LYNAS CORPORATION LIMITED

Australian social activist and journalist Wendy Bacon has recently written a couple of stories concerning Lynas Corporation containing a number of factual errors and exaggerations, and has quoted sources discredited by experts to back up her claims.

17 Dec 2012 The Toxic Waste That's Not In Our Back Yard
http://newmatilda.com/2012/12/17/toxic-waste-lynas

19 Dec 2012 Lynas' Waste Plans A Toxic Pipe Dream
http://newmatilda.com/2012/12/19/lynas-toxic-pipe-dream


The rare earth smuggler

A. Bacon writes in paragraph 10 that Lynas "successfully smuggled the concentrate into the plant".

The word "smuggle" is usually associated with drug or people smugglers, both illegal activities.

Smuggle is defined as 1.Move (goods) illegally into or out of a country: "cocaine smuggling".
2.Convey (someone or something) somewhere secretly and illicitly. Illicitly is "Not sanctioned by custom or law; unlawful".

Did Lynas actually smuggle the ore into Malaysia as Bacon claims? Has Lynas acted illegally?

It is impossible to believe Bacon's claim of smuggling given the fact that the ore was given a police escort from the Gebeng port to LAMP (which, by the way, Lynas did not request and was provided after threats by the SMSL).


B. Bacon's 2nd paragraph is: If a manufacturing plant involving radioactive materials moved into your community, one of the first things you would ask is, "what’s going to happen to the waste?"

Long time Lynas watchers know that the protestors have only recently brought the waste issue to the fore - protests up until recently have been focused on the hazards, real or imagined, of the operating plant. Bacon's assertion of "insufficient planning for waste disposal has sparked local opposition" is actually an after-thought by SMSL.

Indeed, even "into your community" and her follow up "residents of Kuantan" is questionable given the fact that the Lynas LAMP is suitably located in the heavy industrial area of Gebeng.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gebeng

Are there really any residents in a heavy industrial zone mainly comprising of petro-chemical giants?


Is this science or art?

C. Bacon bases her science on a NTN report written by Lee Bell BA MA which she claims is written by a "qualified environmental scientist". There are no other qualifications given on the NTN report other than the two arts degrees which brings into question whether her "scientist" is indeed "qualified".
http://www.ntn.org.au/contributor-stories/contamination-likley-at-rare-earth-plant


D. The accuracy of Bell's report is questioned by Nick Tsurikov "It appears to me that yet again in some cases the data and regulations have been misquoted and/or misinterpreted, which effectively negates the conclusions made in the report."
http://calytrix.biz/random/5.2012-04-17.Reply-to-NTN.pdf

Tsurikov is well respected in the Australasian Radiation Protection Society
http://www.arps.org.au/?q=content/science-meets-parliament

If such a respected expert as Tsurikov notes that the NTN report is "misquoted and/or misinterpreted" we must immediately question Bacon's story. We will of course be watching to see if Bacon attempts to discredit or badmouth Tsurikov.


E. Whilst still discussing qualifications, one shareholder on the social media raised the question of Bacon's qualifications to which she replied "I am still a Professor at UTS"

Her adamant assertion that she is 'still a Professor at UTS' is legitimately questionable considering she has retired from UTS, according to their website.
http://cfsites1.uts.edu.au/acij/news-events/news-detail.cfm?ItemId=32563


F. Before leaving Bacon's qualifications, reference should be made to her Wikipedia page where it is stated:

Bacon enrolled in graduate law school in 1977. Upon graduation in 1979 she applied to join the NSW Bar, but was rejected on character grounds as an unsuitable person. In his judgment Justice Reynolds stated that the decision was "a question of whether a person who aspires to serve the law can be said to be fit to do so when it is demonstrated that in the zealous pursuit of political goals she will break the law if she regards it as impeding the success of her cause".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Bacon


Protestors times 4

G. Regarding the number of protestors on 25 November, Bacon claims "by the time it reached the capital had swelled to 20,000 people" which on the face of it, gives her cause some credibility. However, other media reports between 5000-10000 people.

Channel NewsAsia says "Estimated 5,000-strong crowd at #StopLynas rally in KL"
http://twicsy.com/i/Ng9aRc

Malaysian TV reports "Some 5,000 activists rallied in the Malaysian capital today"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwvF1FHAmOA

The Malaysian Bar which is providing legal assistance to the many SMSL court actions has put the number at 10,000 protestors.
http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/legal/general_news/10000_join_hands_to_protest_against_lynas.html

The maximum number quoted in a live coverage report says: "At 5.44pm, a crowd of about 10,000" people"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmalaysia/message/90291

At best, Bacon has doubled the number of people given by the most ardent of SMSL supporters, and she has quadrupled the number given by the local Malaysian media who would undoubtedly base their figure on eye witness accounts.


