Mineral wealth comes at a cost in Inner Mongolia

[joshcryer]

When Li Yongkuan, 62, joined the Baotou Iron and Steel (Group) Company (Baogang Group) in the 1970s to exploit precious mineral resources, he was grateful for the opportunities for econom-ic development generated by the project.

Li, a resident of Xinguang village in Baotou, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, occasionally worked with the group over a period of about 10 years. But in recent years, any feeling of optimism Li had has been replaced by the pain of seeing his fellow villagers sickened as a result of the pollution caused by the company he worked for.

The Baogang Group's main plant processes materials taken from the Baiyunebo Mine, 150 kilometers from Baotou. It is home to the largest stores of iron reserves in North China, and the largest amount of rare earth reserves in the world.

The roads along Li's village are filled with dust, and iron tubes stretch to every corner, while massive piles of ore waste can be seen everywhere. The village itself looks like one big factory.

http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-12/601532.html

---

Much more at link, really heartbreaking article.

[glinda]

1. Well here in lies the greatest source of planetary disfunction. All the

Companies that rape and pillage the earth for a quick buck in ca-hoots with Banks and with the wealthiest and with the Governments. They do not own up to the health costs and to the loss of whole species and to water that people drink nor the food they eat nor their livelihood nor the air we breath and the temperatures.
I would like them all in prisons. I cannot even read the article as my heart is so totally broken and my anger is way too high right now.

[Bobbieo]

2. Afghanistan - you're next!!!!

[NNadir]

3. Um, um, um....anybody here know what the biggest use for lanthanides (rare earths) is?

Um, light weight magnets, like the type used to make those torqued out grease sticks in the sky, the wind turbines, electric car motors, etc, etc.

Where's um, the anti-nuke squad?