the southern Japanese fishing village of Minamata to go to Stockholm and tell the world of the horrors of mercury poisoning. Forty-five years on, she is traveling again, this time to Geneva, to attend from Sunday a gathering of signatories to the first global pact to rein in mercury pollution. Sakamoto is one of a shrinking group of survivors from a 1950s industrial disaster in which tens of thousands of people were poisoned after waste water from a chemical plant seeped into the Minamata bay. (Graphic link reut.rs/2jIdmUS) The waste contained a toxic organic compound, methylmercury, which can cause severe damage to the brain and nervous system, leading to a condition called Minamata disease. It gives its name to the U.N.-backed treaty that took effect last month. Symptoms worsen with age, leaving some victims grappling with the question of who will care for them after the death of  siblings and parents, while others face legal disputes.  If I don t say something, no one will know about Minamata disease,  said Sakamoto, who is one of the few born with the disease who is still able to talk.  There are still so many problems, and I want people to know.  Just 528 people survive from among the 3,000 certified victims of Minamata disease, environment ministry data shows.  More than 20,000 people have sought to be designated victims,  hoping for legal compensation.  We need to take seriously the fact that there are still many people raising their hands,  said ministry official Koji Sasaki, referring to victims  efforts to win recognition.  Born in a family of shipbuilders whose home overlooks the Minamata bay, Jitsuko Tanaka, 64, used to play on the beach with her older sister, picking and eating shellfish, unaware it was contaminated with mercury. She was almost three, and her sister five, when they lost the ability to move their hands freely and walk properly, becoming the first to be identified as disease sufferers. Tanaka s older sister died at age eight. Tanaka survived, but the poisoning left her too weak to walk without support. A few years ago, her family says, even that became impossible. As she lay motionless in bed, her brother-in-law, a fellow sufferer, said he worried about the patients left behind when family members die.    After I die, who will take care of her?  asked Yoshio Shimoda, 69. Sixty-one years since Minamata disease was identified in 1956, the grim struggles have eased for only a few. Before the government named methylmercury as its cause in 1968, disease sufferers faced discrimination over fears it was contagious, which deterred many from seeking legal recognition.  People still send in decades-old umbilical cords to be checked for contamination, hoping for evidence to support their claims to be designated as victims, said Hirokatsu Akagi, director of Minamata s International Mercury Laboratory. Sakamoto, poisoned while still in the womb, considers it her duty to tell the world about the dangers of mercury.  Minamata disease isn t over; it s not a thing of the past.  worldnews
more years japan victims fight heardminamata japan reuters shinobu sakamoto left home southern japanese fishing village minamata go stockholm tell world horrors mercury poisoning years traveling time geneva attend sunday gathering signatories first global pact rein mercury pollution sakamoto one shrinking group survivors industrial disaster tens thousands people poisoned waste water chemical plant seemed minamata bay graphic link the waste contained toxic organic compound methylmercury cause severe damage brain nervous system leading condition called minamata disease it gives name treaty took effect last month symptoms worsen age leaving victims grappling question care death siblings parents others face legal disputes if i say something one know minamata disease said sakamoto one born disease still able talk there still many problems i want people know just people survive among certified victims minamata disease environment ministry data shows more people sought designated victims hoping legal compensation we need take seriously fact still many people raising hands said ministry official koji asahi referring victims efforts win recognition born family shipbuilder whose home overlooks minamata bay jitsu tank used play beach older sister picking eating shellfish unaware contaminated mercury she almost three sister five lost ability move hands freely walk properly becoming first identified disease sufferers tank older sister died age eight tank survived poisoning left weak walk without support a years ago family says even became impossible as lay motionless bed fellow suffered said worried patients left behind family members die after i die take care asked ohio shima years since minamata disease identified grim struggles eased before government named methylmercury cause disease sufferers faced discrimination fears contagious deferred many seeking legal recognition people still send umbilical cords checked contamination hoping evidence support claims designated victims said hirokatsu aka director minamata international mercury laboratory sakamoto poisoned still womb considers duty tell world dangers mercury minamata disease thing past worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: More than 60 years on, Japan's mercury-poison victims fight to be