RESIDENT ENERGY TO THE MAX IN REMNANT SCRUB NEAR ABANDONED ASBESTOS MINES AT WITTENOOM

As soon as I looked at the headline image in this @australia.theguardian.com article I could 👁️👁️ it so vividly.

The energy across every facet of that landscape at #Wittenoom in #WesternAustralia literally covets everything.

So I decided to create a "spiritual blog" from it.

@dianedee.bsky.social

Traditional owners sue Western Australia government for $1.5bn to clean up toxic asbestos at Wittenoom Town in the state’s Pilbara region was the site of three blue asbestos mines and has been described as ‘the largest contaminated site in the southern hemisphere’

The $1.5 billion litigation claim by traditional owners may or may not be excessive but certainly they are owed a DAMN LOT OF MONEY for the "catastrophic contamination" of their land caused by the #Wittenoom #blueasbestos mines, and for the death and misery this "evil stuff" inflicted upon so many.

The family legacy Gina Rinehart would like to forget The Hancock family's mining empire did not originate with Lang Hancock's fabled discovery of iron-red cliffs in the Pilbara in 1952 – it started with asbestos.

2/3

The Hancock family wealth appears to have started at #Wittenoom yet many still waiting to see the rehabilitation of the mine and/or financial recognition of the suffering caused to workers and local communities incl #Banjima.

#Hancock #Rinehart #JamesHardie #CSR

www.afr.com/companies/mi...

Wittenoom: Australia’s Blue Asbestos Ghost Town Disaster Once a thriving mining town, Wittenoom became the largest asbestos-contaminated site in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the full story of its rise, fall, and deadly legacy.

Wittenoom doesn’t exist anymore.
Not because it was abandoned—but because it was too dangerous to leave standing.
And its legacy is still killing people.
👇 Full story
#Wittenoom #Asbestos #GhostTown #AustralianHistory www.ryanjhite.com/2026/01/03/w...

