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Time of India
25-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
The dirty secrets behind Myanmar's rare-earths boom
Representative Image (AI-generated) Lahtaw Kai draws an imaginary mountain into the air with her hands and uses her fingers to dot it with holes. "At the top of the mountains, they drill holes and then pour chemicals like ammonium nitrate into the ground to extract the rare earth minerals at the bottom," the Myanmar environment activist told DW. Lahtaw Kai — whose name we've changed for security reasons — was illustrating the so-called in-situ leaching technique, which has been applied for decades in mining rare earths in Myanmar's northern Kachin state. The process begins at the top of the mountains, where chemicals are injected into the earth through a network of pipes. As the solution tracks downslope, it gathers rare earth elements, which are then collected in large ponds. At hundreds of mining sites in the region, in-situ leaching is proving to be a huge risk to both the environment and local villagers. "The rare earth sludge dries out in wood-fired kilns, and areas close to the mining sites constantly smell bad," said Lahtaw Kai, adding that she and her research team cannot stay there for more than 30 minutes because it's hard to breathe. "But people are working there without gloves and masks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Companies don't provide protection. So, the workers get sick and then [the company] fires them and brings in new workers," she added. Seng Li, a human rights activist currently based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, has researched mining sites in Myanmar's north and says the mountains used to be green before mining started. "Now those mountains are very ugly, the river turned red. Some of the chemicals they use in the mining pools, they just dump into the waters," he told DW. DW met both Lahtaw Kai and Seng Li on the sidelines of a recent tour of Europe, where they were campaigning for support of their cause. They want to make Europeans aware of what happens at the beginning of global supply chains that finally lead to products such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, medical equipment, and even weapons. Rare earth elements crucial industrial inputs? Julie Klinger, assistant professor at the University of Delaware in the United States, explains that the term rare-earth elements refers to 17 chemically similar elements in the so-called periodic table of elements. "The thing that distinguishes these elements is their fantastic, magnetic and conductive, and in some cases thermal properties," she told DW. Also called the "spice of industry," rare earths can be used in relatively small quantities to enhance industrial processes. Dysprosium, for example, is used as a catalyst in petrochemical refining, said Klinger, and can be found in Myanmar's north. The element with a metallic silver luster is essential for battery production, increasing their heat efficiency and longevity, making it a key component for the green energy transition. Dysprosium is also used in producing permanent magnets capable of maintaining a constant magnetic field needed for modern power generators in electric vehicles or wind turbines. Nonprofit organization Global Witness reported in 2024 that Chinese producers of permanent magnets are sourcing rare earths from Myanmar. Among the customers of China-made rare-earths products specifically named by the report are global auto giants Volkswagen , Toyota, Nissan, Ford and Hyundai, as well as wind power firms like Siemens Gamesa and Vestas. Another report compiled by Adams Intelligence— a consultancy for strategic metals and minerals based in Toronto, Canada — found Germany to be China's biggest customer for sourcing permanent magnets in 2024. A call for responsible mining: China has reduced domestic mining for rare-earth elements, increasing the exploitation of deposits in neighboring Myanmar. Chinese imports of so-called heavy rare earth elements from Myanmar skyrocketed from their previous highs of 19,500 tons in 2021 to 41,700 tons in 2023, the Global Witness report says. "That's like a page out of the US playbook from the 20th century," said Julie Klinger, referring to the US approach of strategically not mining its domestic uranium deposits to safeguard them for later. Lahtaw Kai says people in Myanmar don't want the Chinese to continue mining, and adds: "If the international community wants to continue buying these minerals, they should be responsibly sourced." Myanmar's lucrative trade in rare earths — worth $1.4 billion (€1.2 billion) in 2023, according to Global Witness — risks financing conflict and destruction in a highly volatile region. In 2018, Myanmar's civilian-led government had banned exports and ordered Chinese miners to wind down operations, but since 2021, extraction has continued in the context of a ruthless dictatorship and widening civil conflict. In late 2024, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and its allied military forces wrested control of most of the mineral-rich region in the north from forces allied with the central government. KIO has been fighting for the region's independence since the 1960s. This power shift has led to new negotiations between KIO and Chinese producers on taxing rare earth extraction. While the KIO enjoys broad popular support in Kachin and greater legitimacy than government-allied militias, the 2024 Global Witness report says that on "both sides, this largely unregulated mining is environmentally devastating, and the threat it poses to ecosystems and to human health is becoming ever more urgent." Will KIO enforce more responsible mining? Lahtaw Kai and Seng Li demand more public oversight of safety at the operations. "So far, civil society groups and the people have been excluded from the process of policy-making on mining [...] international organizations and governments should directly engage with the KIO to strengthen their governance," said Seng Li. And although Seng Li doesn't think rare-earth mining can be stopped, he said conditions must be improved to "benefit not only the armed actors and the Chinese investors." The local populations and the state should "share the benefits, through systematic and regulated processes."
