
by Kira Kay – PBS Newshour / The Bureau for International Reporting – Original Air Date: June 14, 2010
Correspondent Kira Kay reports on a Canadian hunt for “rare earth” minerals, elements mined almost exclusively in China, that are key to emerging green technologies, cell phones, engines and other high-tech devices despite their short supply. Includes interview footage with Jack Lifton.

Nice interview Jack. Lot of smoke and no fire indeed.
It’s a shame, and the heavy supply needs to get shored up and soon!
That was one of the best reports that I have seen on the rare earth situation. Opening a mine in California and appeasing 18 regulatory agencies sounds extremely challenging.
That was one of the best news stories I’ve seen in a long time, but it’s a hard story to tell in a sound-bite world because it can’t be compressed into 30 or 60 seconds.
Well done, Jack. Let’s hope this helps light a fire under GWMG stock , which has been getting hammered down unrelentingly for months now.
Wow! Great story/interview. . . I’m in shock right now because this is the second interview I’ve seen on PBS this week where an analyst with real experience and knowledge of mining issues and economics (the other was on the BP spill) was able to tell it straight without being drowned out by the shouts of 4 opposing politically correct green children. . . could they possibly be growing up?!
Recycling and reclamation has to be a big part of the rare earths process going forward.
Again, a fine performance!
One question though: why not look at the Australians, which will be able to provide the US with REM by the end of 2011 already? Please comment on that?
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