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Kontaminazzjoni minn Asbestos, Wittenoom, Kumpanija tal-Minjieri: Kumpanija Titlob Permess ta' Esplorazzjoni f'Art Perikoluża Update Aġġornament: 5 ta’ Ġunju 2025 Kontaminazzjoni minn Asbestos, Wittenoom, Kumpanija tal-Minjieri: Kumpanija Titlob Permess ta' Esplorazzjoni f'Art Perikoluża Gist Meta tisimgħu b’post imniġġes ħafna, x’tiġi f’moħħkom? Riċentement, kumpanija tal-minjieri tal-ħadid fl-Awstralja tal-Punent applikat biex tesplora art kontaminata bl-asbestos madwar il-belt abbandunata ta’ Wittenoom. Wittenoom kienet sit ta’ minjieri tal-asbestos blu għal aktar minn 30 sena, u l-operazzjonijiet tagħha huma marbuta mal-mewt ta’ aktar minn 1,200 persuna minn mard relatat mal-asbestos. Din l-applikazzjoni qajmet tħassib serju dwar is-saħħa u s-sigurtà, u enfasizzat il-perikli li l-asbestos jista’ jkompli jippreżenta għal għexieren ta’ snin. Naqilgħu minn xiri kwalifikanti permezz ta’ din il-link tal-Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Avoaxz Lest li tidħol aktar fil-fond fis-suġġetti li qed niddiskutu? Appoġġja x-xogħol tagħna billi tikklikkja fuq il-link affiljat tal-Amazon tagħna għax-xiri li jmiss tiegħek! Kull klikk tgħinna nwasslulkom kontenut aktar perspikativ. Kuntest Wittenoom, li tinsab 1,400km fit-Tramuntana ta’ Perth, kienet il-qalba tal-minjieri tal-asbestos blu mill-1930 sal-1966. Dan il-perjodu ħalla warajh wieħed mill-aktar siti kontaminati fl-Awstralja. Minħabba r-riskju qawwi għas-saħħa, il-gvern tal-istat neħħa l-istatus ta’ belt u prattikament ħassarha mill-mappa. Madankollu, Fe Metals, sussidjarja ta’ Macro Metals, applikat reċentement għal liċenzja ta’ esplorazzjoni fil-Viċin tal-post li kienet tinsab il-belt, minkejja l-periklu magħruf. Il-kumpanija qalet li l-ġeologu li għamel l-applikazzjoni ma kienx jaf bl-istorja taż-żona u appella biex il-liġi tinbidel biex tipprojbixxi b’mod permanenti l-esplorazzjoni fiż-żona tal-immaniġġjar tal-asbestos. Konnessjoni Globali L-asbestos mhuwiex biss kwistjoni Awstraljana. Huwa problema globali tas-saħħa pubblika li taffettwa miljuni. L-Organizzazzjoni Dinjija tas-Saħħa (WHO) tistima li aktar minn 200,000 mewt globalment kull sena huma kkawżati minn espożizzjoni okkupazzjonali għall-asbestos, u dan jirrappreżenta aktar minn 70% tal-imwiet kollha minn kanċer relatat max-xogħol. Għalkemm ħafna pajjiżi, inkluża Malta, ipprojbixxew l-użu tiegħu, l-asbestos għadu qed jintuża f’xi pajjiżi fil-materjali tal-bini, u jikkawża ħsara serja lil eluf ta’ nies. L-istorja ta’ Wittenoom hija tfakkira li l-konsegwenzi ta’ użu negliġenti tal-asbestos ma jisparixxux faċilment, iżda jibqgħu għal għexieren ta’ snin. Impatt fuq Malta Għalkemm Wittenoom tinsab ’il bogħod ħafna, l-istorja tagħha għandha lezzjonijiet importanti għalina f’Malta. Malta stess għandha storja ta’ użu tal-asbestos, partikolarment fit-Tarzna u f’bini antik, li ħolqot kwistjonijiet ta’ saħħa għal xi ħaddiema u familji. F’każ legali wieħed, il-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem semgħet l-ilmenti ta’ 21 Malti li qalu li l-Istat naqas milli jipproteġihom mir-riskji tal-asbestos. Dan juri li l-periklu tal-asbestos huwa realtà li niffaċċjaw ukoll hawn, u s-sitwazzjoni ta’ Wittenoom tenfasizza l-importanza li l-gvern u l-kumpaniji jkomplu jieħdu responsabbiltà għal dan il-wirt perikoluż. Jekk xi ħadd ikun espost għall-asbestos illum, il-mard jista’ jidher biss 20-50 sena wara, u għalhekk it-trattament u l-immaniġġjar tiegħu jeħtieġu viġilanza kontinwa. Perspettiva Kulturali F’Malta, aħna mdorrijin naraw bini antik b’ħafna snin ta’ storja. Iżda wara l-ġebla jista’ jkun hemm perikli moħbija. L-istorja ta’ Wittenoom tista’ tqabbel ma’ li tħaffer fl-istorja ta’ familtek u ssib sigriet perikoluż. Bħalma ma titfaċċax tħaffer mingħajr ma tkun ippreparat, lanqas m’għandek tħaffer f’bini antik mingħajr ma tkun konxju mill-perikli tal-asbestos. Il-kura għall-komunità u l-familja hija aspett importanti tal-kultura Maltija, u l-protezzjoni kontra perikli bħall-asbestos hija parti vitali minn din il-kura. X’Jista’ Tagħmel Int Jekk għandek tħassib dwar il-preżenza tal-asbestos f’darek jew fil-post tax-xogħol tiegħek, toqgħodx tħawwad il-materjal int stess. L-aħjar azzjoni hi li tikkuntattja professjonist liċenzjat biex jivvaluta s-sitwazzjoni. L-Awtorità għas-Saħħa u s-Sigurtà Okkupazzjonali (OHSA) f’Malta tipprovdi linji gwida u proċeduri dwar kif timmaniġġja dan il-materjal. * Azzjoni Prattika: Kun konxju tal-età tal-bini fejn tgħix jew taħdem. Jekk inbena qabel il-projbizzjoni tal-asbestos f’Malta, jista’ jkun hemm riskju. * Riżorsa: Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar ir-regolamenti u l-proċeduri tal-asbestos f’Malta, tista’ żżur is-sit tal-OHSA. Regolamenti dwar l-Asbestos f’Malta Verifika tal-Fatti Din il-parti tivverifika l-fatti ewlenin ippreżentati f’dan l-artiklu, abbażi ta’ rapporti uffiċjali u riżorsi ppubblikati. * Fatt Verifikat: Il-mard relatat mal-asbestos minn Wittenoom huwa stmat li qatel aktar minn 1,200 persuna. * Fatt Verifikat: Fe Metals, sussidjarja ta’ Macro Metals, ressqet applikazzjoni għal liċenzja ta’ esplorazzjoni fl-inħawi ta’ Wittenoom. * Fatt Verifikat: Il-belt ta’ Wittenoom ġiet uffiċjalment magħluqa u l-istatus tagħha tneħħa fl-2022. * Opinjoni: L-applikazzjoni hija insult għas-sidien tradizzjonali tal-art. Dan huwa suġġettiv u jirrifletti l-fehma ta’ persuna, anke jekk hi bbażata fuq prinċipji morali. Il-proċess ta’ verifika tagħna jinvolvi l-qari ta’ sorsi primarji bħal rapporti tal-gvern u stqarrijiet mill-kumpaniji, kif ukoll sorsi sekondarji minn organizzazzjonijiet rikonoxxuti bħall-WHO. Għal min irid ikun jaf aktar... * Għaliex l-asbestos huwa daqshekk perikoluż? Aħseb f’fibri tal-asbestos bħal labar żgħar ħafna. Meta tieħu n-nifs minnhom, jidħlu fil-pulmun tiegħek u jeħlu. Il-ġisem tiegħek ma jistax ineħħihom, u matul iż-żmien, dawn il-fibri jistgħu jikkawżaw infjammazzjoni u kanċer serju bħall-mesoteljoma, li jista’ jidher anke għexieren ta’ snin wara l-espożizzjoni. Konklużjoni Din il-kwistjoni f’Wittenoom hija eżempju qawwi ta’ kif l-iżbalji tal-passat fil-qasam industrijali jistgħu jkomplu jpoġġu r-riskju għall-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri. Tqajjem mistoqsijiet importanti dwar ir-responsabbiltà ta’ gvernijiet u kumpaniji li jipproteġu komunitajiet u l-ambjent minn perikli fit-tul. Il-każ ikompli juri l-importanza li ma ninsewx l-istorja tagħna u li nkomplu noħorġu b’soluzzjonijiet dejjiema biex nipproteġu s-saħħa pubblika. X’responsabbiltà għandu gvern biex jipproteġi ċ-ċittadini tiegħu minn perikli li jirtu mill-industrija tal-passat? Sorsi * ABC News Australia: L-artiklu oriġinali li jiddiskuti l-applikazzjoni reċenti ta’ Fe Metals u jipprovdi kuntest storiku dwar Wittenoom. * World Health Organization (WHO): Jipprovdi statistika globali u informazzjoni dwar l-impatt fuq is-saħħa pubblika tal-asbestos, b’mod partikolari dwar il-mewt minn espożizzjoni okkupazzjonali. * Legislation Malta (SL 424.23): Jirreferi għar-regolamenti Maltin dwar il-protezzjoni tal-ħaddiema mir-riskji relatati mal-espożizzjoni għall-asbestos. * European Court of Human Rights: Dan id-dokument legali jiddiskuti l-każ ta’ Brincat u oħrajn kontra Malta, li jenfasizza l-kwistjonijiet legali relatati mal-asbestos fil-pajjiż. Aktar Qari * Informazzjoni dwar Wittenoom mill-Gvern tal-Awstralja tal-Punent * Il-Kronoloġija tal-Projbizzjonijiet tal-Asbestos madwar id-Dinja --- Update: June 5, 2025 Asbestos Contamination, Wittenoom, Mining Company: Company Seeks Exploration Permit in Dangerous Land Gist When you hear about a heavily contaminated place, what comes to mind? Recently, an iron ore mining company in Western Australia applied to explore asbestos-contaminated land around the abandoned town of Wittenoom. Wittenoom was a blue asbestos mine site for over 30 years, and its operations are linked to the deaths of more than 1,200 people from asbestos-related diseases. This application has raised serious health and safety concerns, highlighting the dangers that asbestos can continue to pose for decades. We earn from qualifying purchases through this Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Avoaxz Ready to delve deeper into the subjects we are discussing? Support our work by clicking on our Amazon affiliate link for your next purchase! Every click helps us bring you more insightful content. Context Wittenoom, located 1,400km north of Perth, was the heart of blue asbestos mining from the 1930s to 1966. This period left behind one of the most contaminated sites in Australia. Due to the high health risk, the state government removed the town's status and effectively wiped it off the map. However, Fe Metals, a subsidiary of Macro Metals, recently applied for an exploration license near the former town site, despite the known danger. The company stated that the geologist who made the application was unaware of the area's history and called for the law to be changed to permanently ban exploration within the asbestos management zone. Global Connection Asbestos is not just an Australian issue. It is a global public health problem that affects millions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 200,000 deaths globally each year are caused by occupational exposure to asbestos, representing over 70% of all deaths from work-related cancers. Although many countries, including Malta, have banned its use, asbestos is still used in some countries in building materials, causing serious harm to thousands of people. The story of Wittenoom is a reminder that the consequences of negligent asbestos use do not disappear easily but remain for decades. Impact on Malta Although Wittenoom is very far away, its story holds important lessons for us in Malta. Malta itself has a history of asbestos use, particularly in the Shipyard and in old buildings, which created health issues for some workers and their families. In one legal case, the European Court of Human Rights heard the complaints of 21 Maltese nationals who claimed that the State had failed to protect them from asbestos risks. This shows that the danger of asbestos is a reality we also face here, and the situation in Wittenoom emphasizes the importance of the government and companies continuing to take responsibility for this dangerous legacy. If someone is exposed to asbestos today, the disease may only appear 20-50 years later, and therefore its treatment and management require continuous vigilance. Cultural Perspective In Malta, we are used to seeing old buildings with many years of history. But behind the stone, there can be hidden dangers. The story of Wittenoom can be compared to digging into your family's history and finding a dangerous secret. Just as you wouldn't start digging without being prepared, you shouldn't dig into an old building without being aware of the dangers of asbestos. Care for the community and family is an important aspect of Maltese culture, and protection against dangers like asbestos is a vital part of this care. What You Can Do If you have concerns about the presence of asbestos in your home or workplace, do not disturb the material yourself. The best action is to contact a licensed professional to assess the situation. The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) in Malta provides guidelines and procedures on how to handle this material. * Practical Action: Be aware of the age of the building where you live or work. If it was built before the asbestos ban in Malta, there may be a risk. * Resource: For more information about asbestos regulations and procedures in Malta, you can visit the OHSA website. Asbestos Regulations in Malta Fact Check This section verifies the key facts presented in this article, based on official reports and published resources. * Verified Fact: Asbestos-related diseases from Wittenoom are estimated to have killed more than 1,200 people. * Verified Fact: Fe Metals, a subsidiary of Macro Metals, lodged an application for an exploration license in the Wittenoom area. * Verified Fact: The town of Wittenoom was officially closed and its status was removed in 2022. * Opinion: The application is an insult to the traditional landowners. This is subjective and reflects a person's view, even if it is based on moral principles. Our verification process involves reading primary sources like government reports and company statements, as well as secondary sources from recognized organizations like the WHO. For those who want to know more... * Why is asbestos so dangerous? Think of asbestos fibers as very small needles. When you breathe them in, they enter your lungs and get stuck. Your body cannot remove them, and over time, these fibers can cause inflammation and serious cancer like mesothelioma, which can appear even decades after exposure. Conclusion This issue in Wittenoom is a powerful example of how industrial mistakes of the past can continue to pose a risk to future generations. It raises important questions about the responsibility of governments and companies to protect communities and the environment from long-term dangers. The case further demonstrates the importance of not forgetting our history and continuing to come up with lasting solutions to protect public health. What responsibility does a government have to protect its citizens from dangers inherited from past industry? Sources * ABC News Australia: The original article discussing the recent application by Fe Metals and providing historical context about Wittenoom. * World Health Organization (WHO): Provides global statistics and information on the public health impact of asbestos, particularly regarding deaths from occupational exposure. * Legislation Malta (SL 424.23): Refers to the Maltese regulations on the protection of workers from risks related to asbestos exposure. * European Court of Human Rights: This legal document discusses the case of Brincat and others v. Malta, highlighting the legal issues related to asbestos in the country. Further Reading * Information on Wittenoom from the Western Australian Government * Chronology of Asbestos Bans Worldwide