Does Social Activism trump Investigative Reporting?

H. Bacon's twitter profile lists her interests as (in order): social activism, investigative reporting. Can an investigative reporter maintain their objectivity in covering a story whilst having a 'social activism' agenda? Surely the writings of the activist are better classed as 'propaganda' especially when considering the obvious bias and truth benders contained in the Bacon articles.

The definition of propaganda is 1.Information, esp. of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. 2.The dissemination of such information as a political strategy.

Bacon writes "Discrediting sources is a familiar public relations tactic used by companies ..." and "Lynas badmouths its critics for exaggerating LAMP safety risks" and in the same story she is guilty of the very same thing.

A problem for Bacon whilst she wears her social activist hat whilst claiming to be an investigative reporter is that her left-leaning writings are just as guilty of bias as the right-wing journalism of some mainstream media. Two wrongs don't make a right.


I. Bacon opens her story with 'Australian-owned company Lynas is quietly shipping rare earth to a processing plant in Malaysia'. When your Topstocks correspondent quizzed Bacon about this she responded @Wendy_Bacon "Reporting the truth. Lynas told me had to act secretly to avoid protest action." - unfortunately that fact was not included in her published stories.

The journalism course at UTS where Bacon used to teach includes the well-known journalistic fact that a journalist loses the vast majority of readers after the first two paragraphs. It's not until the 13th paragraph that Bacon gives any time to the Lynas perspective, and then only to criticise it. In journalism parlance, that is called "bury the lead" which is defined as 1. To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bury_the_lead


NSW Greens in WA/Malaysia's nest

J. On the 18 Dec NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge @ShoebridgeMLC sent the following tweet in support of Bacon's story.

Lynas - using classic Australian resource company tactic of sh**ing in someone else's nest -- http://tinyurl.com/csqrjwj #newmatilda

One wonders why a NSW Greens state MLC is attacking a WA/Malaysian company. Who is in who's nest, Mr Shoebridge?


Claiming the moral high ground

K. The SMSL crew continually attack anyone who tries to counter their wild exaggerations and outright lies on the social media saying that we are doing that for the money. Ironically Bacon's stories on the fledgling New Matilda website carry advertisements and the reader is encouraged to "crowd fund" Bacon in her writings. Apparently making money from investments is bad, but asking for donations is good.

L. Bacon wrote the following: "As a reporter, this was the first time I had experienced hate messages via twitter. These were posted by Lynas supporters. I can understand why shareholders and employees could be anxious but that doesn’t mean that the truth should not come out about the LAMP project."

http://www.wendybacon.com/2012/lynas-investigation-parts-one-and-two/

In her attempt to claim the moral high ground, Bacon is discrediting and badmouthing her critics - something she accuses Lynas of doing in these same articles. On twitter, Bacon complained about people asking her questions and asked for advice from her followers - was she rallying her troops?

In the time that it took me to make a cup of coffee (literally) I was asked twice by one of Bacon's followers to provide articles that I had written and to provide my journalism credentials. Other shareholder's profiles were immediately scrutinised by Bacon followers, with the length of time on twitter and our followers twittered and retweeted.

Despite the numerous factual errors contained in Bacon's stories, some of which have been pointed out to her and she has thus far failed to correct, she continues to claim ownership of the truth about LAMP. In the world of the social activist, 'the truth' is subjective.

The shareholders who have taken Bacon to task over her biased reporting have been offended and abused by the SMSL, including the death threats to Australians in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLn3BLWw9B8

Perhaps Bacon is oblivious to the fact that she is attacking a law abiding Australian company with these blatant untruths and exaggerations, and is undermining the value of shares owned by normal Australians who believe the facts that the Lynas rare earths will be crucial to the electric car industry and other green technology.

Bacon's audience is predominantly Australians unfamiliar with what is actually happening in Malaysia, either with Lynas or the local politics. Certainly Bacon has done some good work in the past but this is not her finest hour.

An invitation is extended to Prof.Bacon to join this forum and discuss the issue with the Australian mum & dad shareholders of Lynas, and why she has joined the Stop Lynas campaign seeking to destroy the value of their holdings.

Now thats an article by a real journalist, well done once again Marcus.
As usual you have bought down another with an agenda. Hope you have forwarded on to Lynas although they probably already know

Nice work, the thing that i find strange about that NTN report is the disclaimer they have at the bottom of the page,

"Please note this information is provided as general information and comment should not be seen as professional advice"

Yet here we have Wendy Bacon publishing articles based on it!

Hi Marcus,

I also found this article on the net yesterday about Radiologist (Peter Karamoskos).
http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=59968

His comments are also very bias and negative towards LYNAS and LAMP.
I think they are all GREENies...

