S2 Ep5: Summer Series with Front Line Defenders: The Journey of Our Plastic Waste with Lay Peng Pua

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to CLIMATE QUEENS and our second installment of our collaboration with Front Line Defenders. This month we are joined by chemist, environmental rights activist and human rights defender Lay Peng Pua.

China banned plastic waste imports in 2018, with that recycling companies moved to Malaysia making this beautiful country the number one international dumping site for OUR plastic waste.

When Lay Peng moved back to her hometown of Jenjarom she saw first hand the devastating impact that the plastic "recycling" industry was having on her local community in Malaysia, with over 40 illegal plastic factories emitting toxic gases and polluting the local rivers and waterways making people in the community very sick.

By now we are all too familiar with our global plastic waste problem, however did you know that the plastic waste of over 19 countries has been found in Malaysia? Do we really know what happens to our plastic waste when we throw it away? As we hear from Lay Peng, chances are it's ending up in her country!

Join our conversation with Lay Peng to hear the story of how our consumption and disposal of plastic waste is destroying her community, and how she is fighting back. Lay Peng also provides suggestions as to how we can tackle this growing plastic waste issue even during a global pandemic!

To learn more about Lay Peng's story, check out the links below in our show notes below:

About Lay Peng Pua: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/lay-peng-pua

Undeterred by threats, Lay Peng Pua calls for continued action to protect the environment:
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/12/544970/undeterred-threat-pua-calls-continued-action-protect-environment

The Recycling Myth:
https://www.greenpeace.org/malaysia/publication/3349/the-recycling-myth-2-0/ Malaysia drowned in your plastic waste after China ban:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_HZN-rc4jf4
Celebrating Malaysia's might green warriors: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/people/2020/03/18/international-women039s-day-celebrating-malaysia039s-mighty-green-warriors
The story of plastic waste in Malaysia: https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-malaysia-plastic-2018-story.html
Italy told to stop using Malaysia as a plastic dumping ground: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/10/italy-told-to-stop-using-malaysia-as-plastics-dumping-ground-greenpeace-landfill
Tons of recycling being dumped and burned: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tons-recycling-being-dumped-burned-20968066
New Zealand's role in Malaysian plastic dumping ground: https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/2018663363/nz-s-role-in-the-malaysian-plastics-dumping-ground

Drone footage of illegal recycling factories:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWdkLo2qmiI&feature=youtu.be

Australia's recycling lie, 60 minutes: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lqrlEsPoyJk

Greenpeace Malaysia:
https://www.greenpeace.org/malaysia/story/1272/after-the-recycling-myth-report-updates-from-the-field/