ICYMI: Kontaminazzjoni minn Asbestos, Wittenoom, Kumpanija tal-Minjieri: Kumpanija Titlob Permess ta' Esplorazzjoni f'Art Perikoluża: Update Aġġornament: 5 ta’ Ġunju 2025

Kontaminazzjoni minn Asbestos, Wittenoom, Kumpanija tal-Minjieri:… #Asbestos #Wittenoom #SaħħaPubblika #Ambjent #Minjieri

Applikazzjoni għall-Esplorazzjoni tal-Minjieri f’Wittenoom Iġġib Twissija dwar l-Asbestos Aġġornata fl-4 ta’ Awwissu 2025 Applikazzjoni għall-Esplorazzjoni tal-Minjieri f’Wittenoom Iġġib Twissija dwar l-Asbestos Gist: Hekk kif tħasseb dwar is-saħħa u s-sigurtà ta’ familtek, huwa vitali li tkun konxju tal-perikli moħbija li jistgħu jippersistu anke minn diżastri tal-passat. Dan l-aħħar, kumpanija tal-minjieri f’West Australia, Macro Metals, ikkawżat taqlib meta, minħabba żball ta’ impjegat, applikat għall-liċenzja biex tesplora l-art kontaminata madwar il-belt fantasma ta’ Wittenoom. Wittenoom hija l-post fejn qabel kien hemm minjiera tal-asbestos u issa saret magħrufa għall-perikli enormi li jġib miegħu l-asbestos, u l-għadd kbir ta’ nies li mietu minħabba fih. Għalkemm il-kumpanija rtirat l-applikazzjoni tagħha minnufih, il-kap tagħha, Simon Rushton, issa qed jitlob li l-liġijiet jinbidlu biex jiġi assigurat li ebda kumpanija oħra ma terġa’ tapplika għal esplorazzjoni f’żona daqshekk perikoluża. Naqilgħu minn xiri kwalifikanti permezz ta’ din il-link tal-Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Avoaxz Lest li tidħol aktar fil-fond fis-suġġetti li qed niddiskutu? Appoġġja x-xogħol tagħna billi tikklikkja fuq il-link affiljat tal-Amazon tagħna għax-xiri li jmiss tiegħek! Kull klikk tgħinna nwasslulkom kontenut aktar perspikattiv. Żball Serju b’Konsegwenzi Kbar Dan l-iżvilupp seħħ wara li Fe Metals, sussidjarja ta’ Macro Metals, issottomettiet applikazzjoni għal liċenzja ta’ esplorazzjoni tal-minjieri għal art li tinsab fi ħdan l-“Wittenoom Asbestos Management Area”. Il-Maniġer Direttur ta’ Macro, Simon Rushton, spjega li l-applikazzjoni kienet inħolqot minn ġeologu li ma kienx familjari mal-istorja tal-post u għalhekk ma kienx jaf li kien qed japplika għal esplorazzjoni f’żona tant perikoluża. Skont Rushton, malli s-sitwazzjoni ġiet għall-attenzjoni tiegħu, il-kumpanija rtirat l-applikazzjoni, peress li s-saħħa u s-sigurtà tal-ħaddiema huma aktar importanti minn kull ammont ta’ profitt. Kuntest: Il-Mewt minn Wittenoom Il-belt ta’ Wittenoom, li tinsab madwar 1,400 kilometru fit-Tramuntana ta’ Perth, kienet is-sit ta’ minjiera tal-asbestos għal aktar minn 30 sena. Għalkemm il-minjiera għalqet fl-1966, il-konsegwenzi tagħha għadhom jinħassu sal-lum. Il-minjieri tal-asbestos ikkontaminaw iż-żona kollha tal-madwar, tant li sal-lum, dan il-velenu li qiegħed fl-arja huwa l-kawża ewlenija tal-mewt ta’ aktar minn 2,000 ex-ħaddiem u resident. Fl-2007, Wittenoom tneħħiet uffiċjalment mill-mappa, u fl-2023, il-Gvern ta’ West Australia waqqa’ dak li kien fadal mill-belt. Impatt fuq Malta Għalkemm Wittenoom hija eluf ta’ kilometri ‘l bogħod minn Malta, l-istorja tagħha għandha lezzjonijiet importanti għalina l-Maltin. Bħal Wittenoom, Malta kellha l-esperjenza tagħha mal-asbestos, speċjalment f’bini antik. L-użu tal-asbestos fil-kostruzzjoni kien komuni f’Malta sa tmiem is-snin tmenin u fil-bidu tas-snin disgħin, u għadu jinsab f’ħafna djar u bini pubbliku. Il-Gvern Malti, permezz tal-Awtorità għas-Saħħa u s-Sigurtà fuq il-Post tax-Xogħol (OHSA), jistabbilixxi regoli stretti għat-tneħħija tal-asbestos biex jipproteġi lill-ħaddiema u lill-pubbliku. L-istorja ta’ Wittenoom hija tfakkira tal-perikli moħbija li jistgħu jinħolqu minn materjali u prattiċi tal-imgħoddi, u tal-importanza tal-viġilanza kontinwa u r-regolamenti, biex jiġu evitati traġedji simili fil-futur. * Sors Ipermarbut: Ir-Rapport Annwali tal-OHSA ta' Malta (https://www.ohsa.mt/media/36427/annual-report-2023.pdf) jiddiskuti r-regolamenti u l-ispezzjonijiet li qed isiru dwar ir-riskji tal-asbestos fil-post tax-xogħol, u juri li din hija kwistjoni li għadha rilevanti f’pajjiżna. X’Jista’ Jagħmel Wieħed? Jekk tħasseb li jista’ jkollok asbestos fid-dar jew fil-post tax-xogħol tiegħek, hemm żewġ affarijiet prattiċi li tista’ tagħmel: * Tmisshx: L-asbestos huwa l-aktar perikoluż meta jinħall fl-arja. Jekk tissuspetta l-preżenza tiegħu, il-ħaġa l-aktar importanti li tista’ tagħmel hi li tħallih kif inhu u ma tippruvax tneħħih int stess. * Ħu parir minn professjonist: Ikkuntattja professjonist liċenzjat biex jivverifika u jneħħi l-asbestos b’mod sigur. Il-websajt tal-OHSA toffri informazzjoni importanti u gwida dwar kif għandek taġixxi. * Riżors Ipermarbut: Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar l-asbestos u l-proċeduri korretti għall-immaniġġjar tiegħu f’Malta, tista’ żżur il-paġna tal-OHSA: https://www.ohsa.mt/asbestos. Verifika tal-Fatti * Fatt Verifikat: Il-kumpanija Macro Metals irċeviet applikazzjoni għal liċenzja ta' esplorazzjoni għal art fi ħdan iż-Żona ta’ Wittenoom. Dan ġie kkonfermat minn rappreżentanti tal-kumpanija stess u mill-ABC News. * Dikjarazzjoni Mhux Fatta: "L-asbestos f'Wittenoom ma jagħmilx ħsara sakemm ma tħallatx miegħu direttament." Din id-dikjarazzjoni mhix vera. Ir-riskju jidħol minn fibri tal-asbestos li jiġu fl-arja, li jistgħu jinġibdu man-nifs anke mingħajr kuntatt dirett ma' sorsi ta' asbestos. Il-fibra tal-asbestos f'Wittenoom inxterdet maż-żona kollha. * Ambigwità u Nuqqas ta’ Ċarezza: Id-dikjarazzjoni li "żball klerikali" kien il-kawża li l-applikazzjoni baqgħet tidher fir-reġistru hija kemmxejn ambigwa, billi fil-bidu ntqal li l-applikazzjoni kienet ġiet irtirata minnufih. Għalkemm il-kumpanija pprovdiet dokumenti li juru d-deċiżjoni li tirtira l-applikazzjoni, in-nuqqas ta' azzjoni immedjata biex jitneħħa l-isem mir-reġistru joħloq konfużjoni. Proċess ta' Verifika: Biex jivverifikaw it-talbiet ewlenin, ir-riċerkaturi fittxew rapporti tal-aħbarijiet minn sorsi ewlenin u affidabbli bħall-ABC News fl-Awstralja, u kkonfermaw id-dettalji tal-applikazzjoni u l-irtirar tagħha. Aħna qabbilna wkoll dawn id-dettalji ma’ informazzjoni storika dwar Wittenoom minn sorsi uffiċjali tal-gvern ta’ Western Australia u organizzazzjonijiet tas-saħħa. Għal min irid ikun jaf aktar... Imagine li l-asbestos huwa bħal trab fin ħafna, li ma tarax b’għajnejk imma li jista’ jkun perikoluż daqs velenu inviżibbli. Meta l-minjieri f’Wittenoom ħadmu, dan it-trab velenuż inxtered mal-arja, u l-fibra tiegħu waqgħet mal-art, mal-ħitan, u f’kull rokna. B’differenza minn trab normali li jiġi u jmur, dan il-velenu tal-asbestos ma jmurx. Anke l-iktar riħ żgħir jew moviment jista’ jerġa’ jtella’ dan il-velenu fl-arja, fejn in-nies jistgħu jinġibduh man-nifs u jimirdu snin wara. Huwa għalhekk li t-talba biex tinbidel il-liġi hija hekk importanti. Mistoqsija lill-qarrejja: Taħseb li kumpaniji bħal Macro Metals għandhom iħallsu għat-tindif ta’ żoni kkontaminati tal-passat bħal Wittenoom, anke jekk ma kinux responsabbli direttament għall-ħsara oriġinali? Għaliex jew għaliex le? Tista' twieġeb din il-mistoqsija hawn. Sorsi * ABC News Australia: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-06/mining-law-change-call-wittenoom-exploration/105387408 - Dan huwa l-artiklu oriġinali li rrapporta s-sitwazzjoni, u jipprovdi dettalji diretti mill-maniġer direttur ta' Macro Metals. * Gvern ta’ Western Australia, Dipartiment tas-Saħħa: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/state-land-hazards-and-contaminated-sites - Din il-paġna tipprovdi informazzjoni uffiċjali dwar il-perikli tas-saħħa u l-klassifikazzjoni ta' Wittenoom bħala sit kontaminat. * Soċjetà tal-Mard tal-Asbestos tal-Awstralja: https://asbestosdiseases.org.au/information/wittenoom-overview/ - Dan is-sors jagħti sfond storiku dettaljat dwar it-traġedja ta' Wittenoom, inkluż in-numru ta' mwiet u l-effetti fit-tul fuq il-komunità. Aktar Qari * Il-Bozza tal-Liġi