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
University of Delaware sends off class of 2025
The University of Delaware class of 2025 is off into the real world. The university community of administrators, faculty, staff, graduating students and their loved ones poured into Delaware Stadium in Newark on a crisp morning May 24 to celebrate this year's graduating class. Almost 6,500 graduates make up the class. Of the total number, more than 4,800 are undergrads, and more than 1,600 are graduate students. About 42% of the class are Delawareans. UD President Dennis Assanis gave this class a unique distinction in his speech. "Congratulations to the amazing class of 2025," he said to the crowd. "The best class to ever graduate from the University of Delaware." It's his last commencement ceremony as the president of the university. He has served as president since 2016 and oversaw the expansion of the Science, Technology and Advanced Research Campus; introduced new research opportunities; and oversaw the elevation of the school's athletic program into Conference USA. "Over the years, we've been so impressed and so inspired by the drive, the dedication to the amazing talents of UD students," he told students. "Thank you for the transformative and memorable time that we spent together." ASSANIS LEAVING UD: University of Delaware president plans to step down after this semester He thanked the university community and ended his remarks by taking a selfie from the stage with the students in the background. He was awarded an honorary doctorate at the ceremony. Other people who received honorary distinctions were Wilmington Mayor John Carney, former MBNA executive John Cochran III, biologist and former UD Provost Robin Morgan, professor emerita of theatre and dance Lynette Young Overby, and ABC Action News anchor and guest speaker Matt O'Donnell. UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE NEWS: Newark is a Gov. Matt Meyer signature away from being able to levy a per-student tax on UD O'Donnell was tasked with this year's guest speaking gig, following Joe Flacco in 2024, former astronaut Mae Jemison in 2023 and then-leader of the free world Joe Biden. O'Donnell's speech related to students at his alma mater, UD, and challenged them to continue being authentic. "You are doing these things because you are trying to experience what we took from you as parents when we gave you smartphones way too early and stopped allowing you to go out on your own; you are seeking authenticity," he said in his speech. "You might be the anxious generation, but personally, I define you as something different. You are the disruption generation." GRADUATION PHOTOS: See Delaware State University's 2025 commencement ceremony One graduate, Devin Jiang from Brandywine Hundred, is looking toward the nation's capital. At UD, he said he learned about politics and its inner workings and has worked in the White House and state Legislature during his Blue Hen tenure. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2024, the second Chinese-American to represent Delaware. He is now a staff assistant for Delaware's senior senator, Chris Coons. "I just want to learn as much as I can about the federal government and represent Delaware on the national stage," he said in an interview. Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: UD President Assanis thanks school community at his final graduation
DW
24-05-2025
- General
- DW
The dirty secrets behind Myanmar's rare-earths boom – DW – 05/24/2025
Myanmar is caught in a scramble for minerals. Their exploitation is causing deaths and environmental harm in the country's Kachin State, activists tell DW. Can the region's independence movement make a difference? Lahtaw Kai draws an imaginary mountain into the air with her hands and uses her fingers to dot it with holes. "At the top of the mountains, they drill holes and then pour chemicals like ammonium nitrate into the ground to extract the rare earth minerals at the bottom," the Myanmar environment activist told DW. Lahtaw Kai — whose name we've changed for security reasons — was illustrating the so-called in-situ leaching technique, which has been applied for decades in mining rare earths in Myanmar's northern Kachin state. The process begins at the top of the mountains, where chemicals are injected into the earth through a network of pipes. As the solution tracks downslope, it gathers rare earth elements, which are then collected in large ponds. The rare-earth sludge is collected in ponds that also contain numerous toxic chemicals Image: Supplied by Global Witness At hundreds of mining sites in the region, in-situ leaching is proving to be a huge risk to both the environment and local villagers. "The rare earth sludge dries out in wood-fired kilns, and areas close to the mining sites constantly smell bad," said Lahtaw Kai, adding that she