Alcoa charged with criminal negligence

As reported on perthnow Alcoa has been charged with criminal negligence.

Do not underestimate the significance of the statement "Alcoa has been charged with criminal negligence".

Alcoa are also currently battling a number of fronts with US Activist Erin Brockovich apparently still pursuing legal action in the US, on behalf of residents and workers from around Wagerup, Pinjarra and Kwinana.

This latest news is big, the WA Department of Environment and Conservation have charged Alcoa with Criminal Negligence over emissions of toxic particulate matter from it 'red mud' tailings dams at Wagerup.

'Red Mud' is an innocuous term invented by Alcoa - however what it really is - is highly toxic mining waste containing radionuclide's, heavy metals, fluoride. sodium hydroxide etc, that Alcoa dumps in ever increasing piles covering hundreds of hectares near Alcoa's refineries because they don't know what else to do with it. Many people over the years have been put at risk and exposed to these particulates largely made up of the fine fraction <PM2.5 micron in diameter. Alcoa has been charged with pollution offences and convicted over the years - but not with criminal negligence.

History shows that this move by the DEC is out of character for our environmental regulator, so let us hope that it is a sign of change in the right direction.

Update 24-01-09: The Alcoa case has apparently been transferred to the Magistrates Court at the Central Law Court in Perth and is scheduled for 23^rd April 2009.

The Season to Reflect. Chill and Enjoy

Well it’s nearly Christmas, another year draws to a close. Time for end of year break up meetings, AGM’s and all that - it causes one to reflect.

- the cat's called Holly-

To reflect on the past year and question everything all over again, like: How did we perform? What did we achieve? What were our failures? Why as volunteers do we do what we do? How good it would be if we didn’t have to do what we do? etcetera.

The frustrations, the things you see - the greed, the injustice, the corruption, the cover-ups, the personal attacks, the threats, and all the dirtiness we see would I think, drive the best there is into the depths of depression.

Is it time to call it a day? Is there anyone else to take over? Will they be able to handle it? Will all the effort over the past 12 years be lost?

More of a personal life would be nice, spending more time with loved ones, family and friends. Working longer and harder for no financial reward wouldn’t be missed, the simple things in life like being able to watch what you want on TV when you want, like the evening news for example, instead of working/attending night meetings etc. would be a nice change.

It will soon be Christmas and then it will be another New Year.

Over the holiday/festive period the state’s major hazardous and polluting industries keep running, the proposals keep coming, government’s do not change their ways (there is just less of them around). Life in Kwinana goes on.

But really dear readers, I’m excited. I do enjoy Christmas and getting into the Christmas spirit, putting up the lights (yes I have the ladders J ), the decorations, the bringing together of family and friends and of course drinking more Jim Beam.

One thing I will really miss this year are Cigars, yep No Cigars! Then again would one or two really hurt? Ok Anne - NO CIGARS!

Oh yes… I admit it, he did it again, Dave’s post today once again prompted a post by me.

Sad State of WA Politics

Dave's blog post of today, reminded me that I have failed to blog about politics since before the State election... Sadly I haven't missed it at all...

-from the West Australian-

I was once a political junkie but for the last year or 18 months I have lost all interest in the subject. Why? Probably because I saw too much, I saw the corruption. I saw what a disgrace politics in this state in particular had become. Labor had become all too much the same as the Liberal Party, the Carpenter Government had totally lost the plot, which actually started as soon as Geoff Gallop left. Thanks to default Premier Carpenter Corruption was alive and well.

The Greens seemed to forget they were a grass roots environmental party and appeared to get lost in the other stuff. Environmental and more importantly Environmental Health disappeared from the radar before and did not surface again during the election campaign.

When the election was over and the results started to become clearer I became even more depressed about politics, some results such as independent (because he was sacked from the Labor party) John Bowler winning the seat of Kalgoorlie - just blew me away.

What on earth is wrong with people today? Can they not see past the $ signs?

Locally we have an ardent new Labor MP which currently doesn't seem like a bad thing, time will tell.

Colin Barnett is now Premier, albeit Premier by default, but I think he needs to be reminded often that the Liberals did not win the election.

Here is something to ponder - Is the liberal party any less corrupt than Labor was? Does anyone really need to answer that?

Update on Yet Another Kwinana Industry Emergency

We still don't know the full story of what happened this time. Apparently a fire and at least one worker gassed.

To answer some comments : It's good news week - every week, every day every hour in Kwinana Industry hey.