dwar l-Għeluq ta’ Wittenoom 2021: https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4110829ce55bcb019743f0ad4825877c0001ef70/$file/tp-829.pdf - Tispjega l-bażi legali għat-tneħħija tal-belt. * Pubblikazzjoni mill-OHSA: https://www.ohsa.mt/media/36427/annual-report-2023.pdf - Rapport annwali li jsemmi r-riskju tal-asbestos f'Malta. --- Updated on August 4, 2025 Wittenoom Mining Exploration Application Highlights Asbestos Dangers Gist: As you worry about your family's health and safety, it's vital to be aware of hidden dangers that may persist even from past disasters. Recently, a West Australian mining company, Macro Metals, caused a stir when, due to an employee's mistake, it applied for a license to explore the contaminated land around the ghost town of Wittenoom. Wittenoom is a former asbestos mine and is now known for the enormous dangers of asbestos and the large number of people who have died from it. Although the company immediately withdrew its application, its head, Simon Rushton, is now calling for laws to be changed to ensure no other company ever applies for exploration in such a dangerous area again. We earn from qualifying purchases through this Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Avoaxz Ready to dive deeper into the topics we're discussing? Support our work by clicking on our Amazon affiliate link for your next purchase! Every click helps us bring you more insightful content. Serious Mistake with Major Consequences This development occurred after Fe Metals, a subsidiary of Macro Metals, submitted an application for a mining exploration license for land located within the “Wittenoom Asbestos Management Area”. Macro's Managing Director, Simon Rushton, explained that the application was created by a geologist who was unfamiliar with the history of the area and therefore did not know he was applying for exploration in such a dangerous zone. According to Rushton, as soon as the situation came to his attention, the company withdrew the application, as the health and safety of workers are more important than any amount of profit. Context: The Death from Wittenoom The town of Wittenoom, located about 1,400 kilometers north of Perth, was the site of an asbestos mine for more than 30 years. Although the mine closed in 1966, its consequences are still felt today. The asbestos mining contaminated the entire surrounding area, so much so that to this day, this airborne poison is the main cause of death for more than 2,000 former workers and residents. In 2007, Wittenoom was officially removed from the map, and in 2023, the Government of Western Australia demolished what was left of the town. Impact on Malta Although Wittenoom is thousands of kilometers away from Malta, its story holds important lessons for us Maltese. Like Wittenoom, Malta has had its own experience with asbestos, especially in old buildings. The use of asbestos in construction was common in Malta until the late eighties and early nineties and is still found in many homes and public buildings. The Maltese Government, through the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA), sets strict rules for the removal of asbestos to protect workers and the public. The story of Wittenoom is a reminder of the hidden dangers that can arise from past materials and practices, and of the importance of continuous vigilance and regulations, to prevent similar tragedies in the future. * Hyperlinked Source: The OHSA Annual Report of Malta (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.ohsa.mt/media/36427/annual-report-2023.pdf) discusses the regulations and inspections being carried out regarding asbestos risks in the workplace, showing that this is still a relevant issue in our country. What Can You Do? If you are concerned that you may have asbestos in your home or workplace, there are two practical things you can do: * Do not touch it: Asbestos is most dangerous when it becomes airborne. If you suspect its presence, the most important thing you can do is leave it as it is and not try to remove it yourself. * Seek professional advice: Contact a licensed professional to safely verify and remove the asbestos. The OHSA website offers important information and guidance on how to act. * Hyperlinked Resource: For more information about asbestos and the correct procedures for its management in Malta, you can visit the OHSA page: https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.ohsa.mt/asbestos. Fact Verification * Verified Fact: The company Macro Metals received an application for an exploration license for land within the Wittenoom Area. This was confirmed by representatives of the company itself and by ABC News. * Non-Factual Statement: "The asbestos in Wittenoom is harmless unless you mix with it directly." This statement is not true. The risk comes from airborne asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled even without direct contact with asbestos sources. The asbestos fiber in Wittenoom has spread throughout the entire area. * Ambiguity and Lack of Clarity: The statement that a "clerical error" was the cause of the application still appearing on the registry is somewhat ambiguous, as it was initially said that the application had been withdrawn immediately. Although the company provided documents showing the decision to withdraw the application, the lack of immediate action to remove the name from the registry creates confusion. Verification Process: To verify the key claims, researchers sought news reports from major and reliable sources such as ABC News in Australia and confirmed the details of the application and its withdrawal. We also compared these details with historical information about Wittenoom from official Western Australian government sources and health organizations. For those who want to know more... Imagine asbestos is like a very fine dust, which you can't see with your eyes but which can be as dangerous as an invisible poison. When the mines in Wittenoom were operating, this poisonous dust was spread into the air, and its fibers fell to the ground, on walls, and in every corner. Unlike normal dust that comes and goes, this asbestos poison does not go away. Even the smallest breeze or movement can stir this poison back into the air, where people can inhale it and get sick years later. That is why the call to change the law is so important. Question to the readers: Do you think companies like Macro Metals should pay for the cleanup of past contaminated areas like Wittenoom, even if they were not directly responsible for the original damage? Why or why not? You can answer this question here. Sources * ABC News Australia: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-06/mining-law-change-call-wittenoom-exploration/105387408 - This is the original article that reported the situation and provides direct details from the managing director of Macro Metals. * Government of Western Australia, Department of Health: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/state-land-hazards-and-contaminated-sites - This page provides official information on the health dangers and the classification of Wittenoom as a contaminated site. * Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia: https://asbestosdiseases.org.au/information/wittenoom-overview/ - This source provides a detailed historical background on the Wittenoom tragedy, including the number of deaths and the long-term effects on the community. Further Reading * Wittenoom Closure Bill 2021: https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4110829ce55bcb019743f0ad4825877c0001ef70/$file/tp-829.pdf - Explains the legal basis for the town's removal. * OHSA Publication: https://www.ohsa.mt/media/36427/annual-report-2023.pdf - Annual report that mentions the risk of asbestos in Malta.