heardMINAMATA, Japan (Reuters) - Shinobu Sakamoto was just 15 when she left her home in the southern Japanese fishing village of Minamata to go to Stockholm and tell the world of the horrors of mercury poisoning. Forty-five years on, she is traveling again, this time to Geneva, to attend from Sunday a gathering of signatories to the first global pact to rein in mercury pollution. Sakamoto is one of a shrinking group of survivors from a 1950s industrial disaster in which tens of thousands of people were poisoned after waste water from a chemical plant seeped into the Minamata bay. (Graphic link reut.rs/2jIdmUS) The waste contained a toxic organic compound, methylmercury, which can cause severe damage to the brain and nervous system, leading to a condition called Minamata disease. It gives its name to the U.N.-backed treaty that took effect last month. Symptoms worsen with age, leaving some victims grappling with the question of who will care for them after the death of  siblings and parents, while others face legal disputes.  If I don t say something, no one will know about Minamata disease,  said Sakamoto, who is one of the few born with the disease who is still able to talk.  There are still so many problems, and I want people to know.  Just 528 people survive from among the 3,000 certified victims of Minamata disease, environment ministry data shows.  More than 20,000 people have sought to be designated victims,  hoping for legal compensation.  We need to take seriously the fact that there are still many people raising their hands,  said ministry official Koji Sasaki, referring to victims  efforts to win recognition.  Born in a family of shipbuilders whose home overlooks the Minamata bay, Jitsuko Tanaka, 64, used to play on the beach with her older sister, picking and eating shellfish, unaware it was contaminated with mercury. She was almost three, and her sister five, when they lost the ability to move their hands freely and walk properly, becoming the first to be identified as disease sufferers. Tanaka s older sister died at age eight. Tanaka survived, but the poisoning left her too weak to walk without support. A few years ago, her family says, even that became impossible. As she lay motionless in bed, her brother-in-law, a fellow sufferer, said he worried about the patients left behind when family members die.    After I die, who will take care of her?  asked Yoshio Shimoda, 69. Sixty-one years since Minamata disease was identified in 1956, the grim struggles have eased for only a few. Before the government named methylmercury as its cause in 1968, disease sufferers faced discrimination over fears it was contagious, which deterred many from seeking legal recognition.  People still send in decades-old umbilical cords to be checked for contamination, hoping for evidence to support their claims to be designated as victims, said Hirokatsu Akagi, director of Minamata s International Mercury Laboratory. Sakamoto, poisoned while still in the womb, considers it her duty to tell the world about the dangers of mercury.  Minamata disease isn t over; it s not a thing of the past.  worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: more years japan victims fight heardminamata japan reuters shinobu sakamoto left home southern japanese fishing village minamata go stockholm tell world horrors mercury poisoning years traveling time geneva attend sunday gathering signatories first global pact rein mercury pollution sakamoto one shrinking group survivors industrial disaster tens thousands people poisoned waste water chemical plant seemed minamata bay graphic link the waste contained toxic organic compound methylmercury cause severe damage brain nervous system leading condition called minamata disease it gives name treaty took effect last month symptoms worsen age leaving victims grappling question care death siblings parents others face legal disputes if i say something one know minamata disease said sakamoto one born disease still able talk there still many problems i want people know just people survive among certified victims minamata disease environment ministry data shows more people sought designated victims hoping legal compensation we need take seriously fact still many people raising hands said ministry official koji asahi referring victims efforts win recognition born family shipbuilder whose home overlooks minamata bay jitsu tank used play beach older sister picking eating shellfish unaware contaminated mercury she almost three sister five lost ability move hands freely walk properly becoming first identified disease sufferers tank older sister died age eight tank survived poisoning left weak walk without support a years ago family says even became impossible as lay motionless bed fellow suffered said worried patients left behind family members die after i die take care asked ohio shima years since minamata disease identified grim struggles eased before government named methylmercury cause disease sufferers faced discrimination fears contagious deferred many seeking legal recognition people still send umbilical cords checked contamination hoping evidence support claims designated victims said hirokatsu aka director minamata international mercury laboratory sakamoto poisoned still womb considers duty tell world dangers mercury minamata disease thing past worldnews