"A worker, his trousers already burnt and full of holes, at  a""rare-earth"" processing plant near Bayon Obo, Inner Mongolia.  The plant conducts first stage processing in extremely toxic conditions where workers complain of acid burns and sores as well as head-aches. The production of ""rare-earths"" is an extremely poisenous process with plants in the U.S. being closed due to environmental concerns. China accounts for some 97% of rare earth consumed world-wide. The ""rare earth elements"" are a group of 17 elements that are essential in 25% of modern technology including cell phones, computer hard discs, and electric motors and inparticular green technology such as electric batteries and wind turbines."
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