and her research team cannot stay there for more than 30 minutes because it's hard to breathe. "But people are working there without gloves and masks. Companies don't provide protection. So, the workers get sick and then [the company] fires them and brings in new workers," she added. Toxic leakage from the ponds is devastating the environment nearby Image: Supplied by a Global Witness partner Seng Li, a human rights activist currently based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, has researched mining sites in Myanmar's north and says the mountains used to be green before mining started. "Now those mountains are very ugly, the river turned red. Some of the chemicals they use in the mining pools, they just dump into the waters," he told DW. DW met both Lahtaw Kai and Seng Li on the sidelines of a recent tour of Europe, where they were campaigning for support of their cause. They want to make Europeans aware of what happens at the beginning of global supply chains that finally lead to products such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, medical equipment, and even weapons. Rare earth elements crucial industrial inputs? Julie Klinger, assistant professor at the University of Delaware in the United States, explains that the term rare-earth elements refers to 17 chemically similar elements in the so-called periodic table of elements. "The thing that distinguishes these elements is their fantastic, magnetic and conductive, and in some cases thermal properties," she told DW. Also called the "spice of industry," rare earths can be used in relatively small quantities to enhance industrial processes. Neodymium: The metal driving the energy transition To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Dysprosium, for example, is used as a catalyst in petrochemical refining, said Klinger, and can be found in Myanmar's north. The element with a metallic silver luster is essential for battery production, increasing their heat efficiency and longevity, making it a key component for the green energy transition. Dysprosium is also used in producing permanent magnets capable of maintaining a constant magnetic field needed for modern power generators in electric vehicles or wind turbines. Nonprofit organization Global Witness reported in 2024 that Chinese producers of permanent magnets are sourcing rare earths from Myanmar. Among the customers of China-made rare-earths products specifically named by the report are global auto giants Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan, Ford and Hyundai, as well as wind power firms like Siemens Gamesa and Vestas. Another report compiled by Adams Intelligence — a consultancy for strategic metals and minerals based in Toronto, Canada — found Germany to be China's biggest customer for sourcing permanent magnets in 2024. A call for responsible mining China has reduced domestic mining for rare-earth elements, increasing the exploitation of deposits in neighboring Myanmar. Chinese imports of so-called heavy rare earth elements from Myanmar skyrocketed from their previous highs of 19,500 tons in 2021 to 41,700 tons in 2023, the Global Witness report says. "That's like a page out of the US playbook from the 20th century," said Julie Klinger, referring to the US approach of strategically not mining its domestic uranium deposits to safeguard them for later. Lahtaw Kai says people in Myanmar don't want the Chinese to continue mining, and adds: "If the international community wants to continue buying these minerals, they should be responsibly sourced." Myanmar's lucrative trade in rare earths — worth $1.4 billion (€1.2 billion) in 2023, according to Global Witness — risks financing conflict and destruction in a highly volatile region. In 2018, Myanmar's civilian-led government had banned exports and ordered Chinese miners to wind down operations, but since 2021, extraction has continued in the context of a ruthless dictatorship and widening civil conflict. In late 2024, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and its allied military forces wrested control of most of the mineral-rich region in the north from forces allied with the central government. KIO has been fighting for the region's independence since the 1960s. This power shift has led to new negotiations between KIO and Chinese producers on taxing rare earth extraction. While the KIO enjoys broad popular support in Kachin and greater legitimacy than government-allied militias, the 2024 Global Witness report says that on "both sides, this largely unregulated mining is environmentally devastating, and the threat it poses to ecosystems and to human health is becoming ever more urgent." Will KIO enforce more responsible mining? Lahtaw Kai and Seng Li demand more public oversight of safety at the operations. "So far, civil society groups and the people have been excluded from the process of policy-making on mining [...] international organizations and governments should directly engage with the KIO to strengthen their governance," said Seng Li. Myanmar's population doesn't get a fair share of the spoils from the rare-earth Image: Supplied by Global Witness And although Seng Li doesn't think rare-earth mining can be stopped, he said conditions must be improved to "benefit not only the armed actors and the Chinese investors." The local populations and the state should "share the benefits, through systematic and regulated processes." Edited by: Uwe Hessler
