I disagree with this: "Environmental experts and local officials say the cost of the cleanup should not be shouldered by the Chinese government alone, but also

I disagree with this: "Environmental experts and local officials say the cost of the cleanup should not be shouldered by the Chinese government alone, but also by the rare earths industry and the global companies and consumers that benefit from these technologies." The mining companies should bear the cost, since it was a cost that they simply ignored at the time. If that cost had been factored into their business, prices for their materials would have been higher (and the consumers would have paid). Instead, like many businesses, they took responsibility for only the costs that they had to. In general, consumers should not shoulder the burden of corporations' bad business practices. If true costs were considered, there would be far less materialism (and corresponding pollution). All that said, sometimes everyone has to contribute to right a wrong. However, it's not ok that everyone pay for one party's past wrongs only to see other parties continuing to repeat those wrongs.