Only 3%objected to Lynas and that was just 7 or 8 persons - this is so hard to believe noting that just in Kuantan protest, there were about 15,000...
One of the members of the public consultative committee, Prof Abu Hassan Abdullah (right) said only seven or eight out of 334 feedback forms received stated that they did not want the project to continue, and that too without any specific reason.
Was the time and place to see the documents and submit the protest forms really made public? I wonder who are this 334 who came and said 'Yes' to Lynas - did they give a reason. Something is very fishy...
In either event, this process in this ICT age should have also been done online....
Given the amount of protest with regard this Lynas project, the best thing to do will be to have a REFERENDUM - at the very least in the area covering maybe 50Km from the project site...
And did he say this??
The anti-Lynas groups also claimed that the half-life of the thorium waste is 14 billion years and the duration of the facility used to store it, cannot last as long as thorium.Raja Abdul Aziz (right) saidthat the waste will remain stable and won't emit any radiation before it reaches its half life, so there was no need to worry about it.
How can this man even say such things? No radiation until after 14 billion years....
Thorium-232 has a half-life of 14 billion (14x109) years, and decays by alpha emission, with accompanying gamma radiation. Thorium-232 is the top of a long decay series that contains key radionuclides such as radium-228, its direct decay product, and radon-220. Two other isotopes of thorium, which can be significant in the environment, are thorium-230 and thorium-228. Both belong to other decay series. They also decay by alpha emission, with accompanying gamma radiation, and have half-lives of 75,400 years and 1.9 years, respectively.
What is thorium used for?
Thorium has coloring properties that has made it useful in ceramic glazes. But, it has been most widely used in lantern mantles for the brightness it imparts (though alternatives are replacing it), and in welding rods, which burn better with small amounts of added thorium. Thorium improves the properties of ophthalmic lenses, and is an alloying agent in certain metals used in the aerospace industry. More than 30 years ago, thorium oxides were used in hospitals to make certain kinds of diagnostic X-ray photographs. But, this practice has been discontinued.Exposure to Thorium
How does thorium get into the environment?
Natural thorium is present in very small quantities in virtually all rock, soil, water, plants and animals. Where high concentrations occur in rock, thorium may be mined and refined, producing waste products such as mill tailings. If not properly controlled, wind and water can introduce the tailings into the wider environment. Commercial and federal facilities that have processed thorium may also have released thorium to the air, water, or soil. Man-made thorium isotopes are rare, and almost never enter the environment.How does thorium change in the environment?
As thorium-232 undergoes radioactive decay, it emits an alpha particle, with accompanying gamma radiation, and forms radium-228. This process of releasing radiation and forming a new radionuclide continues until stable lead-208 is formed. The half-life of thorium-232 is about 14 billion years. Two other isotopes of thorium, which can be significant in the environment, are thorium-230 and thorium-228. Both decay by alpha emission, with accompanying gamma radiation, in 75,400 years and 1.9 years, respectively.How are people exposed to thorium?
Since thorium is naturally present in the environment, people are exposed to tiny amounts in air, food and water. The amounts are usually very small and pose little health hazard. Thorium is also present in many consumer products such as ceramic glazes, lantern mantles, and welding rods.People who live near a facility that mines or mills thorium, or manufactures products with thorium, may receive higher exposures. Also, people who work with thorium in various industries may receive higher exposures.
How does thorium get into the body?
People may inhale contaminated dust, or swallow thorium with food or water. Living near a thorium contaminated site, or working in an industry where thorium is used, increases your chance of exposure to thorium.What does thorium do once it gets into the body?
If inhaled as dust, some thorium may remain in the lungs for long periods of time, depending on the chemical form. If ingested, thorium typically leaves the body through feces and urine within several days. The small amount of thorium left in the body will enter the bloodstream and be deposited in the bones where it may remain for many years. There is some evidence that the body may absorb thorium through the skin, but that would not likely be the primary means of entry.Health Effects of Thorium
How can thorium affect people's health?