Fast Company
21-05-2025
- General
- Fast Company
Socially vulnerable Americans bear the brunt of disaster displacement
People often think of disasters as great equalizers. After all, a tornado, wildfire, or hurricane doesn't discriminate against those in its path. But the consequences for those affected are not 'one-size-fits-all.' That's evident in recent storms, and in the U.S. Census Bureau 's national household surveys showing who is displaced by disasters. Overall, the Census Bureau estimates that more than 4.3 million Americans had to leave their homes because of disasters in 2024, whether for a short period or much longer. It was the fourth-costliest year on record for disasters. However, a closer look at demographics in the survey reveals much more about disaster risk in America and who is vulnerable. It suggests, as researchers have also found, that people with the fewest resources, as well as those who have disabilities or have been marginalized, were more likely to be displaced from their homes by disasters than other people. Decades of disaster research, including from our team at the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center, make at least two things crystal clear: First, people's social circumstances—such as the resources available to them, how much they can rely on others for help, and challenges they face in their daily life—can lead them to experience disasters differently compared to others affected by the same event. And second, disasters exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. This research also shows how disaster recovery is a social process. Recovery is not a 'thing,' but rather it is linked to how we talk about recovery, make decisions about recovery, and prioritize some activities over others. Lessons from past disasters Sixty years ago, the recovery period after the destructive 1964 Alaskan earthquake was driven by a range of economic and political interests, not simply technical factors or on need. That kind of influence continues in disaster recovery today. Even disaster buyout programs can be based on economic considerations that burden under-resourced communities. This recovery process is made even more difficult because policymakers often underappreciate the immense difficulties residents face during recovery. Following Hurricane Katrina, sociologist Alexis Merdjanoff found that property ownership status affected psychological distress and displacement, with displaced renters showing higher levels of emotional distress than homeowners. Lack of autonomy in decisions about how to repair or rebuild can play a role, further highlighting disparate experiences during disaster recovery. What the census shows about vulnerability U.S. Census data for 2023 and 2024 consistently showed that socially vulnerable groups reported being displaced from their homes at higher rates than other groups. People with less high school education had a higher rate of displacement than those with more education. So did those with low household incomes or who were struggling with employment, compared to other groups. While the Census Bureau describes the data as experimental and notes that some sample sizes are small, the differences stand out and are consistent with what researchers have found. For example, research has long pointed to how communities composed predominantly of Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander residents have disproportionately worse recovery trajectories after a disaster, often linked to aspects such as housing tenure and land-use policies. Though reporting individual experiences, the Census Bureau's findings are consistent with this research, noting a higher rate of displacement for these groups. lack investment in storm protection measures. The morass of bureaucracy and conflicting information can also be a barrier to a swift recovery. After Hurricane Sandy, people in New Jersey complained about complex paperwork and what felt to them like ever-changing rules. They bemoaned their housing recovery as, in researchers' words, a ' muddled, inconsistent experience that lacked discernible rationale.' Residents who don't know how to find information about disaster recovery assistance or can't take time away from work to accumulate the necessary documents and meet with agency representatives