Rare Earths and the not so Free Market

I wanted to call your attention to the growing controversy over export restrictions on rare earths from China.


I’ve been on about this topic for about 2 years and it seems that China has finally realized the political and economic clout that arises from being the sole supplier (or at least damn close) of vital minerals that keep the modern economy operating. China has over the last couple of years become increasingly reluctant to export rare earths and several other vital metals required for alloying high end specialty steel. In some cases this was just pure industrial self interest but more and more its starting to look like a political tool to punish other nations who offend them.

Here is just a sampling of what some of these vital elements facing embargo are used for

Lanthanum – a cracking agent used to increase refinery yields by up to 10%

Cerium – a catalyst used for pollution control and more efficient combustion

Neodymium- permanent magnets in wind mills and hybrid car’s brakes, computers, cell phones, cd players etc.

Europium- computer/TV screens and florescent lighting

Yttrium – fuel efficiency, microwave communication, lasers

Erbium- fibre optics

Dysprosium- smaller faster electronics

While not rare earths and not totally concentrated in China’s control, Indium and Gallium vital for Photovoltics could also be restricted tightening the external market and giving China another price edge. This is not just idle speculation but the logical extension of the existing trend since China is already defending both tariffs and limits on magnesium and manganese exports at the WTO to maintain their edge in steel alloy production.


It’s well known that our current government didn’t see a recession, a credit crisis or a 50 billion dollar deficit staring them right in face. They didn’t see that people cared about prorogation, the census, the gun registry and torture. They certainly didn’t see how playing chicken with the UAE would turn out anymore than they realized how their Conservative policies would tarnish Canada’s international standing. This Government has absolutely no credibility in forecasting the future and there is no reason to believe they will notice the coming threat of international industrial blackmail or take it seriously.

In fact this issue has being brewing for some time yet almost no one has been taking it seriously except the Green Party of Canada which passed a policy this year at convention calling for an audit of supply/demand for industrial minerals in Canada and the creation of a strategic reserve for “at risk” materials. It matches nicely with the strategic oil reserves we want and clearly shows that our long term vision is a hell of lot more focused on real issues and solutions than the day to day posturing we get in the HOC. This however is more than just a simple I told you so issue but one that will greatly impact our economy so partisanship aside I hope someone else also speaks up on this issue.

Canada is a very mineral rich country and there is no reason that we shouldn’t have a stable supply of minerals needed for modern technology, especially green power generation and pollution control. It might come down to building up reserves (as the GPC proposes) to ride out short term supply glitches or it may require bolder steps such as the nationalization of a vital resource but the fact is we cannot be reliant on a suppliers who don’t believe in the free market or international trade rules.

We are entering an era of resource depletion where water, energy, specific minerals and even food may be in short supply; surely we need a discussion on this issue.Recommend this Post

Child labour should equal a Commonwealth Games boycott

I think its disgusting that India's Commonwealth game venues have been built in part by child labour. Call me nuts, but I believe that under no circumstances should a 4 year be digging ditches for electrical cables and other menial chores on a 13 hour shift, yet this is happening at the Commonwealth games . This is not some small dark sweat shop hidden from prying eyes but an illegal act practiced openly at the venue for an major international sporting event funded by their own government. If this can happen in plain view what does India condone that we cannot see? I'd toss countries out of the Commonwealth for less than this.

So I ask you, why are we legitimizing a country that allows child labour by allowing our athletes to compete at this event? Should our athletes feel good about walking on a gravel path made from the stones crushed by 4 year olds with hammers? Even without the child labour issue, the construction and hygiene standards on site are proof India is not ready for prime time and no one should be surprised if a building collapses, a balcony falls off or numerous athletes fall sick from the conditions. India does not deserve to host these games and I hope this issue is brought forth the next time they bid to host anything.

