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Locals accuse authorities of negligence, pro-mining firm bias as deadline imposed for ending potash protest

The Nation 14 May 2018 | Pratch Rujivanarom

As an official deadline was imposed on their ongoing protest against potash exploration in Sakon Nakhon, local demonstrators publicly criticised the authorities for abandoning human-rights protection and working solely in favour of a Chinese mining company.

Those demonstrating against potash exploration in the area continued their protest and blocked the entrance to the drilling site on Monday, despite the police having displayed a notice that their protest was against the Public Gathering Act and that they must end their action by midday on Tuesday.

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Chinese mine operator files police complaint after being blocked by locals

The Nation 10 May 2018 | PRATCH RUJIVANAROM

A CHINESE potash-mining operator has filed a complaint against some local people in Sakon Nakhon province after the company’s exploration team was blocked from entering the test site.

The fresh conflict between local citizens in the potash exploration area at Wanon Niwat district and China Mingda Potash Corporation erupted again yesterday after local people were angered by the company’s new potash exploration operations. The locals tried to stop the team from entering the exploration site.

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Dawei villagers seek president’s help to stop Banchaung coal mine

Myanmar Times 09 May 2018 | Myat Moe Aung

Over 500 local people urged President U Win Myint on Monday to stop the operations of Banchaung coal mine in Dawei township, Tanintharyi Region, according to Tarkapaw youth group and the Banchaung community’s sustainable environmental conservation committee.

The residents will send a letter to ministries and departments to press their demand to halt the mine’s operations. 

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Alarm raised as Thailand drowns in plastic trash

The Nation 06 May 2018 | PIYAPORN WONGRUANG

IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR, a patch of plastic trash almost 10 kilometres long was seen floating off the coast of the Gulf of Thailand in Chumpon province, prompting a wake-up call about the plastic pollution problem which has become increasingly serious in recent years.

Tara Buakamsri, Thailand country director for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, which campaigns against pollution, has observed the phenomenon with concern. It’s the tip of the iceberg, Tara said, referring to the plastic trash problem.

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Global Day of Action Against Samsung May Day

Health, Labor & Environment Groups Around the World Say Clean Up Samsung

01 May 2018 -- Actions: (Amsterdam, Hanoi, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Jose, Seoul)

An International Day of Action Against Samsung to protest health, labor and human rights violations by the electronics giant, in solidarity with Samsung factory workers everywhere, with over 200,000 signatures calling on Samsung to protect their workers around the world. Demands for transparency come on the heels of a Samsung lawsuit against the South Korean government which seeks to prevent public disclosure of hazardous chemicals monitoring information.

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UNEP to survey mercury in developing nations

NHK 01 May 2018

The United Nations Environment Programme will for the first time survey mercury emissions at waste dump sites in developing countries.

UNEP officials say waste containing mercury, such as used fluorescent lights and batteries, is often incinerated without proper treatment in developing nations in Asia and Africa.

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Why pristine lakes are filled with toxins

BBC 30 April 2018 | Melissa Hogenboom

Much of the focus on plastic pollution centres on our oceans. Emerging evidence shows it’s also a problem in freshwater, which may even be the source.

In 2016 a team of scientists scoured a dozen beaches around the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland – not for flora or fauna, but for litter. In particular, plastic litter.

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The missing maths: the human cost of fossil fuels

The Guardian 26 April 2018 | Ploy Achakulwisut

We should account for the costs of disease and death from fossil fuel pollution in climate change policies

While the climate policy world is littered with numbers, three of them have dominated recent discourse: 2, 1000, and 66.

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Titkyit locals worry over carbon monoxide poisoning

Eleven 25 April 2018 | Sithar

(Taunggyi) – Smoke emitted from Tikyit coal mine, Pinlong Township, Shan State, were spread around in the area since April 23 making the locals to worry of carbon monoxide poisoning, sources said.

According to the locals, fire broke out in the coal mine on April 23 and smokes leaked out from the mine making the air polluted.

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Villagers call for halt of coal-fired cement factory

Myanmar Times 24 April 2018 | Kyaw Ko Ko

Hundreds of villagers took to the streets on Monday in Patheingyi township in Mandalay Region to demand the cancellation and demolition of a coal-fired cement factory in their area.  

About 150 residents from Aunt Thabyay village marched  to the entry gate of Patheingyi township to protest against the operation of the cement factory project, which has adversely affected their villages, U Myint Aung, a protest leader, said. 

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