The good people from environmental journalism portal Macaranga return, for another roundup of top environmental news from the month past. Lots of big (and rather alarming) news from October 2023 - Kelantan authorities are seeking to make changes to forest classification - RimbaWatch reports that there is an "unprecedented proposal" to remove all environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) in Kelantan from the Kelantan State Structure Plan, Local Plan and Special Area Plan. Then just last week, we heard from SPAN that seven of our dams are in critical condition, due to ageing structures, which could spell danger for our water security in the country. And finally, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (LPTA) just updated the current terms and conditions of Lynas’ operating licence, including the permission to import raw materials containing naturally occurring radioactive materials, and to allow Cracking and Leaching activities to continue, subject to certain conditions. What does all of this mean? We've got Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of Macaranga to help break it all down for us.


Image Credit: 123RF, Wikimedia Commons

The good people from environmental journalism portal <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://macaranga.org">Macaranga</a> return, for another roundup of top environmental news from the month past. Lots of big (and rather alarming) news from October 2023 - Kelantan authorities are seeking to make changes to forest classification - RimbaWatch <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/RimbaWatch/status/1715633627441111162">reports</a> that there is an "unprecedented proposal" to remove all environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) in Kelantan from the Kelantan State Structure Plan, Local Plan and Special Area Plan. Then just last week, we heard from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.span.gov.my/">SPAN</a> that seven of our dams are in critical condition, due to ageing structures, which could spell danger for our water security in the country. And finally, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (LPTA) just updated the current terms and conditions of Lynas’ operating licence, including the permission to import raw materials containing naturally occurring radioactive materials, and to allow Cracking and Leaching activities to continue, subject to certain conditions. What does all of this mean? We've got Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of Macaranga to help break it all down for us. Image Credit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.123rf.com/photo_141098051_tropical-rainforest-landscape-in-malaysia.html">123RF</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Itam_Dam.JPG">Wikimedia Commons</a>

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

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