I guess there have been 6 or 7 serious incidents that we know about at Tiwest over the past 6 months with gas releases and people gassed with dangerous chemicals such as Chlorine Gas - Cl2, and Titanium Tetrachloride - TiCl4and who knows how many we didn't find out about.

Whatever happened to Community Right To Know? It HAS disappeared in Kwinana. With regards to Kwinana Industries Emergency Community Communication/Information service - It sounds good, it looks good, but has it ever worked when we needed it? Will it ever work when we really need it?

Come on Kwinana Industry - Is it really that difficult to fix? or is it a case of Kwinana Industry doesn't think those of us living alongside these major industries have any rights?

Now would probably have been a good time for me to explain how industry divides and conquers the community, how it buys support/silence from certain sections of the community etc. etc. but maybe later because that will be a long one, thus probably should be done on its own.

Yet Another Kwinana Industry Emergency

Right on cue Tiwest strikes again.

Details are sketchy, because as usual it seems the Kwinana Community is being kept in the dark over serious incidents in Kwinana Industry, but apparently Tiwest had ANOTHER emergency incident this morning with evacuations etc.

By 3:30 pm this afternoon the authorities (DEC) had still not been informed of the incident by industry.

I was not in Kwinana at the time of the incident, but other Community Group Reps report that as usual the emergency communication service was not used.

Much of the usual really.

I have lost count of the incidents (gas releases etc) at Tiwest over the last 6 months.

More later as we try and uncover the details.

In the mean time read more on Tiwest here, here and here.

Remembering Bhopal

Fire a blowtorch at my eyes, pour acid down my throat.

Strip the tissue from my lungs.

Drown me in my own blood.

Choke my baby to death in front of me.

Show me her struggles as she dies

- From a Survivor's Poem -

"The Bhopal disaster has no parallel in the history of mankind. It all began on the night of December 2/3, 1984, when 40 tonnes of lethal gases leaked from Union Carbide Corporation's pesticide factory in Bhopal, India.

People just did not know what had hit them. There was no warning. Before anyone could realize the full impact of the disaster an area of about 40 sq. km., with a resident population of over half a million, was engulfed in dense clouds of poison. People woke up coughing, gasping for breath, their eyes burning. Many fell dead as they ran. Others succumbed at the hospitals where doctors were overwhelmed by the numbers and lacked information on the nature of the poisoning.

By the third day of the disaster, an estimated 8,000 people had died from direct exposure to the gases and another 500,000 were injured. Today, the number of deaths stands at 20,000."

Anil Sharma, a Bhopal-based senior journalist, who has covered the tragedy and its aftermath for several newspapers in India, from the Greenpeace publication "Exposure: Portrait of a Corporate Crime."

Read more about the Bhopal tragedy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster

www.bhopal.org

www.greenpeace/international.org

www.corpwatchindia.org

www.corpwatch.org

www.essentialaction.org

www.indiatogether.org

Let us not forget those affected by the Bhopal Disaster

Admit it you want me...

Completely Off Topic...

Kittens - Free to good homes

A frightened, pregnant and starving cat turned up at my place, I brought her back to health and she now even likes people again and doesn't mind some attention. She had probably been dumped at the golf course.


Nearly 7 weeks ago - five healthy, cute little kittens were born . We have found good homes for 2 - so 3 more to go, so if you know of anyone who will give one a good home please put them in contact with me ASAP.



Thanks.

Kwinana Industries Emergency Communication System FAILS AGAIN

On Sunday (9-11-08) at 11:23am Hismelt had a massive explosion of gases and coal dust, apparently from the emergency relief valves or pressure relief valves (whichever you prefer to call them).

This explosion was heard and felt throughout Kwinana, Rockingham and parts of Cockburn, The subsequent black mushroom cloud over Kwinana industry could be seen from a great distance.

By 11:26am my phones were going off, people from as far as Wellard, Parmelia, Rockingham ringing to tell me of the explosion and/or try and find out what was going on. Some workers from the strip also rang as they weren't sure what was going on. At first I thought it must have been BP Refinery, so went down to the strip and checked with Security and BP and Wesfarmers LPG and determined it came from Hismelt direction. Security at Hismelt confirmed it was an explosion, flames and cloud of smoke from the plant.

It was confirmed that the Kwinana Industries Mutual Aid (KIMA) emergency notification system was not used... ie. Each Kwinana Industry has at least one two way radio tuned to the emergency KIMA channel, in the event of an incident such as this industry is meant to notify each other via this emergency radio system.

It was also confirmed that the incident was not recorded on the emergency community information hot line # 1300 304 346 until over 24 hrs after the incident. So the community like those in surrounding industries where also kept in the dark.

