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Rare Earth mining can be done safely, it's just China doesn't want to do so. Ultimately the world has to solve global problems, local or national problems have

Rare Earth mining can be done safely, it's just China doesn't want to do so. Ultimately the world has to solve global problems, local or national problems have to be left up to individual countries to sort out.

stingraycharles 9y ago
What if they decide to dump the toxic waste into the ocean ? Aren't we then pretty much back to square one ?
- Brakenshire 9y ago
  Yes, that would be a problem if it was happening. But that is regulated by international agreements, and as far as I know, China is not doing it.
johnchristopher 9y ago
Wasn't there a slogan that went like this: local solutions for a global problem ?
- babuskov 9y ago
  Think globally, act locally.
carlmr 9y ago
So one question, if China is defacto the sole supplier of rare earths and they don't keep up your standards, will this still be a green revolution?
- Brakenshire 9y ago
  China is ultimately a global superpower, and its government clearly has wide public support domestically. My hope that I can alter how mining is regulated in China is pretty much nil, that has to be up to the Chinese population to reject their government, to force them into action, or to acquiesce.
rawfan 9y ago
The only rare earths mine in the US was shut down because of environmental problems. After that no owner was profitable producing REE because of environmental standards to keep up. That was until 2007 when China restricted REE exports. Now that China exports again, the current owner is broke once again (maybe it's already sold, I'm not sure). While other industries can/could successfully be pressured to move to sustainable, fair and environmentally conscious production, the Chinese REE production, as a monopoly, just doesn't care.
- Brakenshire 9y ago
  Yes, it's a problem from our end. I would support some policy mechanisms to support mining in a way which was environmentally sound and reliable.

stingraycharles 9y ago

What if they decide to dump the toxic waste into the ocean ? Aren't we then pretty much back to square one ?

Brakenshire 9y ago
Yes, that would be a problem if it was happening. But that is regulated by international agreements, and as far as I know, China is not doing it.

johnchristopher 9y ago

Wasn't there a slogan that went like this: local solutions for a global problem ?

babuskov 9y ago
Think globally, act locally.

carlmr 9y ago

So one question, if China is defacto the sole supplier of rare earths and they don't keep up your standards, will this still be a green revolution?

Brakenshire 9y ago
China is ultimately a global superpower, and its government clearly has wide public support domestically. My hope that I can alter how mining is regulated in China is pretty much nil, that has to be up to the Chinese population to reject their government, to force them into action, or to acquiesce.

rawfan 9y ago

The only rare earths mine in the US was shut down because of environmental problems. After that no owner was profitable producing REE because of environmental standards to keep up. That was until 2007 when China restricted REE exports. Now that China exports again, the current owner is broke once again (maybe it's already sold, I'm not sure). While other industries can/could successfully be pressured to move to sustainable, fair and environmentally conscious production, the Chinese REE production, as a monopoly, just doesn't care.

Brakenshire 9y ago
Yes, it's a problem from our end. I would support some policy mechanisms to support mining in a way which was environmentally sound and reliable.