Earth-Friendly Elements Are Mined Destructively
Monday, 28 December, 2009 — environment unintended-consequences energy
Keith Bradsher, for the New York Times:
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. The world’s dependence on these substances is rising fast.
Just one problem: 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.
Western capitals have suddenly grown worried over China’s near monopoly, which gives it a potential stranglehold on technologies of the future.
Weaning ourselves off of petroleum is still a worthwhile goal, but the political and diplomatic environments of having to abide repressive Middle East regimes or appearing to abide don’t improve if we substitute China. Not only does it increase our strategic dependence on China (as does the national debt), but China has stability issues of its own.
There’s also no way for an outside company to figure out if the rare earth elements it’s purchasing from China are mined responsibly.