Stop Lynas!!! Save Malaysia!!!

Shouldn't we start thinking of our Consumption Needs? .......

What is Rare earth elements? How it becomes radioative?

Rare-earth elements are used in a multitude of technologies, including magnets for wind turbines, hybrid-car batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and hard drives. Rare earth elements are not dangerous, BUT mining, refining and recycling of rare earths give very serious environmental consequences if it is not properly managed¹. Several factors make purification of rare earths complicated. First, the 17 elements all tend to occur together in the same mineral deposits, and because they have similar properties, it's difficult to separate them from one another. They also tend to occur in deposits with radioactive elements, particularly thorium and uranium². Those elements can become a threat if the "tailings," the slushy waste product of the first step in separating rare earths from the rocks they're found in, are not dealt with properly. In addition to this, toxic acids required during the refining process. Even major rare earth plant in China and Inner Mongolia causing major environmental damages. (THIS is our CONCERN!!) . Hence, improper handling of these substances can result in an extensive environmental damage.

Let's check out what happened in Baotou, China!

At Baotou³, 100 miles away, we found the frozen tailing lake where rare earth mixes with mud, waiting for processing at nearby factories. Technologies we all use, like computers, mobile phones and energy-saving light bulbs use rare earths processed here. And local villagers whose farmland has been ruined by seepage from the lake pay the price.

WANG CUN GUANG, farmer: The Baotou Environmental Protection Bureau tested our water, and they concluded that it wasn't fit for people or animals to drink or for irrigation.

JIA BAO CHENG, farmer: Rare earth is the country's resource, but small people like us need to eat, too. We live on farming, but the crops no longer grow, and we will go hungry.

ZHAO ZENGQI, Baotou Rare Earth Research Institute: The environmental problems include air emissions with harmful elements, such as fluorine and sulfur, wastewater that contains excessive acid, and radioactive materials, too. China meets 95 percent of the world's demand for rare earth, and most of the separation and extraction is done here. So, the pollution stays in China, too.

AFTER READING SO MANY OTHER ARTICLES ABOUT RARE EARTH, IN FACT IT IS NOT RARE AT ALL, MANY OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, SUCH AS SMART PHONES AND LAPTOPS, WHERE RARE EARTHS ARE USED AND APPLIED TO PRODUCE THEM AND WE ARE USING THESE PRODUCTS EVERYDAY. IF WE ARE HERE TO PROTEST TO STOP 'LYNAS' BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY HIGH THREAT OF RADIOACTIVE WHICH NOT ONLY BRING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE BUT OTHER HEALTH ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY, SHOULD WE ALSO CONSIDERING TO STOP USING PRODUCTS WITH RARE EARTH APPLICATIONS?.....

Sources:

[¹Rare earth elements, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_element]

[²Can the U.S. Rare-Earth Industry Rebound?, http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/26655/?p1=MstCom]

[ ³LINDSEY HILSUM, source: http://www.epaw.org/multimedia.php?lang=en&article=re1 ]