China's Rare Earth Metals, Sustainable Development & the Green Agenda

[Sassy]

"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."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/180281-china-s-rare-earth-metals-destructive-mining-techniques-and-a-new-trend

"Nature has an integral set of different values (cultural, spiritual and material) where humans are one strand in nature's web and all living creatures are considered equal. Therefore the natural way is the right and human activities should be molded along nature's rhythms." from the UN's Biodiversity Treaty presented at the 1992 UN Earth Summit."

"Land ...cannot be treated as an ordinary asset, controlled by individuals and subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market. Private land ownership is also a principle instrument of accumulation and concentration of wealth, therefore, contributes to social injustice."
http://www.newswithviews.com/DeWeese/tom162.htm

[glenn kangiser]

This is where the metals for the high power magnets making permanent magnet motors,wind generators etc. comes from.  The US only has a couple small deposits if this type material, and environmental concerns here make them hard to exploit.