Rick Sanchez' Perverted Sex Scandal With A Chinese Pony Exposed!

[Turborama]

Good, now that I've got your attention, check out what's happening with those that are really pulling the strings...

Rare Earth Metals: China's Death Grip on the Trade War (China Owns The MIC's Key Ingredients)

by David Urani

October 01, 2010

With a bill moving through Congress intended to label China as a currency manipulator (already passed through the House) and to open the door for more tariffs on Chinese goods, the trade war between the U.S. and China has officially reached Defcon 5. Our desire to have a level playing field in the export market is being contended by China, who by no means wants to give up its exporting prowess on low priced goods. China has flinched once by agreeing to let the yuan rise in a controlled fashion, but the problem is just that, it is controlled. In reality, the recent moves in the yuan have been paltry and both sides know it. That's a tough battle to get started for us though, considering China has a number of different angles to retaliate from. The most significant advantage that China has in the global trade arena, however, is its control of the rare earth metals market.

Tacked onto the bottom of the periodic table are a number of related metals that you probably wouldn't recognize the name of, but are becoming ever more important in our daily lives. They are the key to smaller computers, high powered batteries, and alternative energies. Take for instance lanthanum, ten pounds of which are used in the battery of every Toyota Prius and are also a key component to high powered wind turbines. Then there is indium which powers the most cutting edge solar panels. The fact is, our economy is likely to be defined by rare earth metals over the long term as miniature computers and alternative energies take center stage. Not to mention, rare earth metals are central in almost every facet of our military technology.

The kicker is that China holds 95% of the world's rare earth metals supply. Although rare earth metals are in fact quite abundant on this planet, China is the only place that currently has the capabilities to produce them in large quantities. The United States produces virtually none of these metals currently, partially because of our small supply, but also because of environmental concerns for mining them. Estimates show us being upwards of 10 years away from legitimate rare earth metal production capabilities; that's if we decide we want to.

Meanwhile, China has already begun to strong arm the world with its hold of rare earth supplies. In July, China reduced its rare earth export quota by 72%, sending prices soaring. Not only that, but it also has export taxes ranging from 15% to 25% on the metals. That's the kind of regulation that makes it quite difficult for companies in other countries to produce things like solar wafers cheaply. Considering cost is one of the biggest barriers holding alternative energies from taking off, the U.S. administration will want to be very careful where it steps. An ominous example comes from an incident earlier this month when a Chinese fishing trawler collided with Japanese coast guard boats, which resulted in the capture of several Chinese fishermen. Although the details aren't confirmed, word has it China halted, or at least threatened to halt, its exports of rare earth metals to Japan, which soon released the fisherman.

Continues: http://seekingalpha.com/article/227897-rare-earth-metals-china-s-death-grip-on-the-trade-war

Check out these articles for some recent history on this...

China Tightens Grip on Rare Minerals
By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: August 31, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/business/global/01minerals.html?_r=1

China’s Control Over Rare Minerals Troubles Pentagon
Wed Nov-18-09 12:52 PM Original message
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7037854

China tightens stranglehold on rare earth minerals
China is to further tighten its stranglehold on the mining of rare earth metals essential for the manufacture of high-tech products from iPods to wind turbines and military missiles.
By Peter Foster in Beijing
Published: 11:35AM BST 02 Jun 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china-business/7797015/China-tightens-stranglehold-on-rare-earth-minerals.html

[leftstreet]

1. Meh. This reads like total propaganda

Not your posting, the articles

And just LOL @ the US labeling ANY country as a "currency manipulator"

:rofl:

[Turborama]

5. What was in those articles specifically that read like propaganda to you?

I'm genuinely curious, as I abhor propaganda as much as the next person.

[Poll_Blind]

2. The good news is in the short term, the U.S. won't suffer as much as...

...say, Japan. But in the longer term things could get very serious. The U.S. is already trying to play catchup but I think the Chinese have something like at least a 10 year head start.

PB

[Turborama]

6. I'm wondering how long the 'longer term' is going to be

As you say, things could get very serious if they wanted them to be.

[FreakinDJ]

7. Its not the 10 yr head start - but the near slave like labor force

that give China an advantage in this market

[Poll_Blind]

8. I would argue with you about that 10+ year head start...

...but I don't have time to look up the name of the Chinese guy who is behind their rare earth mineral program but I'm remarkably lazy this morning. However, I definitely will not argue with you on the slave labor thing. That should be brought up, IMO, in every conversation about the Chinese economy.

Dunno if you're a Dr. Who fan, but in the new, recent, series there was a great scene where the Doctor and one of his companions were walking through ancient Pompeii- having traveled back in time in his time machine. He's describing to his friend all about the society of Ancient Rome that they're currently walking through and he mentions slaves.

"Oh, slaves!" is her reply. "What an evil, archaic concept. I'm glad we don't have slaves on Earth anymore."

He stops walking, looks at her and says "Who do you think made your clothes?"

BAM!

Great show. Worth watching and with your family if you've got one.

PB

[Turborama]

9. The labor force in China are striking & protesting on an unprecedented scale

Unprecedented Manufacturing Strikes & Protests Gain Momentum In China (Video Report)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x510702

[marasinghe]

3. what's new?

China's been slowly drowning the people of Myanmar for almost 50 years - by supporting the Burmese dictator generals, and by flooding the northern provinces of Myanmar with govt. sanctioned illegal Chinese immigrants conducting illegal mining operations - so they can noiselessly leach away the rare earth stuff in Myanmar. China has set up a hefty presence in Africa, specially the Congo, for the same reason. China is deepening & manning a deep water harbor in the south of Sri Lanka, so they'll have a base close to the center of the Indian Ocean - covering the Africa-Far East shipping route. And China is pumping tons of funds into the economies of these countries, so they can control their leaders and their populations. but no one, except the poor slobs in the indigenous populations - who've been directly & adversely affected, give a damn.

And this is no different from any of the shit Europe & North America have pulled for years, and are still living off of.

the really sad thing is - modern fascist-capitalist China has departed so far from the Taoist principles of non-interference in the affairs of other countries, which was followed by a majority of even the worst of China's feudal rulers, that this is not China any longer. this is a caricature, of a cartoon kingdom, from a world-domination video game.

puke (not as a reflection on your post, but as a comment on the planet & its dominant species).

[Turborama]

4. Actually, some of what you wrote in the 1st para was news to me

I knew about the expanding Africa presence (I need to catch up on the latest goings on about that, though) and the naval stuff but didn't know about the mining in Mayanmar thing. Have you got any follow up links on that please?

I was going to say welcome to DU but notice you've been a member for a while so I'll say welcome back, instead. :hi:

[ihavenobias]

10. The wonders of "Free Trade". n/t