Bacon's reply to my article:

@Wendy_Bacon False statements in that post. #Lynas #NewMatilda I'll be returning to this issue & this attack.

Yes they all look like Kermot, however they all have computers bla bla you've heard it all before but they don't see that as an issue as they need these items to preach their lot in life. So guess the real question is how green are they.
I recall an interview with the leach Brown who was standing in front of his house with wood fire burning yep their green

Just got this Marcus


Lynas’ waste plans a toxic pipe dream — Wendy Bacon

December 20, 2012

DEC 20 — Australian rare earth company Lynas has always known it had a waste problem. It plans to process rare earth concentrate, imported from its mine at Mount Weld in Western Australia, at its Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Malaysia. It will not only produce rare earths for export but also a huge amount of waste, including more than a million cubic metres of low level radioactive material.

Lynas was originally going to build its LAMP plant in China, which produces more than 90 per cent of global rare earths. But according to its 2007 annual report, it decided to move to Malaysia, because the Chinese government was increasing its control over production, including applying environmental standards more strictly. Lax regulation had led to what a Chinese government white paper described this year as extensive emissions of radioactive residues and heavy metals, clogged rivers, environmental pollution emergencies and accidents causing “great damage to people’s safety and health and the ecological environment”.

Lynas was attracted to Malaysia because it was offered tax-free status for 10 years. Its first choice was a site in Terengganu where it quickly received necessary construction approvals. Then the Malaysian government asked Lynas to move south to the Gebeng industrial estate which was built on a reclaimed swamp, 2.5km from the port of Kuantan in Pahang. Although the new land cost US$30 million (RM93 million) rather than US$5 million, the company reported that it “had little choice but to accept this”, and in any case the infrastructure at the new site was better as it was close to petrochemical plants. For its co-operation, Lynas’ tax holiday, which included all imports and dividends, was topped up to 12 years. The company told the share market that it would start producing rare earths by June 2009.

New environmental approval documents were filed in January 2008. It took only five weeks for the state and local council environment departments and the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board to give the company a construction licence. It is clear from the documentation that at this stage the company had only temporary plans for waste storage, had not addressed the possibility that future events including flooding could affect the safety of the site, or selected a permanent waste facility. Despite the delays, shareholders were told that production would still start in 2009. As 2012 ends, the plant — which will take months to become fully operational — received its first rare earth concentrate several weeks ago.

There is an emphasis in the company’s glossy investor presentations and annual reports of the sustainability of its products, which are necessary for the operation of almost all electronics — from smart phones to missiles. However, there was little mention of the waste — or “residue”, as Lynas prefers to call it.

Lynas and its supporters assert its operations are completely safe, but as New Matilda reported, others — including scientists — are less confident. Lynas relies on an IAEA report that found it had complied with international standards in its construction phase, but needed to do more prior to operating. Lynas told New Matilda that since the IAEA report, it has taken the “additional safety step” of placing “hydrated residues in safe, reliably engineered, elevated storage cells that are designed so that there is no possibility for any leakage of material into the environment”. These storage cells will be monitored by Lynas and the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).


Story continues at link below

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/lynas-waste-plans-a-toxic-pipe-dream-wendy-bacon

I just wanted to thank you Marcus for taking the time to rebutt Bacon's article. It is a very erudite, and balanced critique of her text. I particularly like that you acknowledge Bacon has done some good things in the past but as you say "this is not her finest hour". Indeed.

Also, I think it is unacceptable for her to quote extensively an unnamed Lynas "spokesman". I mean who is he?

Thank you Marcus.

green power

Top Work Marcus

I am really happy that there are investors like yourself who are driven and clued enough to do some real searching.

I am relatively new to the shares game and LYNAS was my specky pick back in 09. It has been a roller coaster of a ride since I picked up shares as low a 15 cents but I feel a lot better knowing there are informed true investigators like yourself doing the hard work.

I'm long on my holdings and hope that science and fact will triumph over
ignorance and fear.

I have watched this forum for a long time but had to join in tom say thanks.

And Merry Christmas to the other Lynas Believers

Good work mate, your post has circulated onto hot wopper i see, those mofos usually don't allow quality posts from other forums because it shows them up as a "light entertainment" site.......

Its funny how we get these occasional people chiming in whith long winded articles short on facts about Lynas, Robin Chapple comes to mind as another from recent memory.

I assume SMSL send out thousands of emails/letters to like minded people they think might jump on their bandwagon and help their "worthy cause", there is certainly a clear pattern to who seem to respond, those people basically oppose eveything, they oppose BHP, RIO and all mining opperations yet they always have well paid jobs themselves mind you, they just dont want anyone else to have a job apparently....... Robin Chapple even worked for BHP!

