An Aussie perspective on Lynas

So refreshing to see that Malaysians aren't the only ones who want to STOP LYNAS

Lynas Corporation for dummies (and Australians)

March 30th, 2012 by Ryan Albrey, Guest Contributor 

I do not need to write a ‘for dummies’ guide for Malaysians. They have made up their minds about Lynas and are now quite knowledgeable about the issues. They have learned more about rare earth and radioactive thorium than many of us will ever learn in a life time and they want Lynas out of their country.

Instead, I write this for Australians for whom media coverage of this story has been sparse. It is difficult to work out why the media have paid scant attention to this story. I would have thought that this was a story made for journalists.

This story involves our relationship with Malaysia. Considering that Malaysia is one of our closest neighbours and a country whose cooperation we vigorously strive for, I would have thought that an issue like Lynas should be big news in Australia.

Sure, this might not be a diplomatic row between political leaders. Our Prime Minister is not calling theirs ‘recalcitrant’ and theirs is not threatening trade sanctions.

And of course, this story does not involve asylum seekers.

No, this is different!

While our respective Prime Ministers get along nicely and make funny deals like swapping refugees, a whole country, 28 million Malaysians, are starting to feel anger towards Australia.

In this modern age, bilateral relationships between two Prime Ministers are not nearly as important as the relationship between a body of 23 million people and another body of 28 million.

Australians are becoming quietly hated by Malaysians and nobody thought to tell Australians of this?

This story also involves the crucial ingredients to some of the most important high tech inventions that we have come to rely on in the 21st century. If Lynas fail to get their product to markets, the price of iPhones, iPads, hybrid cars and wind turbines will increase across the globe.

This story involves a three way trade battle between Australia, Malaysia and China.

Most importantly, this story may involve a change of government in Malaysia– for the first time in 50 years.

Continue reading HERE

WASTING OUR WASTE

Why are we wasting our waste?
Why are we wasting our waste?
Why are we wasting our waste?
Why are we wasting our waste?
Why are we wasting our waste?
Why are we wasting our waste?


Whichever way you say it, it doesn't make sense.


At the end of last year I wrote an article called Privitisation or Piratisation. Here's a bottom line recap:

• The minister of housing and local government is all powerful as his decision cannot be challenged in court.
• The head of the national waste management committee has carte blanche when deciding what technologies and strategies to adopt.
• There appears to be little or no transparency in the way contracts are awarded.
• Unsuitable and overly expensive technology has been procured and never used.

Right there at the top of the pile of white elephants are incinerators.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the people already reject incinerators?  Remember Broga?

The government however, seems to think it knows best so incinerators it is, like it or not!

When you consider how much public money the government spends on waste management each year, is it too unreasonable to expect value for money?

WHY ARE WE WASTING OUR WASTE?

There, I finally got it right!

Save Malaysia Stop Lynas - 22 March 2012.