ICYMI: Applikazzjoni għall-Esplorazzjoni tal-Minjieri f’Wittenoom Iġġib Twissija dwar l-Asbestos: Aġġornata fl-4 ta’ Awwissu 2025

Applikazzjoni għall-Esplorazzjoni tal-Minjieri f’Wittenoom Iġġib Twissija dwar l-Asbestos



Gist: Hekk kif tħasseb dwar… #minjieri #asbestos #Wittenoom #saħħa #sigurtà

Kontaminazzjoni minn Asbestos, Wittenoom, Kumpanija tal-Minjieri: Kumpanija Titlob Permess ta' Esplorazzjoni f'Art Perikoluża Update Aġġornament: 5 ta’ Ġunju 2025 Kontaminazzjoni minn Asbestos, Wittenoom, Kumpanija tal-Minjieri: Kumpanija Titlob Permess ta' Esplorazzjoni f'Art Perikoluża Gist Meta tisimgħu b’post imniġġes ħafna, x’tiġi f’moħħkom? Riċentement, kumpanija tal-minjieri tal-ħadid fl-Awstralja tal-Punent applikat biex tesplora art kontaminata bl-asbestos madwar il-belt abbandunata ta’ Wittenoom. Wittenoom kienet sit ta’ minjieri tal-asbestos blu għal aktar minn 30 sena, u l-operazzjonijiet tagħha huma marbuta mal-mewt ta’ aktar minn 1,200 persuna minn mard relatat mal-asbestos. Din l-applikazzjoni qajmet tħassib serju dwar is-saħħa u s-sigurtà, u enfasizzat il-perikli li l-asbestos jista’ jkompli jippreżenta għal għexieren ta’ snin. Naqilgħu minn xiri kwalifikanti permezz ta’ din il-link tal-Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Avoaxz Lest li tidħol aktar fil-fond fis-suġġetti li qed niddiskutu? Appoġġja x-xogħol tagħna billi tikklikkja fuq il-link affiljat tal-Amazon tagħna għax-xiri li jmiss tiegħek! Kull klikk tgħinna nwasslulkom kontenut aktar perspikativ. Kuntest Wittenoom, li tinsab 1,400km fit-Tramuntana ta’ Perth, kienet il-qalba tal-minjieri tal-asbestos blu mill-1930 sal-1966. Dan il-perjodu ħalla warajh wieħed mill-aktar siti kontaminati fl-Awstralja. Minħabba r-riskju qawwi għas-saħħa, il-gvern tal-istat neħħa l-istatus ta’ belt u prattikament ħassarha mill-mappa. Madankollu, Fe Metals, sussidjarja ta’ Macro Metals, applikat reċentement għal liċenzja ta’ esplorazzjoni fil-Viċin tal-post li kienet tinsab il-belt, minkejja l-periklu magħruf. Il-kumpanija qalet li l-ġeologu li għamel l-applikazzjoni ma kienx jaf bl-istorja taż-żona u appella biex il-liġi tinbidel biex tipprojbixxi b’mod permanenti l-esplorazzjoni fiż-żona tal-immaniġġjar tal-asbestos. Konnessjoni Globali L-asbestos mhuwiex biss kwistjoni Awstraljana. Huwa problema globali tas-saħħa pubblika li taffettwa miljuni. L-Organizzazzjoni Dinjija tas-Saħħa (WHO) tistima li aktar minn 200,000 mewt globalment kull sena huma kkawżati minn espożizzjoni okkupazzjonali għall-asbestos, u dan jirrappreżenta aktar minn 70% tal-imwiet kollha minn kanċer relatat max-xogħol. Għalkemm ħafna pajjiżi, inkluża Malta, ipprojbixxew l-użu tiegħu, l-asbestos għadu qed jintuża f’xi pajjiżi fil-materjali tal-bini, u jikkawża ħsara serja lil eluf ta’ nies. L-istorja ta’ Wittenoom hija tfakkira li l-konsegwenzi ta’ użu negliġenti tal-asbestos ma jisparixxux faċilment, iżda jibqgħu għal għexieren ta’ snin. Impatt fuq Malta Għalkemm Wittenoom tinsab ’il bogħod ħafna, l-istorja tagħha għandha lezzjonijiet importanti għalina f’Malta. Malta stess għandha storja ta’ użu tal-asbestos, partikolarment fit-Tarzna u f’bini antik, li ħolqot kwistjonijiet ta’ saħħa għal xi ħaddiema u familji. F’każ legali wieħed, il-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem semgħet l-ilmenti ta’ 21 Malti li qalu li l-Istat naqas milli jipproteġihom mir-riskji tal-asbestos. Dan juri li l-periklu tal-asbestos huwa realtà li niffaċċjaw ukoll hawn, u s-sitwazzjoni ta’ Wittenoom tenfasizza l-importanza li l-gvern u l-kumpaniji jkomplu jieħdu responsabbiltà għal dan il-wirt perikoluż. Jekk xi ħadd ikun espost għall-asbestos illum, il-mard jista’ jidher biss 20-50 sena wara, u għalhekk it-trattament u l-immaniġġjar tiegħu jeħtieġu viġilanza kontinwa. Perspettiva Kulturali F’Malta, aħna mdorrijin naraw bini antik b’ħafna snin ta’ storja. Iżda wara l-ġebla jista’ jkun hemm perikli moħbija. L-istorja ta’ Wittenoom tista’ tqabbel ma’ li tħaffer fl-istorja ta’ familtek u ssib sigriet perikoluż. Bħalma ma titfaċċax tħaffer mingħajr ma tkun ippreparat, lanqas m’għandek tħaffer f’bini antik mingħajr ma tkun konxju mill-perikli tal-asbestos. Il-kura għall-komunità u l-familja hija aspett importanti tal-kultura Maltija, u l-protezzjoni kontra perikli bħall-asbestos hija parti vitali minn din il-kura. X’Jista’ Tagħmel Int Jekk għandek tħassib dwar il-preżenza tal-asbestos f’darek jew fil-post tax-xogħol tiegħek, toqgħodx tħawwad il-materjal int stess. L-aħjar azzjoni hi li tikkuntattja professjonist liċenzjat biex jivvaluta s-sitwazzjoni. L-Awtorità għas-Saħħa u s-Sigurtà Okkupazzjonali (OHSA) f’Malta tipprovdi linji gwida u proċeduri dwar kif timmaniġġja dan il-materjal. * Azzjoni Prattika: Kun konxju tal-età tal-bini fejn tgħix jew taħdem. Jekk inbena qabel il-projbizzjoni tal-asbestos f’Malta, jista’ jkun hemm riskju. * Riżorsa: Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar ir-regolamenti u l-proċeduri tal-asbestos f’Malta, tista’ żżur is-sit tal-OHSA. Regolamenti dwar l-Asbestos f’Malta Verifika tal-Fatti Din il-parti tivverifika l-fatti ewlenin ippreżentati f’dan l-artiklu, abbażi ta’ rapporti uffiċjali u riżorsi ppubblikati. * Fatt Verifikat: Il-mard relatat mal-asbestos minn Wittenoom huwa stmat li qatel aktar minn 1,200 persuna. * Fatt Verifikat: Fe Metals, sussidjarja ta’ Macro Metals, ressqet applikazzjoni għal liċenzja ta’ esplorazzjoni fl-inħawi ta’ Wittenoom. * Fatt Verifikat: Il-belt ta’ Wittenoom ġiet uffiċjalment magħluqa u l-istatus tagħha tneħħa fl-2022. * Opinjoni: L-applikazzjoni hija insult għas-sidien tradizzjonali tal-art. Dan huwa suġġettiv u jirrifletti l-fehma ta’ persuna, anke jekk hi bbażata fuq prinċipji morali. Il-proċess ta’ verifika tagħna jinvolvi l-qari ta’ sorsi primarji bħal rapporti tal-gvern u stqarrijiet mill-kumpaniji, kif ukoll sorsi sekondarji minn organizzazzjonijiet rikonoxxuti bħall-WHO. Għal min irid ikun jaf aktar... * Għaliex l-asbestos huwa daqshekk perikoluż? Aħseb f’fibri tal-asbestos bħal labar żgħar ħafna. Meta tieħu n-nifs minnhom, jidħlu fil-pulmun tiegħek u jeħlu. Il-ġisem tiegħek ma jistax ineħħihom, u matul iż-żmien, dawn il-fibri jistgħu jikkawżaw infjammazzjoni u kanċer serju bħall-mesoteljoma, li jista’ jidher anke għexieren ta’ snin wara l-espożizzjoni. Konklużjoni Din il-kwistjoni f’Wittenoom hija eżempju qawwi ta’ kif l-iżbalji tal-passat fil-qasam industrijali jistgħu jkomplu jpoġġu r-riskju għall-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri. Tqajjem mistoqsijiet importanti dwar ir-responsabbiltà ta’ gvernijiet u kumpaniji li jipproteġu komunitajiet u l-ambjent minn perikli fit-tul. Il-każ ikompli juri l-importanza li ma ninsewx l-istorja tagħna u li nkomplu noħorġu b’soluzzjonijiet dejjiema biex nipproteġu s-saħħa pubblika. X’responsabbiltà għandu gvern biex jipproteġi ċ-ċittadini tiegħu minn perikli li jirtu mill-industrija tal-passat? Sorsi * ABC News Australia: L-artiklu oriġinali li jiddiskuti l-applikazzjoni reċenti ta’ Fe Metals u jipprovdi kuntest storiku dwar Wittenoom. * World Health Organization (WHO): Jipprovdi statistika globali u informazzjoni dwar l-impatt fuq is-saħħa pubblika tal-asbestos, b’mod partikolari dwar il-mewt minn espożizzjoni okkupazzjonali. * Legislation Malta (SL 424.23): Jirreferi għar-regolamenti Maltin dwar il-protezzjoni tal-ħaddiema mir-riskji relatati mal-espożizzjoni għall-asbestos. * European Court of Human Rights: Dan id-dokument legali jiddiskuti l-każ ta’ Brincat u oħrajn kontra Malta, li jenfasizza l-kwistjonijiet legali relatati mal-asbestos fil-pajjiż. Aktar Qari * Informazzjoni dwar Wittenoom mill-Gvern tal-Awstralja tal-Punent * Il-Kronoloġija tal-Projbizzjonijiet tal-Asbestos madwar id-Dinja --- Update: June 5, 2025 Asbestos Contamination, Wittenoom, Mining Company: Company Seeks Exploration Permit in Dangerous Land Gist When you hear about a heavily contaminated place, what comes to mind? Recently, an iron ore mining company in Western Australia applied to explore asbestos-contaminated land around the abandoned town of Wittenoom. Wittenoom was a blue asbestos mine site for over 30 years, and its operations are linked to the deaths of more than 1,200 people from asbestos-related diseases. This application has raised serious health and safety concerns, highlighting the dangers that asbestos can continue to pose for decades. We earn from qualifying purchases through this Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Avoaxz Ready to delve deeper into the subjects we are discussing? Support our work by clicking on our Amazon affiliate link for your next purchase! Every click helps us bring you more insightful content. Context Wittenoom, located 1,400km north of Perth, was the heart of blue asbestos mining from the 1930s to 1966. This period left behind one of the most contaminated sites in Australia. Due to the high health risk, the state government removed the town's status and effectively wiped it off the map. However, Fe Metals, a subsidiary of Macro Metals, recently applied for an exploration license near the former town site, despite the known danger. The company stated that the geologist who made the application was unaware of the area's history and called for the law to be changed to permanently ban exploration within the asbestos management zone. Global Connection Asbestos is not just an Australian issue. It is a global public health problem that affects millions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 200,000 deaths globally each year are caused by occupational exposure to asbestos, representing over 70% of all deaths from work-related cancers. Although many countries, including Malta, have banned its use, asbestos is still used in some countries in building materials, causing serious harm to thousands of people. The story of Wittenoom is a reminder that the consequences of negligent asbestos use do not disappear easily but remain for decades. Impact on Malta Although Wittenoom is very far away, its story holds important lessons for us in Malta. Malta itself has a history of asbestos use, particularly in the Shipyard and in old buildings, which created health issues for some workers and their families. In one legal case, the European Court of Human Rights heard the complaints of 21 Maltese nationals who claimed that the State had failed to protect them from asbestos risks. This shows that the danger of asbestos is a reality we also face here, and the situation in Wittenoom emphasizes the importance of the government and companies continuing to take responsibility for this dangerous legacy. If someone is exposed to asbestos today, the disease may only appear 20-50 years later, and therefore its treatment and management require continuous vigilance. Cultural Perspective In Malta, we are used to seeing old buildings with many years of history. But behind the stone, there can be hidden dangers. The story of Wittenoom can be compared to digging into your family's history and finding a dangerous secret. Just as you wouldn't start digging without being prepared, you shouldn't dig into an old building without being aware of the dangers of asbestos. Care for the community and family is an important aspect of Maltese culture, and protection against dangers like asbestos is a vital part of this care. What You Can Do If you have concerns about the presence of asbestos in your home or workplace, do not disturb the material yourself. The best action is to contact a licensed professional to assess the situation. The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) in Malta provides guidelines and procedures on how to handle this material. * Practical Action: Be aware of the age of the building where you live or work. If it was built before the asbestos ban in Malta, there may be a risk. * Resource: For more information about asbestos regulations and procedures in Malta, you can visit the OHSA website. Asbestos Regulations in Malta Fact Check This section verifies the key facts presented in this article, based on official reports and published resources. * Verified Fact: Asbestos-related diseases from Wittenoom are estimated to have killed more than 1,200 people. * Verified Fact: Fe Metals, a subsidiary of Macro Metals, lodged an application for an exploration license in the Wittenoom area. * Verified Fact: The town of Wittenoom was officially closed and its status was removed in 2022. * Opinion: The application is an insult to the traditional landowners. This is subjective and reflects a person's view, even if it is based on moral principles. Our verification process involves reading primary sources like government reports and company statements, as well as secondary sources from recognized organizations like the WHO. For those who want to know more... * Why is asbestos so dangerous? Think of asbestos fibers as very small needles. When you breathe them in, they enter your lungs and get stuck. Your body cannot remove them, and over time, these fibers can cause inflammation and serious cancer like mesothelioma, which can appear even decades after exposure. Conclusion This issue in Wittenoom is a powerful example of how industrial mistakes of the past can continue to pose a risk to future generations. It raises important questions about the responsibility of governments and companies to protect communities and the environment from long-term dangers. The case further demonstrates the importance of not forgetting our history and continuing to come up with lasting solutions to protect public health. What responsibility does a government have to protect its citizens from dangers inherited from past industry? Sources * ABC News Australia: The original article discussing the recent application by Fe Metals and providing historical context about Wittenoom. * World Health Organization (WHO): Provides global statistics and information on the public health impact of asbestos, particularly regarding deaths from occupational exposure. * Legislation Malta (SL 424.23): Refers to the Maltese regulations on the protection of workers from risks related to asbestos exposure. * European Court of Human Rights: This legal document discusses the case of Brincat and others v. Malta, highlighting the legal issues related to asbestos in the country. Further Reading * Information on Wittenoom from the Western Australian Government * Chronology of Asbestos Bans Worldwide