can have a harder time getting quick help from federal and state agencies. Disabilities also affect displacement. Of those people who were displaced for some length of time in 2023 and 2024, those with significant difficulty hearing, seeing, or walking reported being displaced at higher rates than those without disabilities. Prolonged loss of electricity or water due to an ice storm, wildfire, or grid overload during a heat emergency can force those with medical conditions to leave even if their neighbors are able to stay. That can also create challenges for their recovery. Displacement can leave vulnerable disaster survivors isolated from their usual support systems and healthcare providers. It can also isolate those with limited mobility from disaster assistance. Helping communities build resilience Crucial research efforts are underway to better help people who may be struggling the most after disasters. For example, our center was part of an interdisciplinary team that developed a framework to predict community resilience after disasters and help identify investments that could be made to bolster resilience. It outlines ways to identify gaps in community functioning, like healthcare and transportation, before disaster strikes. And it helps determine recovery strategies that would have the most impact. Shifts in weather and climate and a mobile population mean that people's exposure to hazards are constantly shifting and often increasing. The Coastal Hazard, Equity, Economic Prosperity, and Resilience Hub, which our center is also part of, is developing tools to help communities best ensure resilience and strong economic conditions for all residents without shortchanging the need to prioritize equity and well-being. We believe that when communities experience disasters, they should not have to choose among thriving economically, ensuring all residents can recover, and reducing risk of future threats. There must be a way to account for all three. Understanding that disasters affect people in different ways is only a first step toward ensuring that the most vulnerable residents receive the support they need. Involving community members from disproportionately vulnerable groups to identify challenges is another. But those, alone, are not enough. If we as a society care about those who contribute to our communities, we must find the political and organizational will to act to reduce the challenges reflected in the census and disaster research.
Sky News AU
21-05-2025
- Sky News AU
Boyfriend, 26, charged with killing microbiologist girlfriend, 24, whose body was found on blood-stained sidewalk outside Pennsylvania home: police
A Pennsylvania man is behind bars after he allegedly gunned down his microbiologist girlfriend — whose lifeless body was found face down on a blood-stained sidewalk outside her house, according to police. Michael Dutkiewicz, 26, was slapped with first-degree murder and other charges for fatally shooting Alyssa Rose Wiest, 25, in the torso multiple times during a violent rampage that started inside her West Conshohocken home around 12:25 a.m. Sunday, according to the Montgomery District Attorney's Office. The couple had been dating for two years, cops said. 'Alyssa was our beloved shining star — radiant, vibrant, and full of light,' her obituary said. 'Her presence lit up every room she entered, and her absence leaves a deep ache in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Thought Alyssa's time on Earth was far too brief, her legacy of love, light, and laughter will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.' Prosecutors said there was a trail of blood inside her home that led to the sidewalk where she was found. Wiest's front door was also found ajar — suggesting a chase ensued — with police recovering five bullet casings from the grisly scene. The University of Delaware graduate, who worked as a microbiologist at GSK, a biopharmaceutical company, was pronounced dead at Lankenau Hospital. 'Her kindness knew no bounds, her laughter was contagious, and gentle soul had a way of making everyone feel seen, hear, and cherished,' according to her obituary. 'She was a rare combination of brilliance, creativity, and compassion — a beautiful soul with so much promise and love to give.' Neighbors allegedly told police that Dutkiewicz was standing by his silver Ford F-150 truck shortly after bullets rang out and then quickly fled the scene — with license plate readers capturing his vehicle traveling through the area almost immediately after Wiest was shot dead, prosecutors said. Police issued a warrant for the alleged killer, who turned himself in 12 hours after the vicious slaying. Dutkiewicz was also charged with third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime. He is being held at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. He is due back in court on May 27.