I know that there are many crazed sports people out there who feel that Canada's international prestige is simply based on the performances of our athletes but that is a total crock.
Canada's international standing should not be measured by how fast we swim or how high we jump, but rather on doing the right thing for the right reasons and boycotting India's Commonwealth games over child labour is the right thing.

Contact your MPs, Sports Canada, Team Canada's corporate sponsors, the press and the individual sports federations and demand our athletes stay home.Recommend this Post

Speculating in Misery

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard brings us an interesting article dealing with the speculation of agricultural land.

Speculators like rich hedge funds and billionaires have been buying up large chunks of foreign agricultural land in order to speculate on the hunger that a growing and more affluent world population will bring. Combine this growing demand with the destruction of existing productive land by overproduction, aquifer depletion and climate change related disasters and we are going to suffer some huge food supply issues in the near future. Mozambique, the example given in the story is just one of many countries that will be hurt this year because of Russian crop damage and the export ban.

The backlash to this speculation will undoubtedly cause more nations to ban or restrict the foreign ownership of agricultural resources. This is move is very likely in contravention of TWO rules and could possibly lead to the the unwinding of globalization. There are big legal and ethical issues tied up in all this such as globalization vs. national interest and the ethics of growing food for fuel and food speculation, all of which will propel food security issues way up the agenda in coming years.

One of the most telling parts of this article is a quote acknowledging that the drive for endless growth may be about to hit a brick wall, or in this case the Great Wall.

Cheng Siwei, head of China's green energy drive, told me last week that eco-damage of 13.5pc of GDP each year outstrips China’s growth rate of 10pc. National wealth is contracting. "We have an intangible environmental debt that
we are leaving to our children," he said. So does India. Much of the globe is stealing food from the future.

Imagine that, China the country touted as the next super power, an economic juggernaut because of its impressive rate of growth is doing more ecological damage than real growth!!! The endless growth model is flawed and China is quickly eating through its ecological capital in its rush to build cities, dams, airports and roads. In a generation it will be an urbanized country without the rural resources to support itself.

Sounds like a very unstable future.

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Transition Town arrives in York Region

Are you in York Region?

Do you believe in peak oil?

Are you concerned about the impact of peak oil?

If so you'll be pleased to know Transition (upper) York Region is born.

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Random angry disjointed protest thoughts

I can appreciate that people are appalled at the damage done by protesters on the weekend but the vast majority of protesters were well behaved and respectful of authority. Despite this fact many in the general public and political circles chastise them all for having the audacity to demand their rights to be heard in a supposed free and democratic society. I’ve even heard comments that people who live in the core should have willingly fled the city or placed themselves in virtual house arrest for the so they would not be on the streets in their own communities. Rubbish

I also can’t fathom the people who say anybody at a protest deserved to get clubbed, arrested and strip searched, these dumb fucks are actually advocating for a police state, All Hail Kim il Harper.

I understand that the police had a difficult job maintaining order in a dumbass location with what seemed to be a flawed plan, or at least flawed leadership enacting the plan. This however does not excuse the arrogance and violence shown by a small portion of the law enforcement community who went beyond doing their job to enjoying doing their job. Neither does this excuse the gun point raids on innocent people’s houses in the wee hours of the morning, arbitrary group arrests, inhumane confinements cages, failure to feed prisoners, inadequate access to phone and lawyers, and the notable arrests and violence towards media.

Finally we have a police Chief who lied about the 5 meter law regarding the fence then ordered the harassment of people on the premise it was a real law all while the civilian leaders who passed the law refused to speak up and correct the lying Chief. Canada is turning into some kind of banana republic with colder weather or an episode of Soap, I’m beyond irritated.

I can’t help but think that personal political biases and an institutional disdain for “Long hair hippie freak trouble makers” colour police behaviour after all it makes their job harder, but it must be understood that in a functional democratic society free speech and the right to assemble and protests are not just rights but a necessary requirement to maintain democratic health.

