How To Stop The Rare Earth Processing Plant & Nuclear Power Plant Project in Malaysia

One of the most serious civil nuclear accidents in history has taken place at Japan's Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant. The nuclear disaster has triggered tremendous concern of the Malaysian as the ruling government, Barisan Nasional has decided to pursue the Rare Earth Processing Plant in Kuantan, Pahang and planning to build a nuclear power plant.

Rare earth processing plant

I'm not going to discuss the risk and dangerous of rare earth as they are widely available in the Internet. What I would like to stress out is the ways to stop the rare earth processing plant from expanding.

Lynas is building a massive rare earth processing plant would be constructed in Kuantan, Pahang Malaysia

The Malaysian especially the Kuantan and Pahang residents are protesting to the authority or government to put a stop on the processing plant. They do not like the harmful processing factory to be setup near their home, so do the other. I believe the Chinese in China mainland would not like to see any additional of such rare earth processing to be around their province.

The ultimate way to prevent any new rare earth processing plant is to curb the demand. According to the article  Taking a Risk for Rare Earths from The New York Times, rare earth is the crucial ingredients for Apple iPhone and Toyota Prius hybrid car. According to a late 2010 U.S. Geological Survey report. The ‘rare earths’ are a group of 17 elements used in high-tech products, from cellphones, flat screen TVs and computers, to lasers, satellite components and technologies for alternative energy.

Toyota Prius hybrid car

Hence, the effective way to stop the world from additional rare earth processing plant is stop buying any products from the categories mentioned above until alternative material is found to replace rare earth.

Instead of changing cell phone every 6 months or every year, can we use it as long as it is still in good condition. Can we live with the CRT, LCD or plasma TV that we are having now instead of changing it to a LED TV? Can we not changing to a new PC just because of better specifications while the existing computer is functioning fine?

Apple Iphone

Do not listen to the commercial or convinced by the advertorial that you are contributing to a greener earth because the new products are energy saving or stuff like that. You are actually creating more carbon footprints by buying a new product and disposing the old one which is still functioning well. Please read 'What can we do to combat global warming?' for details.

If you are the one who change cell phone every year and pursuing latest gadgets, you are actually causing the overwhelming demand of rare earth, and hence directly causing additional rare earth plant to be setup in Malaysia, and indirectly accountable for the radioactive pollution in the world.

The rare earth processing plant in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia is expected to be ready for production by 2013. What Malaysian can do apart from stop purchasing the products that consist  rare earth as one of the ingredient; what can be done would be creating pressure to the ruling government.

Malaysian need to make a wise choice in the coming election