Trying times for Vulcanisation Plant

The rubber industry is one of the major sources of income around the Caryme River. About a thousand people are involved in the extraction process from trees and hardening the rubber that has been extracted using sulfur. This process of treating the rubber is called vulcanisation and takes place in several plants around the river. However, local protestors and decreasing demand for rubber products has brought one of Fecaw's few rubber processing compounds to its knees.

Protests around the plant have emerged in recent weeks, some attended by over 100 people, who complain that sulfur fumes are damaging local wildlife. Previous complaints about the safety of the plant and leaks of sulfur into the outer environment surfaced in 2017, when it was revealed that amounts of elemental sulfur had leaked into the Caryme River by way of various ditches. People with asthma and other respiratory problems claimed that they were sensitive to sulfur dioxide fumes that were also being emitted from the plant. This led to an investigation that shut down the complex for 2 months, significantly increasing the workload in other plants and having what the Master of the Rubbermaking Guild called "a detrimental effect on rubber production in Fecaw and an overall negative impact on the whole Fecawn economy. Trees were also damaged by the pollution. Protests began in recent weeks after renewed fears that the emissions had begun again and that wildlife, along with the health of citizens, would be affected.

Economists have also noted a decrease in demands for rubber, which is mainly used in Fecaw for car production. Demand for cars and other vehicles has decreased slowly over the past few years for a number of reasons, including environmental awareness. The plant's spokesman has noted a decrease in productivity at the factory and an increasing number of rubber shipments that are not being used.

The spokesman announced today that the rubber processing plant (Number 2) made a serious loss for the first time in 12 years, excluding the environmental crisis of 2017. The plant warned that it may have to close, which the Guildmaster called "a serious threat to the national economy". Debates in the National Council have begun to decide whether the government, which usually takes a rather conservative attitude towards failing businesses should prop up the plant. Some business leaders and Senaters from the area have suggested that the plant be taken over by the government for several months until it begins to make a clear recovery and that protests are stopped by improving safety within the plant. Other who view themselves as more fiscally conservative say that the plant should be left alone by the government. The King ahs not yet made a final decision, but has stated that he is inclined to make a compromise by assisting the plant with financial aid, while not completely taking it over.