In Myanmar, a rush for rare earth metals is causing a regional environmental disaster

In Myanmar, a rush for rare earth metals is causing a regional environmental disaster

The Wat Tha Ton Temple sits high above the tourist town of Tha Ton, with a magnificent view of the Kok River valley to the south and an equally impressive view of the river winding its way out of the mountains of Myanmar from the north. Prasert Guytuan, a local school worker, says people here first started noticing a problem with the river about two years ago, when a mine just across the border in Myanmar started production and the water got a l…

In Myanmar, a rush for rare earth metals is causing a regional environmental disaster - TPR: The Public's Radio

A drastic increase in unregulated production of rare earth minerals in Myanmar is causing serious environmental concerns downriver in Thailand, as China's influence in the sector looms large. The post In Myanmar, a rush for rare earth metals is causing a regional environmental disaster appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.