New evidence shows massive and rapid expansion of illicit rare earths #industry in #Myanmar – “#China has effectively offshored this toxic industry to Myanmar over the past few years, with terrible consequences for local #communities and the #environment”
- New satellite analysis from Global Witness reveals over 2,700 rare earth #mining sites in northern Myanmar by March 2022, covering an area the size of Singapore
- Myanmar now world’s biggest source of supply of heavy rare earths, used in #green #energy #technologies including electric vehicles and wind turbines, as well as smartphones and home electronics
- Illegal rare earth mines in northern Myanmar poisoning surrounding land and waterways, harming local communities, wildlife and environment
- Mines are funding military-linked militias that control industry with an iron fist and have threatened to shoot local community members if they refused to give up their land to make way for new mines
- Minerals illegally mined in Myanmar risk ending up in products of global brands including Tesla, Volkswagen and Siemens
Note: this is not an 'anti-China' post. Just a reminder that 'green' and 'smart' #technology has significant environmental and social consequences. #rareEarth #rareEarthMinerals