This happens just about everytime something goes wrong in Kwinana Industry, the emergency communication systems fail, but as happened last time Kwinana Industry will probably attempt to shift the focus back to the community reps that are airing the concerns.

As a part of Hismelt's license it is required to report incidents to the DEC - This incident was not reported to the DEC by Hismelt, the community reported the incident to the DEC on Monday morning and the DEC had not been contacted by Hismelt.

It is my belief (feel free to correct me if I am wrong) That Hismelt is required to report incidents to the DOCEP - This incident was not reported to the DOCEP by Hismelt again the community reported the incident to DOCEP.

Will this company be held accountable for the above probable breaches - Probably Not - Why? Because it is another multinational mining giant that seems to me to be above our law.

Does this make you feel comfortable that Kwinana Industry is keeping you informed and safe? What will happen when the Big One occurs? I suggest it would be absolute chaos and no-one will know what is going on.

Is it really to much to ask for an emergency communication system that works and is used? Or is it easier for Kwinana Industry to once again play divide and conquer tactics and claim it is only a minority of the community that are affected/concerned?

Update 14-11-08: Paragraphs 7,8 and 9 have been changed slightly due to a request from Kwinana Industry. Kwinana Industry claims Hismelt did report the incident to the DEC and that they are not required to report incidents to DOCEP. For now we will have to agree to disagree on those opinions because it is still my belief that the community actually reported the incident to the DEC first thing Monday morning and until then the DEC knew nothing of it. It is also my belief that industries that come under the mines act regulations are required to report to DOCEP

BHP Pollution Kills at least 14 Trees

BHP Nickelwest had a leak from its effluent line between its Nickel Refinery and Baldivis tailings ponds that has contaminated ground water and killed at least 14 native trees in what is believed to be a A' class nature reserve.

The effluent is meant to be only storm water so how can storm water kill huge trees unless it is contaminated with something more sinister?

BHP told the community industries forum last month that they had had a leakbut downplayed the incident and did not state the facts on how bad the damage was.

Another example of open and honest consultation with the community by Kwinana industry?

More on Woodside and WA gas prices.

Maybe this story - 'Gas price inflated, watchdog called in' - in todays Australian answers my question on the previous blog post about how much Woodside cares about the West Australian public?

The story goes like this:

"The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's enforcement branch is investigating whether the North West Shelf joint venture partners should be allowed to continue marketing gas as a single supplier, after a complaint by customers that the arrangement could be forcing them to pay higher prices".

"A spokesman for the Domgas Alliance of West Australian gas customers, Stuart Hohnen, told The Weekend Australian that customers had seen a rapid rise in prices as supply had become constrained and believed that was a result of the significant market power exercised by the North West Shelf partners, which made up 70 per cent of the West Australian market.
"Prices have risen from $2.50 a gigajoule to $8 in recent contracts and the expectation in requests for tender is that new gas will be sold in the $15 to $20 a gigajoule range," Mr Hohnen said".

We need Green Not Greed.

How much does Woodside care about the WA public?

Am I the only one that can see something horribly wrong with this story on the West today?

The story starts: "The feud between Woodside and the Federal Government intensified yesterday after the energy giant confirmed it would pass on all of a proposed $2.5 billion tax to WA gas consumers and slash expenditure on its massive Browse LNG development in the State’s north in response to plans to introduce an emissions trading scheme. In his most vehement attack yet on policies of the Rudd Government, Woodside Petroleum chief executive Don Voelte said the North-West Shelf partners would increase the price of gas for WA customers to recoup the excise imposed on light crude oil, known as condensate, which the Government unveiled in its first Budget in May".

And yet yesterday it was reported here (not on the West mind you) that Woodside Petroleum had recorded record profits: "Woodside Petroleum, Australia's second largest oil and gas producer, has achieved a significant jump in first half profit, driven by high oil prices and a stronger production performance.The Perth-based company posted a first half net profit of $1.016 billion, 67% higher than the $610.1 million reported in the corresponding period of 2007"

In my view it is obviously beyond time that our politicians got some backbone and stood up to multinational corporate giants like Woodside. Could this be a good indication of how much these multinational corporate giants actually care about the people of the State and Country they strip the recourses and make the profits from?

Kwinana the Dumping Ground

Kwinana to be surround by stinking/polluting rubbish processing plants that no one else wants.


