In 2024, in a small, ordinary café on the outskirts of Penang, Malaysia, a group of everyday local residents decided they could no longer remain silent.
Among them were a young engineer who grew up near the Lynas plant, a retired teacher long concerned with environmental issues, a community worker, and a freelance consultant who followed "green transition" slogans every day. They had witnessed firsthand how rare earth processing brought environmental pressures, yet saw insufficient returns from companies and the government to the local community.
That year, global demand for rare earths surged, and Lynas—as a major processor in Malaysia—stood at the center of controversy. These ordinary people realized that without strong citizen oversight, "green peace" could easily become empty talk, leaving behind endless pollution consequences for the land. So, they stood up.
In July 2024, the Rare Earth Green Energy Sustainable Application Association (REACT) was officially established in Malaysia.