$4 club.

Ive just come home from the Perth "Save Malaysia..Stop Lynas" meeting
So im here incognito :)
After I told my wife how it went..she said now we are going to have to go into a "Witness protection program"..will need plastic surgery though,as I was photographed till my eyes were poppoing,talking,not talking,sitting standing,and a couple of movie cameras.
Why.
Lets start from scratch..I spent most of the day honeing my LYC knowledge,I was armed to the hilt.
Got there at 5.45..session was posted as 6-8PM..(started at 6.30..fin..7.40..If I hadnt been there would have finished at 7 :)
THE VENUE.
Well it not the bloody Ross memorial church,but Valamont..what ever that is..but there was their Black and Yellow ..cute little bags..I grabbed one..will put all my LYC files in it.:)..hanging on the door knob.
Went down a corridor to the lift...Save Malaysia T shirt on the ground..ah must take the lift.
Two Malaysian young fellows..20-22 came through one of the doors..thank goodness as there were no more clues where to go.
I went inside and was greated like the prodigal son,the 15 squad was all there,and we all introduced our selves,Lam Tam ,Bam and Nou...the Leader was LEE..like the twin sister of Fuzzy..While smiling and shaking hands noticed no sandwiches,coffee,tea,thought..shit..smiled less.
There were 4 others in suits talking Malaysian,and this hippie pair..both wearing cowboy hats..at night..in a room...at a meeting..they had a couple of giggling girlfriends.
There were 2 other guys..(let me digress..this was a largish room..chairs for about 50..projector..screen laptop...no sandwiches.
It was 6.20 and im thinking where is the cavalry for Lynas..I slid over to one of them ..late twenties..are you with the anti or pro..gave me a weird look..just here to see what they say..walked over to the other..same Q..no Im with them he said..told him what a pity..you look so intelligent to.
So that was it..about about 25 in all..then reality hit..no it was 24 them..and 1 me.
During the first 15 mins that i arrived and spoke with all the handshakers,there was excitement in the camp..as the flashlights started popping.
They gave me a big head ,wasnt their intention,but kept questioning why I knew so much,first I was an employee,a journalist,bottom line by the time the formal meeting got under way..they had a fair idea where i was coming from.Mind you all this was polite,civilised,I have no problems with giving out insults followed by a nice smile.:)
The first speaker got up...it was the WA Conservation spokesperson..they had lent this hall for the meeting.
Well it was the..about 24..girl with the Cowboy hat.
No sandwiches,now this.It was a welcome to all the 24..I got this mean stare..:)what a great cause..these mining giants want to run all over us even at the cost of lives for dollars..type intro.
Then twin sister Fuzzy...LEE got up.Introduced the slides.
Started with Bukit Merah...Its happened once..it will happen again.
The next few slides were of twins joined at the hips,kid with elephantitist,deformed babies,radiation rain,plants dieing.
Then a list of all the industries that would be harmed..(picture every indust sector)
I thought this is terrible..im going to join them...evil Lynas.
Lights went back on...all the other group were about to introduce themselves..after which we would see highlights from the protest in Sydney,Canberra,and the ones building support in Malaysia.
Its at this time sandwiches would have been appropriate.
First was a grandfather..had lived in Kuantan for 31 years..now he fears for his grandchildren..LYNAS must be stopped...big applause by 24..courteous applause by 1..due to 24 stares.
Next was a vet..nice chap actually..we got on well..he explained that all who are here have funded themselves..his VET clinic is shut down for 10 days while he persues this belief.He too is convinced dreadfull things will happen to the beaches where he now plays with his kids.
A mother got up..all she said was..I want a safe world for my children..came all the way from Malaysia to say 8 words..I gave her a big clap...well sorta big.
The Chemical engineer got up and it was all about the dangers of chemicals..so not about REE,s but about the chemicals used.
The next attacked the structure ..air bubbles,low standard steel,leaking concrete..the big push here was that the whole site is over a swamp,and the monsoons,so was the fear of leakage into the inviro.
Only one had a political overtone to his address,his start was that since the last 54 yrs of the current Gov...it is corrupt..as he put it...you do something for me..Ill do something for you...aiming at LYC..that we are unsafe..but have a deal with the gov.
Another ideal sandwich moment as there was a pause and the movies re Syd/Canberra were about to begin.
Sydney.
Picture 7 folk wearing their Black and Gold T shirts a table..on a footpath.selling the bags and t shirts..and a guy with a megaphone..no giveaways so Sydneyites
keep walking..no one stops..but there are 47 shots of the 7 waving ,smiling having a good time..at the end there are liitle cameoes with flowers of Tim and Tan..and thing with thing..very pretty.
Canberra was a lot better as this time some wore the nuclear outfit..so 96 shots of everybody...but they did manage 1 interview..a girl about 19-20..who agreed Lynas was evil..a more family album shots.
received great applause at end (by 24).
Then came the finale..a movie about the growth of the protestors in malaysia..kids hundreds of kids..this was mothers day....then this was fathers day..by now i was badly in need of a sandwich.
Lee got back on stage and said now they would be open to any Q,s.(keep in mind i had already had a 40 min conversation with all 15 prior).
So LEE looked at me and said I know what your going to ask..which i was amazed at..cause i didnt know...and looked for another to ask.
Which was the boy with the cowboy hat..This stuff (yes stuff) must be pretty dangerous coming to fremantle..I thought give me a break.
No more Q..I shot my hand up..Lee squirmed..but i had to out guess what she guessed i would say
Q1..The reception that you received in Sydney/canberra.and now tonight..are you embarrassed.
That woke everyone up..had to justify it being a success
Q2.Why isnt there a scientist expert in REE,s in your group.
We have a chemical engineer..retired.No further questions your honor on that.
Q3.re how australia wouldnt allow Lynas to open in Australia..quote ..the public would be up in arms.
Didnt know ARU..Whyalla,and ALK Dubbo would be so handy a reference.
Q4.A quick background on Rhodia..their scientists,the AELB,the IAEA have deemed it safe.....got the answer I was waiting for...
THEY DONT TRUST ANYONE..science..no..government and AELB..even worse..IAEA..they only did compliance check,not sufficient...so add corruption..mining giant..screw the little people.
Thats when i thanked them all..my parting words..Your Gov. is currently under talks about 2 nuclear plants will you be protesting against them.
YES WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOT.
Gonna buy me a cowboy hat tomorrow.
Next stop Freo.Yeehaaa.