1. The Southern Metro Regional Council – SMRC plan building another recource recovery centre (composting facility) in Millard Road Rockingham on the South side of Kwinana. SMRC has a long history of poor odour management of its Canningvale facilitiy and of providing misleading information to the public over problems with its operations.

2. The South East Metro Regional Council - SEMRC plan on building a resource recovery centre (fancy wording for a rubbish composting facility) in McLaughlan Road on the North side of Kwinana a short distance from Orelia and 700 metres from homes in the suburb of Windsor Hills.

In 2005 the Kwinana Progress Association and Conservation of Rockingham Environment exposed the SMRC recycling scam where SMRC were burying recyclable material from domestic yellow top bins in various landfills including Rockingham (pictured). SMRC at first denied this but we exposed the scam by tracking trucks and photographing the recyclables being buried, SMRC then made more misleading claims on how much was being buried and why. This was exposed in the Sunday Times.


The SMRC has a very long and very poor track record of managing odour problems at its Canning Vale composting facility and a long history of misleading the public over these odour issues. The local communities of Canning Vale and Leeming have been fighting SMRC over odour and possible health issues for many years. SMRC for over a year denied that it was responsible for the odour problems in that area, but all along the local community knew it was responsible. Eventually the DEC got involved and had the SMRC plant shutdown while some improvements were made. The local community claims the odour problems still exist but now SMRC attempts to mask the odour with chemicals.

Now SMRC want to build a composting plant on the South side of Kwinana to process the South Metro regions rubbish (ie: 7 Councils green bins contents) and SEMRC want to build a composting plant on the North side of Kwinana.

We will be surrounded by stinking/polluting plants. I have no doubt that odour problems will occur in Kwinana, but probably the most concerning questions are:– can the local Government that is SMRC be trusted by the community? Why would SEMRC not build their plant in one of their own shires, why should the people of Kwinana suffer the effects of their waste problems, how much will SEMRC actually care about the effects on us?

Once again we found out about this through the grape vine, no consultation whatsoever, not even with those residents who live ~700 metres from the site and that will be exposed the most.

Another prime example that Environemntal and Social Justice does not exist in Kwinana. Why? Because we are in a safe Labor seat so no one in Politics cares.

Another fight ahead and fight we will.

See Canning Melville Odour Action Group web site here.

Update 22-08-08: Blog post modified and corrected to include both composting plants.

Plans to Bulldoze Kwinana Industrial Buffer

Our Pollution Safety Buffer is there for a reason - To help protect people from the hazards of industry - Let's make sure it remains bushland.

It seems the Labor Government has secret plans to bulldoze our buffer.

It has recently come to light that the Labor Government plans to build a huge rail industrial project in the Buffer zone between Kwinana’s hazardous industries and residents. Few details are available but the project sounds extremely concerning to many of us in Kwinana.

The state Government has apparently been sitting on this for some time keeping Kwinana residents in the dark again. Apparently the proposal was to build the monstrosity in Minister Logan’s electorate of Cockburn, but because he can Minister Logan has apparently decided to dump it in the new seat of Kwinana instead.

(Note: This area was previously Fran Logan’s seat until electoral boundary changes. Roger Cook – former industrial lobbyist – is now the Labor candidate).

It is understood that the proposal is huge, said to take up much of the Kwinana industrial buffer zone land, between old Mandurah Road and Office Road from south of Thomas Road to as far down as the Rockingham-Kwinana cemetery.

Residents to the East of this proposal already suffer the effects of heavy and hazardous industry with noise regularly exceeding legal levels for the residential area. This proposal can only make it much worse with increase transport such as rail and trucks and the risks associated with loading, storing and transporting of who know what dangerous goods.

Once again this Government demonstrates that environmental and social justice does not exist when it comes to Kwinana.

Another fight ahead and a big fight it will be, at least it seems we will have other high profile people like state election independent candidate and Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams also fighting this one.

Why do the people of this area continue to vote for Labour candidates that continue to treat them like this? Wake up people your vote can change the situation.

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Another reason I will be voting Greens or Independent. Let’s hope others also see the light, but I won't be holding my breath.

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Update: Kwinana Industry is also opposed to this proposal.

Does our Government Lie over industry problems?

Surprise - Surprise...

As the Australia reports here today: “THE world's most respected risk assessment firm last night directly contradicted West Australian government claims that it had vouched for the integrity of the gas pipeline that exploded in June, blowing a multi-billion-dollar hole in the state economy.
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In an extraordinary statement out of Hong Kong, Lloyd's Register rebuffed Deputy Premier Eric Ripper's claim on Tuesday that the firm had "thoroughly tested and reviewed' equipment on Apache Energy's Varanus Island -- the site of the June 3 pipeline explosion that has already cost the state $2.4 billion.
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Lloyd's unexpected statement strengthens allegations, backed by Freedom of Information documents, of departmental incompetence in dealing with longstanding concerns about the pipeline".

