tagged w/ rare earths
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Traidcraft (http://www.traidcraft.co.uk), a UK charity whose mission is to fight poverty through trade, practising and promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives.
They have created the video that explains how many of the world's poorest countries are rich in valuable raw materials which could help fuel their development but that many of the world's richest countries want to get their hands on them without the profits returning to the people. Traidcraft's new campaign shines a spotlight on the global trade in raw materials -- and why we need you to stop the European Union's aggressive new resource grab. Visit http://www.traidcraft.co.uk/rawmaterials to join the campaign and take action by contacting your MEP.Traidcraft (http://www.traidcraft.co.uk), a UK charity whose mission is to fight... more
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Rare earth minerals are essential in the manufacturing of many electronics like mini harddrives and emerging nanotechnologies.
Bloomberg reports that Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board blocked a Chinese mining company from acquiring controlling interest in Lynas Corp, an Australian mining company, because “We have concluded that they would not be able to exclude the possibility that Lynas’ production could be controlled to the detriment of non-Chinese end users.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-14/australia-blocked-china-rare-earth-takeover-on-concern-of-threat-to-supply.htmlRare earth minerals are essential in the manufacturing of many electronics like mini... more
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Last month a Chinese trawler operating in Japanese-controlled waters collided with two vessels of Japan’s Coast Guard. Japan detained the trawler’s captain; China responded by cutting off Japan’s access to crucial raw materials.
And there was nowhere else to turn: China accounts for 97 percent of the world’s supply of rare earths, minerals that play an essential role in many high-technology products, including military equipment. Sure enough, Japan soon let the captain go.Last month a Chinese trawler operating in Japanese-controlled waters collided with two... more
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mik661
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added this
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1 year ago
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Everyone knows China is planning to take over the world. But with most of the focus centered on their booming economy, the Asian giant is quietly putting together an entirely different strategy, one which involves domination of natural resources. As the importance of oil dwindles over the next few decades, what will become the new scarcity? The answer is "rare earth".
Rare earth elements are perhaps not so much rare as they are expensive and difficult to extract. They're used in the manufacturing of computers, LCD screens, wind turbines, car parts, cellphones, missiles, light bulbs, solar panels, and countless other technological necessities. To call them essential would be an understatement. And China controls 97 percent of them.
The United States, unaccustomed to be caught tying its shoes as the starting gun is fired for a new global race, has suddenly realized the importance of rare earths and has recently passed new legislation aimed at rapidly increasing domestic production. In 2002, Molycorp (in Colorado) was shut for a variety of reasons (including low global prices for the critical minerals), but has since re-opened and is planning to dramatically ramp-up production as a central part of the US plan to improve their position. What's shocking is that apparently China attempted in 2005 to buy Molycorp as part of Unocal, which would have essentially given it total control of all of the world's rare earth elements. Thankfully that purchase was blocked.
More recently, China halted the delivery of all rare earths to Japan, as part of a diplomatic spat over a Chinese fisherman which Japan has refused to release. This has created some problems for Toyota, and has caused the value of rare earth stock market shares to soar. What seems likely in this situation is that China is using the fisherman as political cover to test their newfound resource-clout; specifically, to see what happens when they turn off the spigot.
As governments around the world freak out and put various mining plans into action, is it perhaps too little too late? Many are predicting that demand for rare earth elements may soon outstrip supply. Once the oil dries up, will rare earth become the next flashpoint for global conflict? And in the interest of global security, is it really unthinkable that we might need to start mining the moon?
***Lots of links at the original source article below. Sorry but they wouldn't paste properly above...
http://talkingskull.com/article/china-makes-play-for-rare-earthsEveryone knows China is planning to take over the world. But with most of the focus... more
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A recent New York Times article reveals that some of the greenest technologies of the age, from electric cars to efficient light bulbs to very large wind turbines, are made possible by an unusual group of elements called rare earths. And the world’s dependence on these substances is rising fast. The Times says these elements come almost entirely from China, from some of the most environmentally damaging mines in the country, in an industry dominated by criminal gangs.A recent New York Times article reveals that some of the greenest technologies of the... more
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