Monday, January 9, 2012

Save the World: Artist Oliver Wong "Dancing Trees"

My friend Oliver, the environmentalist, he is involved in replanting oil palm tree plantation. For Christmas Eve, he had a self cooked simple dinner of two eggs and two slices of bread, in memory of millions who go hungry without food this Christmas.




This painting started with a figure in the centre, then I just let my spirit takes over, the trees came in, the leaves falling, the roots , and then breeze and then the colors of the wind then the smell, like what you have described. I took me one intense hour to finish in one shot. Like golf occasionally you experience a magical moment and wonder are you there GOD?





Oliver, when I knew him as a university student in 1978 in Auckland New Zealand

http://ollieartgallery.blogspot.com/






This is present day Oliver involved in: Save Malaysia Stop Lynas campaign. This photo shows a peaceful and joyful demonstration of Save Malaysia.


http://savemalaysia-stoplynas.blogspot.com/

On 30 June 2011, the Malaysian Government presented to the press and the public in Kuala Lumpur the final report of an IAEA expert mission that reviewed radiation safety at the Lynas Project, a rare earth processing facility under construction near Kuantan in Pahang state to the Malaysian Government.

Australian rare earths miner Lynas Corporation, which is building a RM700 million processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, will continue to invest in Malaysia. The controversial RM1.5 billion plant being built in the prime minister’s home state of Pahang is now said to be more than 85 per cent complete and is expected to power up by early next year.

The rare earth refinery, touted to be the biggest in the world, aims to break China’s near-complete stranglehold of the minerals required to manufacture high-technology products like hybrid cars, smartphones to bombs.

But public protests by local residents and environmental groups over the possible radioactive hazard posed by the plant this year put the brakes on Lynas’plans.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is gravely concerned over the possible deleterious health effects from radioactive and other toxic waste residues of the proposed Lynas Rare Earth Refinery Project to be located in Gebeng, Pahang.

We share the public concern that not enough information, attention or due diligence to public safety has been provided, before even the approval of such a huge and contentious project would have been made.

This projected plant touted as the ‘largest' Rare Earth Refinery in the world (when fully functional) is located so close to human habitation!

"Every year, they are expected to spend about RM400 million if you include the employment of staff, facilities and chemicals," said International Trade and Industry Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria.

She also said the Lynas project would bring a substantial amount of business into the area, for Pahang and also for Malaysia including in value-added exports.

As to why Lynas chose Malaysia and not Australia to set up the plant, Rebecca said investment decisions were made for various reasons, and that Lynas decided to locate to Malaysia based on business reasons.

Stop Lynas campaign groups sought greater transparency and vowed to seek a judicial review on the latest claimed public engagement of Lynas Malaysia. The groups are appalled by the difficulties in gaining access to the Lynas’ pre-operating licence application documents and the ongoing lack of public consultation on the project.


So what is Lynas? This is their media release.
http://www.lynascorp.com/applicationList.asp?category_id=1&page_id=7

Enhancing Environmental Protection

Global warming due to green house gas emissions is a concern for us all. Rare Earths already play a vital role in the reduction of green house gas emissions.

Learn more here...
Enabling Digital Technology

The digital era is gathering pace; broadband access, digital television, digital cameras, and digital music are around us at home and on the move – Rare Earths are enablers of this technology and its miniaturisation.

Learn more here...
Improving Energy Efficiency

Increased population and economic growth leads to greater demand of the world’s energy, which means increased use of our limited fossil fuel reserves. Rare Earths are already playing a vital role in conservation of these reserves, and are likely to play an even larger role in taking us forward to the hydrogen economy.

On paper, it seems too good to be true.

Way to go! Oliver and your friends. Good luck.


Disclaimer: as I am in New Zealand, I am not involved in this Lynas episode. The information above is obtained from google.

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/



http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

4 comments:

diane b said...

These new plants are a worry but also a boon in some cases.
You asked about the flood victims. Some have moved into new homes , some into mended homes and some are still waiting for insurance companies to sort it out. There are many people still suffering especially those effected by Cyclone Yasi.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

What a beautiful painting!

Ensurai said...

Exquisite art piece...we are proud to have Oliver as a Malaysian!! We all have more to do in the future for our country...

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