Kontaminazzjoni minn Asbestos, Wittenoom, Kumpanija tal-Minjieri: Kumpanija Titlob Permess ta' Esplorazzjoni f'Art Perikoluża: Update Aġġornament: 5 ta’ Ġunju 2025

Kontaminazzjoni minn Asbestos, Wittenoom, Kumpanija tal-Minjieri: Kumpanija Titlob… #Asbestos #Wittenoom #Saħħa #Sigurtà #Minjieri

Applikazzjoni għall-Esplorazzjoni tal-Minjieri f’Wittenoom Iġġib Twissija dwar l-Asbestos Aġġornata fl-4 ta’ Awwissu 2025 Applikazzjoni għall-Esplorazzjoni tal-Minjieri f’Wittenoom Iġġib Twissija dwar l-Asbestos Gist: Hekk kif tħasseb dwar is-saħħa u s-sigurtà ta’ familtek, huwa vitali li tkun konxju tal-perikli moħbija li jistgħu jippersistu anke minn diżastri tal-passat. Dan l-aħħar, kumpanija tal-minjieri f’West Australia, Macro Metals, ikkawżat taqlib meta, minħabba żball ta’ impjegat, applikat għall-liċenzja biex tesplora l-art kontaminata madwar il-belt fantasma ta’ Wittenoom. Wittenoom hija l-post fejn qabel kien hemm minjiera tal-asbestos u issa saret magħrufa għall-perikli enormi li jġib miegħu l-asbestos, u l-għadd kbir ta’ nies li mietu minħabba fih. Għalkemm il-kumpanija rtirat l-applikazzjoni tagħha minnufih, il-kap tagħha, Simon Rushton, issa qed jitlob li l-liġijiet jinbidlu biex jiġi assigurat li ebda kumpanija oħra ma terġa’ tapplika għal esplorazzjoni f’żona daqshekk perikoluża. Naqilgħu minn xiri kwalifikanti permezz ta’ din il-link tal-Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Avoaxz Lest li tidħol aktar fil-fond fis-suġġetti li qed niddiskutu? Appoġġja x-xogħol tagħna billi tikklikkja fuq il-link affiljat tal-Amazon tagħna għax-xiri li jmiss tiegħek! Kull klikk tgħinna nwasslulkom kontenut aktar perspikattiv. Żball Serju b’Konsegwenzi Kbar Dan l-iżvilupp seħħ wara li Fe Metals, sussidjarja ta’ Macro Metals, issottomettiet applikazzjoni għal liċenzja ta’ esplorazzjoni tal-minjieri għal art li tinsab fi ħdan l-“Wittenoom Asbestos Management Area”. Il-Maniġer Direttur ta’ Macro, Simon Rushton, spjega li l-applikazzjoni kienet inħolqot minn ġeologu li ma kienx familjari mal-istorja tal-post u għalhekk ma kienx jaf li kien qed japplika għal esplorazzjoni f’żona tant perikoluża. Skont Rushton, malli s-sitwazzjoni ġiet għall-attenzjoni tiegħu, il-kumpanija rtirat l-applikazzjoni, peress li s-saħħa u s-sigurtà tal-ħaddiema huma aktar importanti minn kull ammont ta’ profitt. Kuntest: Il-Mewt minn Wittenoom Il-belt ta’ Wittenoom, li tinsab madwar 1,400 kilometru fit-Tramuntana ta’ Perth, kienet is-sit ta’ minjiera tal-asbestos għal aktar minn 30 sena. Għalkemm il-minjiera għalqet fl-1966, il-konsegwenzi tagħha għadhom jinħassu sal-lum. Il-minjieri tal-asbestos ikkontaminaw iż-żona kollha tal-madwar, tant li sal-lum, dan il-velenu li qiegħed fl-arja huwa l-kawża ewlenija tal-mewt ta’ aktar minn 2,000 ex-ħaddiem u resident. Fl-2007, Wittenoom tneħħiet uffiċjalment mill-mappa, u fl-2023, il-Gvern ta’ West Australia waqqa’ dak li kien fadal mill-belt. Impatt fuq Malta Għalkemm Wittenoom hija eluf ta’ kilometri ‘l bogħod minn Malta, l-istorja tagħha għandha lezzjonijiet importanti għalina l-Maltin. Bħal Wittenoom, Malta kellha l-esperjenza tagħha mal-asbestos, speċjalment f’bini antik. L-użu tal-asbestos fil-kostruzzjoni kien komuni f’Malta sa tmiem is-snin tmenin u fil-bidu tas-snin disgħin, u għadu jinsab f’ħafna djar u bini pubbliku. Il-Gvern Malti, permezz tal-Awtorità għas-Saħħa u s-Sigurtà fuq il-Post tax-Xogħol (OHSA), jistabbilixxi regoli stretti għat-tneħħija tal-asbestos biex jipproteġi lill-ħaddiema u lill-pubbliku. L-istorja ta’ Wittenoom hija tfakkira tal-perikli moħbija li jistgħu jinħolqu minn materjali u prattiċi tal-imgħoddi, u tal-importanza tal-viġilanza kontinwa u r-regolamenti, biex jiġu evitati traġedji simili fil-futur. * Sors Ipermarbut: Ir-Rapport Annwali tal-OHSA ta' Malta (https://www.ohsa.mt/media/36427/annual-report-2023.pdf) jiddiskuti r-regolamenti u l-ispezzjonijiet li qed isiru dwar ir-riskji tal-asbestos fil-post tax-xogħol, u juri li din hija kwistjoni li għadha rilevanti f’pajjiżna. X’Jista’ Jagħmel Wieħed? Jekk tħasseb li jista’ jkollok asbestos fid-dar jew fil-post tax-xogħol tiegħek, hemm żewġ affarijiet prattiċi li tista’ tagħmel: * Tmisshx: L-asbestos huwa l-aktar perikoluż meta jinħall fl-arja. Jekk tissuspetta l-preżenza tiegħu, il-ħaġa l-aktar importanti li tista’ tagħmel hi li tħallih kif inhu u ma tippruvax tneħħih int stess. * Ħu parir minn professjonist: Ikkuntattja professjonist liċenzjat biex jivverifika u jneħħi l-asbestos b’mod sigur. Il-websajt tal-OHSA toffri informazzjoni importanti u gwida dwar kif għandek taġixxi. * Riżors Ipermarbut: Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar l-asbestos u l-proċeduri korretti għall-immaniġġjar tiegħu f’Malta, tista’ żżur il-paġna tal-OHSA: https://www.ohsa.mt/asbestos. Verifika tal-Fatti * Fatt Verifikat: Il-kumpanija Macro Metals irċeviet applikazzjoni għal liċenzja ta' esplorazzjoni għal art fi ħdan iż-Żona ta’ Wittenoom. Dan ġie kkonfermat minn rappreżentanti tal-kumpanija stess u mill-ABC News. * Dikjarazzjoni Mhux Fatta: "L-asbestos f'Wittenoom ma jagħmilx ħsara sakemm ma tħallatx miegħu direttament." Din id-dikjarazzjoni mhix vera. Ir-riskju jidħol minn fibri tal-asbestos li jiġu fl-arja, li jistgħu jinġibdu man-nifs anke mingħajr kuntatt dirett ma' sorsi ta' asbestos. Il-fibra tal-asbestos f'Wittenoom inxterdet maż-żona kollha. * Ambigwità u Nuqqas ta’ Ċarezza: Id-dikjarazzjoni li "żball klerikali" kien il-kawża li l-applikazzjoni baqgħet tidher fir-reġistru hija kemmxejn ambigwa, billi fil-bidu ntqal li l-applikazzjoni kienet ġiet irtirata minnufih. Għalkemm il-kumpanija pprovdiet dokumenti li juru d-deċiżjoni li tirtira l-applikazzjoni, in-nuqqas ta' azzjoni immedjata biex jitneħħa l-isem mir-reġistru joħloq konfużjoni. Proċess ta' Verifika: Biex jivverifikaw it-talbiet ewlenin, ir-riċerkaturi fittxew rapporti tal-aħbarijiet minn sorsi ewlenin u affidabbli bħall-ABC News fl-Awstralja, u kkonfermaw id-dettalji tal-applikazzjoni u l-irtirar tagħha. Aħna qabbilna wkoll dawn id-dettalji ma’ informazzjoni storika dwar Wittenoom minn sorsi uffiċjali tal-gvern ta’ Western Australia u organizzazzjonijiet tas-saħħa. Għal min irid ikun jaf aktar... Imagine li l-asbestos huwa bħal trab fin ħafna, li ma tarax b’għajnejk imma li jista’ jkun perikoluż daqs velenu inviżibbli. Meta l-minjieri f’Wittenoom ħadmu, dan it-trab velenuż inxtered mal-arja, u l-fibra tiegħu waqgħet mal-art, mal-ħitan, u f’kull rokna. B’differenza minn trab normali li jiġi u jmur, dan il-velenu tal-asbestos ma jmurx. Anke l-iktar riħ żgħir jew moviment jista’ jerġa’ jtella’ dan il-velenu fl-arja, fejn in-nies jistgħu jinġibduh man-nifs u jimirdu snin wara. Huwa għalhekk li t-talba biex tinbidel il-liġi hija hekk importanti. Mistoqsija lill-qarrejja: Taħseb li kumpaniji bħal Macro Metals għandhom iħallsu għat-tindif ta’ żoni kkontaminati tal-passat bħal Wittenoom, anke jekk ma kinux responsabbli direttament għall-ħsara oriġinali? Għaliex jew għaliex le? Tista' twieġeb din il-mistoqsija hawn. Sorsi * ABC News Australia: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-06/mining-law-change-call-wittenoom-exploration/105387408 - Dan huwa l-artiklu oriġinali li rrapporta s-sitwazzjoni, u jipprovdi dettalji diretti mill-maniġer direttur ta' Macro Metals. * Gvern ta’ Western Australia, Dipartiment tas-Saħħa: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/state-land-hazards-and-contaminated-sites - Din il-paġna tipprovdi informazzjoni uffiċjali dwar il-perikli tas-saħħa u l-klassifikazzjoni ta' Wittenoom bħala sit kontaminat. * Soċjetà tal-Mard tal-Asbestos tal-Awstralja: https://asbestosdiseases.org.au/information/wittenoom-overview/ - Dan is-sors jagħti sfond storiku dettaljat dwar it-traġedja ta' Wittenoom, inkluż in-numru ta' mwiet u l-effetti fit-tul fuq il-komunità. Aktar Qari * Il-Bozza