As I blogged here I am sure there is more info to come on this - probably another good reason for calling an early State election.

Now our Premier has called for calm. Still looks to me like just another cover-up job.

For more info see:

Carpenter calls for calm over conflicting Varanus claims

Varanus Island PDF

Carpenter keeps us in the dark over gas crisis

Premier full of hot air over gas crisis
Pipeline gas blast warnings ignored
Gas blast pipeline 'not thoroughly tested'
WA gas worker: Fark, we ran for our lives

Sticks and Stones

While I was crook – I received anonymous comments on the blog, I don’t intend publishing these comments in full because they are basically abusive, and defamantory, but to give you an idea of what one has to put up with when speaking out against injustice in Kwinana, here is a run down:

“Without industry you would not have the fuel for your car, the plastic for your computer and the paint for everything amoungst some basic things. I find it deplorable that you need to cast so much dispersion on the industries that provide you with everything you use on a daily basis, especially when you DO NOT have the information, or do not quote any scientific data to make these assumptions.”

“As i have said, every one, include you Stevo, are dependant on the industires to provide basic materials for daily life. I am sure if you succedd in closing or causing immense pain to one of these industires and it results in price rise for items, you would be the first to winge to the government about how they should of stopped it from happening and how people can now not afford things because we have to get it from somewhere else and it now costs double.”

“Your blog is full of half truths that justify your complaints and do not in any way aid the environmental movement in any way what so ever”

“I deliberately searched out your blog as your name is prominant in the enviromental area, but i have since discovered that you appear to be, in my opinion, an lifeless man who wants to winge about every damn thing you can think of yet still depend on the thing industry provides you.”

“Oh Stevo, I do care, I am all for abiding by rules, but i am finding that your blog is full of assumptions and winges. You can live in a residential area without illegal noise. Didn't you realise that the industry was allready in your back yard when you were growing up? Kwinana was build to house the builders of the strip and now you complain about it? Move if you do not like the noise. No one is forcing you to stay.”

“Steve, you need to post my replies. Where are they??”

“Steve, where are my replies? Proof you only print what proofs your point.Round one to me, even though you are too scared to show it to all of your loyal followers. How does it go....NOT... “

“Steve you are a biased greeny. Why do you not print my replies?? “

“You spinless fuck. Your blog is full of lies and biased bullshit. You are too spinless to even post retorts. No one appears to read your blog based on the number of comments, and it seems you lied about cancer rates in Kwinana”

Normally I would ignore this, but decided to post these comments to give readers an idea of what anyone who speaks out against environmental injustice in Kwinana is up against. I won’t even waste my time and energy responding to some of the acusations because I am sure that most readers out there realise what is going on.

I'm Back

Hello readers,

I have been crook and spent 4 days in hospital so blog has taken a backseat.

Bird Deaths Continue

Mass Seagull Deaths along the Kwinana Industrial Strip continued today with reports that around 34 more silver gulls were found dead. Bringing the total bird deaths in the area to around 200.

Pollution has been highlighted as the likely source of the problem. See the latest media report and yesterday's reports on Perthnow, in the West and the Australian.

The Health Department has not yet become involved because the cause of deaths is still unknown the risk to public health is unknown.

As was found in Esperance surely these birds are our first warning sign?

Having done a bit of lab work, I am at a loss to explain why the authorities are claiming that it could be 2 weeks before results are available. Maybe someone can enlighten me why it takes so long to do tests for known pollutants?

It seems all we can do is wait for the results to come back - it has been suggested by some that we may also then have to wait for the Government to consult those responsible and come up with a PR plan, I would hope this is not the case.

So again let's wait and see and in the mean time hope that communities aren't also being poisoned.

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Update: Thanks to Dave for reminding me of the In My Community link for good coverage of the story here.

Tonight’s Best of the Worst

Tiwest are in fine form again tonight with two visible out of the ordinary plumes, one from the emergency stack around 7pm - suspected Titanium Tetrachloride and the biggest from the finishing building stack suspected Titanium Dioxide (Ti02) which has been listed as an IARC-2B carcinogen.

Emissions like this from Tiwest have become an all to common occurrence of late, so what is actually going on at Tiwest?

Runners up:–

BP for its highly visible particulate plume from the cat cracker stack – what happened to the filter that BP won the awards for?

