Malaysian Contemporary Art : my solo exhibition promo

Understanding the Lynas Rare Earth plant in 13 questions

Q1: What is rare earth (RE)?

Rare earth (RE) is just a metal, as ordinary as other metals like iron, silver and gold. The difference between them is we don’t encounter RE in daily life, e.g. you don’t wear RE bracelets, you don’t build the bridge with RE. It’s precious, valuable and essential for many high-tech industries.

Q2: Who is LYNAS?

LYNAS is the owner of the RE mine and Gebeng plant, incorporated and listed in Australia. LYNAS (M) Sdn. Bhd is wholly owned by LYNAS Inc.

Q3: Where does the RE come from? What is it like?

Like other metals, RE is found in ore (rock) in West Australia. The ore is mined, cleaned and crushed into sand or powder form, before being shipped to Kuantan. The journey is about 5000 km. The size of a single grain of powder can be 100 times smaller than the diameter of a strand of hair.

Q4: Why do they take the RE from Australia and process it here?

The official statement said that Australia cannot provide high-skilled manpower, and that Australia cannot supply enough water, acids and natural gas to process RE.

Q5: What do we get in terms of income?

Malaysia was offered 12 years tax break by LYNAS, which means they do not pay us anything during the first 12 years of operation. Eventually, all revenue generated here will probably be channeled back to the LYNAS Inc. share holders in Australia, and not to LYNAS (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Q6: What do we get in terms of job opportunities?

Only a total of 350 employees are needed, including expatriate, skilled and unskilled workers. The number of employees in a mid-size supermarket is greater than this.

Q7: What do we get in terms of new, world-class technology?

Malaysia is not a traditional, major RE-producing county. Transferring RE processing knowledge to Malaysia does not benefit the country and its people considerably.

Q8: So, what actually do we get?

Save the “jobs created, new technology and sales revenue of chemicals, water and natural gas”, strictly speaking, in the first 12 years – nothing! Except large quantities of waste. To be more precise, 500 cubic meters/hour of waste water, 100,000 cubic meters/hour of waste gas and 280,000 tonnes/year of solid waste.

Q9: Is RE dangerous?

Most RE metals are harmless, but in natural ore RE is normally mixed with the radioactive substances. During the separation process, valuable RE is extracted and exported to US, Europe and Japan, leaving behind harmful substances in Kuantan.

Q10: How dangerous is it?

The radioactive substances release radiation and two major toxic materials – radon gas and lead. Radon is a colorless, odorless toxic gas. When it gets into the human body through inhalation, it can damage cells and cause cancer. As for lead, many years ago petrol gas been changed from leaded to unleaded, as we didn’t want lead to be released to the air through our car exhaust. Lead can harm the nervous system, and cause brain and blood diseases. In short, two key hazards can be found in Gebeng RE plant – the radiation and the toxic materials.

Q11: Where and when can the radiation, radon and lead be found?

The RE raw material (in powder or sand form) arrives at the Kuantan port, then gets transported to Gebeng by truck, where it is unloaded, transferred and processed. Waste gas from chimneys, the waste water disposed into the Balok River, the solid wastes that are stored in Gebeng – possibly in all of the above we can find the radioactive substances, which can emit radiation, radon and lead, wherever and whenever they are present.

Q12: Mr. A lives in Balok, 3km from Gebeng. Mr. B lives in Kuantan, 30km from Gebeng. Mr. C lives in KL, 300km from Gebeng. Can the radioactive materials endanger them?

In short, the answer is NO for all of them if they stay more than 100 metres away from radioactive materials. But, the answer is YES for all three if they consumed these harmful substances, even if they stay hundreds of kilometres away. WHY? The radiation emitted in Gebeng doesn’t travel long distance to harm us, hence if you stand a short distance away from the materials without consuming it, all you will get is a slight radiation. Radon gas and lead in general do not affect our body externally, as we are protected by our skin. However, if these radioactive materials contaminate the solid waste, waste water and waste gas, they will be released to the atmosphere, water streams and eventually the food chain. Once the radioactive materials enter the human body via inhalation, ingestion and wound penetration, the radiation, radon and lead will be released inside the body and these can cause very serious consequences.

Q13: Why did they say that it is safe? Why did they say that the radioactivity is low? Who should I listen to?

You decide who you should listen to! It’s your life, it’s your family, it’s your home. See above to understand why they said the radioactivity is low. The media, authorities and LYNAS have failed to report the consequences of consuming radioactive materials.