tal-Liġi dwar l-Għeluq ta’ Wittenoom 2021: https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4110829ce55bcb019743f0ad4825877c0001ef70/$file/tp-829.pdf - Tispjega l-bażi legali għat-tneħħija tal-belt. * Pubblikazzjoni mill-OHSA: https://www.ohsa.mt/media/36427/annual-report-2023.pdf - Rapport annwali li jsemmi r-riskju tal-asbestos f'Malta. --- Updated on August 4, 2025 Wittenoom Mining Exploration Application Highlights Asbestos Dangers Gist: As you worry about your family's health and safety, it's vital to be aware of hidden dangers that may persist even from past disasters. Recently, a West Australian mining company, Macro Metals, caused a stir when, due to an employee's mistake, it applied for a license to explore the contaminated land around the ghost town of Wittenoom. Wittenoom is a former asbestos mine and is now known for the enormous dangers of asbestos and the large number of people who have died from it. Although the company immediately withdrew its application, its head, Simon Rushton, is now calling for laws to be changed to ensure no other company ever applies for exploration in such a dangerous area again. We earn from qualifying purchases through this Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Avoaxz Ready to dive deeper into the topics we're discussing? Support our work by clicking on our Amazon affiliate link for your next purchase! Every click helps us bring you more insightful content. Serious Mistake with Major Consequences This development occurred after Fe Metals, a subsidiary of Macro Metals, submitted an application for a mining exploration license for land located within the “Wittenoom Asbestos Management Area”. Macro's Managing Director, Simon Rushton, explained that the application was created by a geologist who was unfamiliar with the history of the area and therefore did not know he was applying for exploration in such a dangerous zone. According to Rushton, as soon as the situation came to his attention, the company withdrew the application, as the health and safety of workers are more important than any amount of profit. Context: The Death from Wittenoom The town of Wittenoom, located about 1,400 kilometers north of Perth, was the site of an asbestos mine for more than 30 years. Although the mine closed in 1966, its consequences are still felt today. The asbestos mining contaminated the entire surrounding area, so much so that to this day, this airborne poison is the main cause of death for more than 2,000 former workers and residents. In 2007, Wittenoom was officially removed from the map, and in 2023, the Government of Western Australia demolished what was left of the town. Impact on Malta Although Wittenoom is thousands of kilometers away from Malta, its story holds important lessons for us Maltese. Like Wittenoom, Malta has had its own experience with asbestos, especially in old buildings. The use of asbestos in construction was common in Malta until the late eighties and early nineties and is still found in many homes and public buildings. The Maltese Government, through the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA), sets strict rules for the removal of asbestos to protect workers and the public. The story of Wittenoom is a reminder of the hidden dangers that can arise from past materials and practices, and of the importance of continuous vigilance and regulations, to prevent similar tragedies in the future. * Hyperlinked Source: The OHSA Annual Report of Malta (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.ohsa.mt/media/36427/annual-report-2023.pdf) discusses the regulations and inspections being carried out regarding asbestos risks in the workplace, showing that this is still a relevant issue in our country. What Can You Do? If you are concerned that you may have asbestos in your home or workplace, there are two practical things you can do: * Do not touch it: Asbestos is most dangerous when it becomes airborne. If you suspect its presence, the most important thing you can do is leave it as it is and not try to remove it yourself. * Seek professional advice: Contact a licensed professional to safely verify and remove the asbestos. The OHSA website offers important information and guidance on how to act. * Hyperlinked Resource: For more information about asbestos and the correct procedures for its management in Malta, you can visit the OHSA page: https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.ohsa.mt/asbestos. Fact Verification * Verified Fact: The company Macro Metals received an application for an exploration license for land within the Wittenoom Area. This was confirmed by representatives of the company itself and by ABC News. * Non-Factual Statement: "The asbestos in Wittenoom is harmless unless you mix with it directly." This statement is not true. The risk comes from airborne asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled even without direct contact with asbestos sources. The asbestos fiber in Wittenoom has spread throughout the entire area. * Ambiguity and Lack of Clarity: The statement that a "clerical error" was the cause of the application still appearing on the registry is somewhat ambiguous, as it was initially said that the application had been withdrawn immediately. Although the company provided documents showing the decision to withdraw the application, the lack of immediate action to remove the name from the registry creates confusion. Verification Process: To verify the key claims, researchers sought news reports from major and reliable sources such as ABC News in Australia and confirmed the details of the application and its withdrawal. We also compared these details with historical information about Wittenoom from official Western Australian government sources and health organizations. For those who want to know more... Imagine asbestos is like a very fine dust, which you can't see with your eyes but which can be as dangerous as an invisible poison. When the mines in Wittenoom were operating, this poisonous dust was spread into the air, and its fibers fell to the ground, on walls, and in every corner. Unlike normal dust that comes and goes, this asbestos poison does not go away. Even the smallest breeze or movement can stir this poison back into the air, where people can inhale it and get sick years later. That is why the call to change the law is so important. Question to the readers: Do you think companies like Macro Metals should pay for the cleanup of past contaminated areas like Wittenoom, even if they were not directly responsible for the original damage? Why or why not? You can answer this question here. Sources * ABC News Australia: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-06/mining-law-change-call-wittenoom-exploration/105387408 - This is the original article that reported the situation and provides direct details from the managing director of Macro Metals. * Government of Western Australia, Department of Health: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/state-land-hazards-and-contaminated-sites - This page provides official information on the health dangers and the classification of Wittenoom as a contaminated site. * Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia: https://asbestosdiseases.org.au/information/wittenoom-overview/ - This source provides a detailed historical background on the Wittenoom tragedy, including the number of deaths and the long-term effects on the community. Further Reading * Wittenoom Closure Bill 2021: https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4110829ce55bcb019743f0ad4825877c0001ef70/$file/tp-829.pdf - Explains the legal basis for the town's removal. * OHSA Publication: https://www.ohsa.mt/media/36427/annual-report-2023.pdf - Annual report that mentions the risk of asbestos in Malta.