Wesfarmers CSBP for its highly visible ammonium nitrate plume that has become the norm but never should have done had our so called protectors not continued to ignore our concerns.

All this from our "Green and Clean" Kwinana Industry.

Mystery of mass seagull deaths along Kwinana Industrial Strip

It gives some of us a sick feeling when we hear of the mass silver gull deaths, could this turn into another Esperance? Let’s hope not!

More coverage tonight on channel 9 and 10 news.

As this story shows, since Staurday over 140 seagulls have been found dead around the Woodmans Point area from adjacent to Cockburn Cement's shell sand washing facility to the Ship Building yards.

The DEC seem to have responded quickly and efficiently, however the deaths of the birds at this time remains a mystery. The birds that have been analysed so far have had empty stomach’s likely to indicate a strong poison a day or so before they died and they have not been able to eat since.

No other reports of for example fish deaths have been heard.

People will now be even more nervous about Lead previously shipped through Esperance coming through Fremantle and eventually the new Kwinana port.

For now we have to keep an open mind on this and just wait for the DEC's analytical results to determine the cause of deaths.

So let's wait and see. Hopefully we will learn more soon.

Micro materials could pose major health risks

Further concern has been expressed over the potential dangers posed by the rapidly expanding number of products containing nanomaterials.

The warning comes from the Council of Canadian Academies in one of the most authoritative reports to date about the risks of engineered nanomaterials, which companies are adding to products ranging from sunscreens to diesel fuels.

The Council cautions that the tiny substances might be able to penetrate cells and interfere with biological processes. The Council, which was asked by Health Canada and several other federal agencies to study the state of knowledge about nanomaterials and the regulatory changes needed to oversee their use, concluded that "there is inadequate data to inform quantitative risk assessments on current and emerging nanomaterials." Their small size, the report says, may allow them "to usurp traditional biological protective mechanisms" and, as a result, possibly have "enhanced toxicological effects."

Report from Globe and mail
Council of Canadian Academies
PDF - The potential risks of nanomaterials

Thanks to NTN

This weeks Best of the Worst

Goes to Fremantle Ports for the cement clinker dust emissions from the Kwinana Outer Harbour bulk cargo unloading facility.

Great clouds of grey cement clinker dust from the unloading facilities west of Hismelt on and off for the past 4 days or so.

Fremantle Ports unloads the cement clinker in Kwinana for BGC.

Here an example of a Material Safety Data Sheet for cement clinker dust.

We have requested the particulate monitoring results from Fremantle Ports.

Fremantle Ports also had this problem with white clinker in May 2008, but claim "the particulate emissions met the Kwinana EPP". See this story on how the Kwinana EPP is incapable of protecting against fine particulates.

What are the workers in this area exposed to?

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See this story on the health effects and concerns of

Fine Particulates in Kwinana.

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Update, Friday 25-07-08:

See the story as printed on the front page of our local paper here.

Are you and your family expendable?

Sadly it seems that depends on where you live.

As this story on Perthnow shows the EPA and Environment Minister Templeman recently approved the expansion of the Kalgoorlie Super Pit to within 200 metres of residents.

Like Kwinana Industry this Kalgoorlie industry has for many years been in breach of the noise limits and has not been held to account by the authorities for either noise or particulate pollution. As can be seen by this story on Perthnow, the effected community are largely Aboriginal.

Can you imagine what it would be like living 200 metres from this (ABC story)?

While acknowledging some of the risk such as Fine Particulates and Noise Mr. Templeman said “I realise the superpit is a bone of contention for some people in Kalgoorlie but it is also an extremely lucrative and iconic operation with huge benefits to the local and national economy, and the tourism industry”.

What our government may have well have said is ‘If an industrial operation is lucrative for the Government, you are your families do not matter –You Are Expendable for the benefit of the rest of the state’.

The health, safety, well being and amenity of these people is considered expendable by our state government.

Whatever happened to Environmental Justice? It simply does not exist in Western Australia.

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"The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self, our families, our friends, and especially our children. In the end, I believe, as in my case, the price we pay is well worth holding on to our dignity". - Frank Serpico

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

from the West

"The word 'politics' is derived from the word 'poly', meaning 'many', and the word 'ticks,' meaning 'blood sucking parasites'."

- Larry Hardim -

Climate Change - Cut through the spin

Given our proximity to many of the biggest polluters in this state some of us in the local Community believe it is time we started speaking out on the issue.