The questions were answered by Dr. Lee Chee Hong, Chemical Engineering Expert on Metals.

Malaysian Contemporary Art : my solo exhibition

artist:

Harold Reagan Eswar @ egn

exhibition title:

R.I.P (Revolution in Progress)

exhibition date:

1st to 3rd of June 2012

time:

- Friday (1st of June) Opening/Officiating ceremony at 8pm

- Saturday (2nd of June) Exhibition from 10pm to 6 pm

- Sunday (3rd of June) Last exhibition day from 10pm to 6pm

venue:

Pusat Rakyat, Loyar Burok

3-4, 4th floor, Jalan Bangsar Utama 3,

Bangsar Utama 3, 59000 Kuala Lumpur.

Hosted by:

Pusat Rakyat, Loyar Burok.

Opening by:

Yee I Lann

inquiries:

harold.eswar@yahoo.com

_______________________________________________________________________

I am a painter. I am a Sabahan, some folks in the Peninsular say we Sabahans still live on trees. Honestly, I pray and wish that was true. Instead of a tree, I live in a rented double storey terrace house. Every time I go outside, instead of seeing branches and leaves, I see a mailbox filled with bills. Instead of riding a water buffalo in the wilderness, I have to drive my "RON 95 ever hungry car" in the everlasting traffic jam to work, everyday. But instead of a talking monkey, I have my beautiful and very supportive wife Anne living with me, that, I do not want to change! Hello, my name is Egn (its short for Reagan)

I have been painting ever since I was in primary school, but because of financial instability, I had to force myself to leave art and flow with other money motivated drones. I took Architecture in a local college in Kuala Lumpur. I graduated, started working, started to "cari makan" seriously to pay off my study loan.

2 years ago, because of the same financial instability, I started painting again, but now the objective is different, not to cari makan anymore. My needs are the least of what I long to fulfill. I am an active member of The Cracko Art Group (CAG) based in Kota Kinabalu, these crazy bunch of artists has brought the street art scene in KK into a whole new level. very proud to be a part of this movement.

I realize now that I have a gift in art, and that I can and should use it for the greater good, kinda like being a superhero, but not quite. I have seen the faces of my orang kampung suffering the consequences of bad leader's decisions and actions throughout the years. What hurts me is the fact that my orang kampung are too laid back, they would just sit and say " apa boleh buat...." or " memang macam tu, terima sajalah.". The leaders, or Orang Besar in my district are lifted high and seated on golden pedestal, while the farmers, plantation workers still wallow in dirt and in their own blood and sweat.

I wish to tell our Orang Besar that the orang kecil are still suffering, How I wish I can say that the bellies of the Ketua Kampung has grown bigger, but in the other hand, the orang kampung are "starving". I do not wish to complain, my intention is to solely empower those who feel that there is no more hope. I want to tell them that they still have a voice, even if it means they have to shout till their lungs give out.

I know of a tribe in Borneo that hums before their enemies just before their battle begins. Imagine 2000 strong warriors humming in unison. the earth trembles, leaves falling from the trees by the thousands, sending waves of fear piercing the hearts of their opponents. I want my orang kampung to know that they are those warriors, they need to wake up from they slumber and march into battle. I know there is still hope. It's still not too late.

I do not have any formal education in Arts, but I know art has a big roll in empowering the people to move upwards. To install positive vibes and motivation for them to stand up together, claiming back what is rightfully theirs. To rejuvenate courage so that their fears would seem so insignificant, they will believe that they can do everything that is right! Art can do this! I strongly believe that.

That is why, on the 1st of June 2012, I will bring my artworks all the way from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur for my debut solo exhibition, entitled "R.I.P: Revolution In Progress", opened by our very own Miss Yee I Lann, a celebrated artist and my good friend.

I will be exhibiting my works in the Pusat Rakyat for all to see, I hope that I will get your support in standing up with me along with my orang kampung, along with my migrant brothers and sisters, along with my friends the street children, the trafficked, the oppressed, the marginalized and everyone who is in need in Sabah.

50% of the sales from the exhibition, will go to Loyar Burok and The Borneo Youth Revolution. The BYR is a group in which I believe will bring a positive impact in the social lives of KK folks, that's why I am honored to work with these visionaries in delivering the best to those who are in need.

Before I go, I really hope my message goes through to you readers out there. I hope that we the hands and feet (and voice) of Sabah will get the attention from you all. I wish that you will spare a few moments to drop by to my exhibition and just support me and my BYR and CAG friends."Revolusi Seni Sabah Sudah Bangkit Bah!"