Democracy is not the ability to vote twice a decade and go back to sleep. Democracy is being aware, speaking out, living as part of the greater community not in isolation, being politically or socially active and if things are not going as you believe they should, democracy is even protesting. These are not just activities that would be nice in the perfect world these are actions that are mandatory to maintain a democracy which represents all citizens equally not just the empowered elite. Even if you don’t support protesters points of view they are out there defending your democracy, your right to free speech and your right to assemble.

For those many people who’ve painted the protesters and the idiot rioters with the same brush you'd better pray that a garbage dump isn't being planned for your neighbourhood, or that your house is not being bulldozed for an off ramp because the right to protest may no longer be available when YOU have an issue to care about.

Under no circumstances should society accept the clandestine passing of “Secret Laws”. The Provincial Libs have some serious explaining to do passing it in the first place but allowing the Bill Blair to lie about it to citizens is unimaginable. Heads should roll.

The media failed us by largely ignoring the safe and peaceful protests and they totally failed us by rarely giving the mainstream protesters a voice to explain their issues. Instead the media drummed up fear and loathing without ever asking the question why people hold these leaders and their billion dollar meetings in such contempt. Most media simply stalked protesters hoping for some violence to make a “good” story, until they got a shot to the head that is, then suddenly they believe in free speach and the cops are being scrutinized. Funny that!.

Personally I think it might be a good thing that the media was targeted because know they know what really happens. Now they might start asking the right questions. Now they might finally start being reporters instead of press agents selling lies, talking points and fluff.Recommend this Post

Welcome to the Green Party, please leave your red shirts at the door

Dear real progressive liberals, the GPC is open and welcomes new members. I know it will be hard actually getting to vote on each policy and voting directly for your leader but you will adjust. It’s not like you have any choice considering the direction your party has taken with its new policy of continued deployment in Afghanistan.

Honestly can anyone actually prove to me that Iggy is a progressive? A Liberal? Politically astute?, not a Conservative plant?

Short of some major break with reality or simple sabotage how can this idiot suggest that Canadians should spend more time, money and lives in Afghanistan when the majority of Canadians don’t want us to be there. It’s hard to believe that such incompetence can come from such a supposedly smart guy and while I don’t buy the “just visiting” ploy it does look like he was away far too long to understand the way the majority of Canadians think.

So what’s happened? Why this marked turn to the right?

Have the Liberals heard that getting the mineral rights for Canadian companies in Afghanistan depend on our continued participation?
Does Iggy really think he can win over conservative votes by being a hawk?
Is he just flailing in the wind?

Dammed if I know, but come on in, get a seat and make yourselves comfortable,

please however leave your red shirts at the door, anyone who’s seen an old Star Trek knows what happens to the red shirted guy!

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Abuse of Power

I am so angry these days I find it hard to blog without immediately breaking into a stream hateful profanity so for the most part I’ve just remained silent. Today however I will attempt a short controlled post about what a fucking idiot Michael Ignatieff is. Damn I’ve slipped up already.

What has me bent out of shape today is a quote I saw in this CTV article on the Liberal refusal to support an amendment to the budget bill pulling out all the bits and pieces that don’t belong in the budget.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has criticized the budget legislation as a "dumpster bill" but says he's not prepared to force an election over what he calls "an abuse of power."

We all differ on policy issues, that’s the nature of the game. I can even understand taking a boot to the groin once in awhile and voting for a bill you don’t really like for expediency but don’t you dare announce that a bill is an “abuse of power” and then support it.

There is nothing more important in our system than standing up against the abuse of power and to openly label the budget bill an abuse and then support it is nothing less than legitimatizing abuse.

Be very clear on this, Michael Ignatieff is now on record as both minimizing the importance of and supporting the continuation of the abuse of power. Those Liberals who voted with the government yesterday should be ashamed of themselves; they are now officially enemies of good government.

It's quite simple, if you support the abuse of power by others you are no more worthy to serve Canadians than those who actually abuse power.

Then again, after the stance most of them took on the MP audit issue we already knew that didn't we?

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