rare earth mining

Rare Earth Mining Threatens Mekong River, Livelihoods of 70 Million

75-year-old fisherman Sukjai Yana in Chiang Saen, northern Thailand, struggles with declining catches as demand falls due to contamination fears. Toxic run-off from rare earth mines in war-torn Myanmar and spreading to Laos threatens the Mekong River, which 70 million people in mainland Southeast Asia depend on for farms and fisheries. Experts warn the pollution could pose an existential threat to communities along the nearly 5,000km river.