Applikazzjoni għall-Esplorazzjoni tal-Minjieri f’Wittenoom Iġġib Twissija dwar l-Asbestos: Aġġornata fl-4 ta’ Awwissu 2025

Applikazzjoni għall-Esplorazzjoni tal-Minjieri f’Wittenoom Iġġib Twissija dwar l-Asbestos



Gist: Hekk kif tħasseb dwar… #Wittenoom #Asbestos #Saħħa #Sigurtà #Minjiera

New data confirms childhood exposure to blue asbestos massively increases cancer risk later in life.

The smaller the lungs, the greater the damage.

#BlueAsbestos #ChildhoodExposure #Wittenoom

Yurlu | Country. This feature documentary from Australian Director/Producer Yaara Bou Melhem was co-created with Aboriginal Elder Maitland Parker and immerses us in his final year as he strives to heal the Southern Hemisphere’s worst contaminated site youtu.be/u4X0aSeqJds?... #MobSky #Wittenoom

Wittenoom: An Australian Tragedy The town that killed its residents.

Wittenoom- "a town in Western Australia that sprang up around a blue asbestos mine, in the 1940s and '50s. Many were unaware that asbestos fibres can cause lung disease and cancer. Possibly thousands of residents have since died from exposure."

#BlueSkyMine #Wittenoom

www.bbc.com/news/av/stor...

Kapitalismus tötet: Der Fall #Wittenoom, das Tschernobyl Australiens. Ganz ohne Strahlung. #Simplicissimus