Many people realise that we must urgently cut our greenhouse pollution, however many don't have time to study the detail of the issue, such as reading Professor Garnaut's shocking 600-page climate report.

Getup reports: "Garnaut is already under fire from a "scare campaign" being waged by the polluting industries' lobby groups and the Opposition. That is why it's so important that you can pick a good climate solution from a bad one".

I have put together this quick link list so you can cut through the spin with a click or two:

Getup short video on the Garnaut report: Click here.

GetUp's factsheet (PDF) on the proposed climate change solutions: Click here.

Total Environment Centre, Greenpeace and Climate Action Network Australia have launched a new low carbon future website: Click here.

No doubt Industry response will be to try and shift the focus onto the community ie: cars.

I think a blog about how much pollution Kwinana Industry emits compared to every car in the local community would not go astray.

What is in the air we breathe

As shown below this data taken from the 2006 NPI database gives you some idea. The figures reported are total kg of estimated emissions by Kwinana Industry for that reporting year.

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It is worth noting that NPI data has been proven to be a seriously underestimated view of the real emissions, the data reported below as 0.00 does not necessarily mean zero emissions of that substance, but rather the emissions are not known not reported or way underestimated.

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TOTAL in kg/year
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14,040.42 Acetaldehyde
28,500.00 Acetone
620.02 Acrylamide
270.02 Acrylic Acid
2,003,090.35 Ammonia
1.02 Antimony
104.62 Arsenic
3,257.00 Benzene
9.26 Beryllium
210.02 1,3-Butadiene (vinyl ethylene)
59.95 Cadmium

461.00 Carbon Disulfide
5,017,000.00 Carbon Monoxide
0.00 Chlorine *We know of Chlorine releases from various sources such as Tiwest.
312.79 Chromium III
25.80 Chromium VI
24.24 Cobalt
278.14 Copper
570.00 Cumene (1-Methylethybenzene)
5,800.00 Cyanide
9,010.00 Cyclohexane
2.10 1,2 Dibromoethane
370.00 Ethanol
1,978.00 Ethylbenzene
47,126.00 Fluoride
17,506.20 Formaldehyde
18,420.00 n-Hexane
230.00 Hydrogen Sulphide
357,196.80 Hydrochloric Acid
152.61 Lead
0.00 Magnesium Oxide
435.05 Manganese
338.58 Mercury
2,238.46 Nickel
0.00 Nickel Carbonyl
0.00 Nickel Subsulphide
14,374,300.00 Oxides of Nitrogen
1,718,160.00 Particulate Matter PM10
11.00 Phenol
0.00 Polychlorinated Dioxins and Furans *Dioxins not reported by most industries.
641.77 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
7.87 Selenium
9.90 Styrene (ethenylbenzene)
9,697,266.00 Sulphur Dioxide
1,290.91 Sulphuric Acid
21,997.00 Toluene
2,382,495.00 Volatile Organic Compounds
10,320.00 Xylene's
666.00 Zinc

Are you still convinced there is no pollution from Kwinana Industry?

When will it end?

Well another sleepless night, illegal levels of Noise from Kwinana Industry keeping me awake in the early hours again for the 2nd night in a row.

But of course the noise has been reduced just ask Kwinana Industry.

No - I didn't go out in the middle of the night looking for the source.

Where are our authorities? Where are the noise monitors? Of course that would prove a problem and then our corrupt Government would have to take some action.

Forget environmental justice, ignore the health effects, just protect big corporate industry and their almighty dollar at any cost.

I admire Whistleblowers

I understand that a number of Industries in Kwinana have warned their workers not to talk to us!

Just what does Kwinana Industry have to hide? I know their are incidents in Kwinana Industry on a regular basis, some we get to hear about - many we dont.

The Community has a right to know what is going on in Kwinana Industry and what risks we face from Industry. Workers in Kwinana Industry are also our Guinea Pigs in a way.

Whistleblowers in my view, are those with a conscience that want to right the wrongs and I have a lot of respect for them.

So if you have any information on Environmental, Pollution or Risk/Safety issues in Kwinana please email: Steve-Kwinana@live.com.au or phone 9439 1283. I personally guarantee your details will not be disclosed to anyone.

.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has".
Margaret Mead US anthropologist & popularizer of anthropology (1901 - 1978)

CIF Voting

Tuesday 8-7-08 Please note:

In the interest of fairness this blog post has been removed because it seems that what happened regarding the CIF voting procedure was a genuine mistake.

As has been said before this blog and what we do, is about Kwinana Industry as a whole and those in this community that are affected by Kwinana Industry, it is not about any individual.