The irony with many people associated with this "cause" is from what i can tell there are quite a few lawyers with no respect for the law.

hopefully you have taken profit(free-carry) by now. LYC will still face headwinds probably from "concerned " "citizens" in Australia if Malaysia gets sorted , but Australia will need LYC to be profitable (Australia will need all the tax-base it can get -- no matter how small) ,one possible upside in all this is Australia through regime/economic thought change may make OZ "plant-friendly" giving LYC an "either/and " option (India must be nearly up to needing a good supply of REEs soon .)

I've just seen that I've gone viral - achoo - I'm making sure this thread is being promoted all over the social media in rebuttal to the false statements being spread.

TY Rastus for giving me credit for the original post - I just ask that if quoting a link to my article on any social media (other than HotDogWorld which won't allow it) to please use the link quoted in the twitsphere, which is to the original article in this thread here at Topstocks.

Great work everyone, I appreciate the good company.

Have a safe & happy holiday everyone

M2K

ask Matross or 6PAC if he has any spare garlic (for the virus ) but good work !!!

Hi Marcus2000,

Happy to spread the good work..

Could you please show me the twittisphere link you are talking about... I obviously am too blind to see it.

Regards,
R2

Its the link to this thread ... here is a short url ideal for the twits: alturl.com/ysbu4

the latest tête à tête à twitter:

From me 21 Dec
@1EarthMedia Investigating the investigative reporter http://alturl.com/ysbu4 A look at errors & exaggerations in @Wendy_Bacon #NewMatilda #Lynas stories

From Wendy Bacon 21 Dec
@Wendy_Bacon @1EarthMedia False statements in that post. #Lynas #NewMatilda I'll be returning to this issue & this attack.

From me 27 Dec
@1EarthMedia Discussing the exaggerations & false statements in Wendy Bacon's attack on #RareEarth miner #Lynas http://alturl.com/ysbu4 #Malaysia #AusPol

From rastus 27 Dec
@rastus22 @Wendy_Bacon @1EarthMedia Still waiting for you to 'return to this issue and this attack' so you can show they were lies. all look true 2 me

From Wendy Bacon 29 Dec
‏@Wendy_Bacon @rastus22 @1EarthMedia Can you tell me what your connection is with @Lynas. Resident? Shareholder? Something else?

From me 29 Dec
@1EarthMedia @Wendy_Bacon I don't know @Lynas & am wondering why you're involving Steven Lynas from UK - the poor guy must be wondering too @rastus22 LOL

From Steven Lynas 29 Dec
‏@Lynas @1EarthMedia @Wendy_Bacon @rastus22 HAHAH Finally!! Thank you!

From rastus 30 Dec
@rastus22 @Lynas @1EarthMedia @Wendy_Bacon @rastus22 Confess to Wendy, Steven, and all will be forgive .lol. nice bit of detective work there Wendy

From Steven Lynas 30 Dec
‏@Lynas @rastus22 @1EarthMedia @Wendy_Bacon The only rare earth mining I’ve done was about 16 years ago when we buried a goldfish in the back garden

this company is far from making a come back any time soon, lots eyes watching

This Post has an attachment. You need to login or create an account to view post attachments.

Salary for Medical Nuclear radiologist is between $36K - 97K. A plumber makes more and probably has a more informed view as a Medical Nuclear radiologist in mining rare earths.

Well Wendy Bacon, well suppose the name fits is really a pig of a thing and can't seem to get much right.
Well at least the price will be better for the year 2013 on 2012 won't it

LOL please bear in mind that I'm all over this issue on the social media and am pointing people to this forum inviting their comments and participation.

Kudos where its due, Wendy won a Walkley Award way back in the 80s for her articles about police corruption ... she had been a great journo in the past but all I'm saying is this attack on Lynas is not her finest hour.

Just an aside, I've been asked to be a judge for the Walkley Awards numerous times - the first time was in the 80s and the last was just a few years ago ... and I've declined each time because competitions aren't my thing.

Please be aware that Bacon has said my comments on twitter are "seriously defamatory" ... which in my 38 year media career is the first time that anyone has suggested that ... a number of people have asked Bacon to point out any defamatory statements that I've made and so far she has failed to do so (I consider her statement in this regards to be just another 'error' that she has made during her socialist spin of this story as she attempts to take the moral high ground).

Numerous people have also asked Bacon to correct the many errors in her stories that I've pointed out in my original post on this thread - and so far she has failed to do so.

Having said that ... now let me say this ...

Wendy, all we're asking is that you stick to the facts while you publish your stories unde the banner of 'investigative reporting'

Marcus we know how very very good you are with your articles. I don't know how old she is but seems showing early signs of old timers disease. Nothing would be worse for a journo imho. Just keep up the good work you do for Lynas. Pity the company didn't hire you as their PR person, would be a very good move.