The principal concern from low to moderate level exposure to ionizing radiation is increased risk of cancer. Studies have shown that inhaling thorium dust causes an increased risk of developing lung cancer, and cancer of the pancreas. Bone cancer risk is also increased because thorium may be stored in bone.Only 3% said 'No' to Lynas during display period
Only three percent of the feedback received by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) during the public display of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant's application documents for a temporary operating licence (TOL) opposed the project.One of the members of the public consultative committee, Prof Abu Hassan Abdullah (right) said only seven or eight out of 334 feedback forms received stated that they did not want the project to continue, and that too without any specific reason.
“They just wrote like ‘I don’t want Lynas’ but without any reason given,” he said at a media briefing held by the AELB today.
Abu Hassan said 97 percent of the people who submitted the feedback form “were okay” with the project, but most of them expressed deep concern over the permanent disposal facility (PDF) for the radioactive wastes.
He said that was why the committee had pressured the AELB to settle the PDF issue before issuing the TOL to Lynas.
Public displayThe AELB had displayed the documents to the public from Jan 3-26 at four places - the AELB headquarters in Dengkil, Selangor, the Pahang state secretariat, the AELB temporary office at the Lynas project site and at the AELB east coast branch office in Kemaman, Terengganu.
However, the public, especially anti-Lynas groups, were unhappy, claiming that the authorities had placed restrictions on time and people to inspect those documents.
According to the presentation by Abu Hassan, there were 334 people who inspected the documents but at the same time, there were 1,122 people who submitted feedback forms to the AELB.
He said that most of the comments were unsubstantiated and repeated.
AELB director-general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan, who also presented, pointed out the huge difference between the number of people who inspected the documents and those who gave comments.
"A very large number of people did not read the documents but gave comments, so you have to ask yourself; are the comments based on what they read, or these comments just emotional or political in nature?" he questioned.
Worst case scenarioMeanwhile, Raja Abdul Aziz said that the worst case scenario for the LAMP was the explosion of the pressurised boilers and leakages from the pipes supplying the acids.
He said that the radiation could be easily detected if there were emissions.
"The least of my worry is radioactivity. It is the easiest thing to detect, so you can remove it as it is found," he said.
The anti-Lynas groups also claimed that the half-life of the thorium waste is 14 billion years and the duration of the facility used to store it, cannot last as long as thorium.
When asked about the cabinet decision to ask Lynas to ship the radioactive waste back to Australia before any license is given, he said that won't affect the decision taken by the board.
He said that the AELB had already asked Lynas to provide an letter of undertaking to send the waste back to Australia in order to obtain the TOL even before the cabinet made its decision yesterday.
Speaking to Malaysiakini later, he said that based on his understanding, the cabinet fully endorsed the decision made by the board - to ask Lynas to send the waste back to Australia.
Leaking pipe
Raja Abdul Aziz also responded to the PKR allegations recently that a pipe at Lamp was leaking.
He confirmed that that was true after conducting an inspection and added that Lynas had already taken the necessary steps to repair it.
He said that the pipe is part of the fire protection system of the plant, and if Lynas failed to fix it, it would not get the relevant certificate regarding safety from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department.
Two weeks ago, PKR Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne revealed a leaked email purportedly from a Lynas contractor, which says that out of 19 ‘packages' of fibre-glass pipes, only five passed muster. - Malaysiakini, 1/3/2011, Only 3% said 'No' to Lynas during display period
- Charles Hector
The Lynas issue must be resolved accordingly to the people's wishes.
ReplyDeleteLynas should not be approved without the people's support, hopefully this will be reconsidered.
ReplyDeleteGovt must make a wise decision regarding this matter. The people have their right to voice out their demand.
ReplyDeleteThis issue somehow has been twisted to confuse the people and for personal gains. Some say Lynas is harmful, some say Lynas is harmless. Who is telling the truth?
ReplyDeleteThe opposition will capitalize what ever sentiment of the people so long as it will buy them the people's confidence on their side.
DeleteApart from that, LYNAS must comply to the waste disposal recommendation that has been highlighted by the government or have their license revoke.
ReplyDeleteI choose the explanation from nuclear expert or scientist instead of politicians who only know in doing some provocation to attract the people to support them..
ReplyDelete