We can all make mistakes, hopefully Kwinana Industry can remember this next time I make a mistake, instead of launching a personal attack.

Kwinana Health Statistics

Yesterday I blogged about a Cancer Support Association of WA newsletter outlining health stats in the US, today let's look at some stats recorded in Kwinana over the past 10 years or so.

An increase in cancer incidence in Kwinana was predicted by the WA Cancer Registry; Dr. Tim Threlfall in 1997
(“Increase in cancer numbers predicted” Sound Telegraph July 9 1997) (Cancer Incidence and Mortality Projections in WA 1996-2001).

‘87%excess of lung cancer in females in Kwinana’
WA Cancer Registry Report for 1998 - 2002;
“Lung cancer in Kwinana Females 87% higher than the state average”

"The only trend identified in Kwinana is an 87 per cent higher rate of lung cancers among women, which health authorities say is likely to be linked to smoking habits" The postcodes that come with cancer. The West Australian page 1. Tuesday, October 5 2001; This claim of smoking is solely to blame was proven to be false.

"Incidents of lung cancer in females between 1998 and 2002 was 87% higher than the state average".
Town of Kwinana Minutes; ordinary council meeting November 10, 2004, Item 17.1, page CL41 . Report to Council - Cancer Statistics;

“There is a statistically significant excess of cancer in the Rockingham/Kwinana area”. Dr Keith Woollard October 2001

“There was no excess of cancer in the Kwinana population prior to 1995 and the timing of the development of an excess rate of cancer seems to fit nicely with the proceeding dramatic increase in pollution from the strip” Dr Keith Woollard 20th January 2004.

“The male death rate from cancer in Rockingham/Kwinana was 25 per cent above the state average Health Department figures show” West Australian Wednesday March 6 2002 page 7; data from cancer registry information released to the west but refused to the community.

42% excess of cancer in Hope Valley Wattleup – Cancer registry data.
The DOH finally agreed to provide cancer statistics for the Wattleup and Hope Valley area. This information pointed out correctly, that the population numbers where too small to allow any firm conclusions to be made on that data alone. Nonetheless, they were entirely consistent with the cancer data from the large population groups in Kwinana and Rockingham. Among those population groups, there was a statistically significant excess of cancer. Furthermore, the incident data going back over the last decade then showed that this excess of cancer (in comparison with the rest of the state) only appeared since 1995.

“Health Department figures show a substantial excess of Juvenile cancers in the Rockingham Kwinana area”
Dr. Keith Woollard September 2002.

Deaths from cancer in particular where 17.9% higher than Perth per year on average, and 15.3% higher than Australia by average. November 2005, Population Health Profile of the Rockingham Kwinana Division of General Practice, University of Adelaide; In October 2006, we became aware (by finding it on the www) of this report commissioned by the Federal Government and carried out by the University of Adelaide. This report further confirmed our fears by showing more deaths from chronic illnesses including cancer and respiratory disease etc in Rockingham/Kwinana division of general practice area than in Perth and the rest of the country on average.

A DOH study on hospitalisation rates in Rockingham Kwinana in 2005 Found “An excess of hospitalisations for cardiovascular disease for residents of Kwinana”; “A significant excess of hospitalisation for respiratory disease including Asthma for residents of Kwinana”; An excess of hospitalisations for urinary problems for residents of Kwinana; and that “Kwinana has a significantly younger population than the state”.
(We do not currently have a copy of this report, but it should be available from DOH).

So although Kwinana has the youngest population in the State, it is suffering more health problems than the State averages.

A Health Survey of Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham, Department of Health WA; September 2004, ‘The study you carry out when you don’t want to find a problem’. Nonetheless the figures did show an excess in heart disease in both men and women in Kwinana.

“The results are a further confirmation of the likely toxicity of industrial pollution from the Kwinana industrial strip”.

“As demonstrated from major overseas studies, people exposed to industrial pollution have higher rates of heart disease and cancer”

Please Note: Some of the above figures include Rockingham data as well as Kwinana as joint Rockingham/Kwinana studies were carried out. We suspect that the Kwinana rates alone, in the cases above, would be even higher.

According to our authorities these stats have no link whatsover to industrial pollution, however they provide no true evidence to back that claim. In fact just the opposite. And continue to ignore our calls for an full environmental health study.

We have seen in other countries such as the US and UK excess cancer rates of 5% higher in a community than the average triggers whole of Government responses.

One does not have to reason as to why they do this - the answer is simple - If you don't look properly you won't find a problem.

In my view another example of protect industry at any cost.