From Malaysia To Myanmar: Paying A Price For World's Rare Earths Demand - Part 2/3 | Power Scramble

Without superpowers a superhero is nothing. It’s much the same with rare earths - a powerful group of metals - without which nothing is possible. Rare earth metals make computers, tablets and smartphones supersmart. They are crucial for fighter jets, and high-tech weapons. Without them, the world’s shift to green energy would cease. Everybody wants these magical metals. But only one country controls them.
In this episode, host Kartik Kuna confronts the consequences of this global imbalance. He discovers the hidden fallout on ordinary people in unlikely corners of the world. From the violent hilltops controlled by Myanmar’s military, to the villages of rural Malaysia that conceal a sinister truth, or to the arid bushland of Western Australia; no one is untouched in this scramble for ‘critical metal’ power.
WATCH MORE Power Scramble
Part 1: • Can Anyone Challenge C...
Part 3: • Vietnam's Challenge To...
00:00 Introduction
02:42 Illegal rare earth mining funding Myanmar's junta?
05:27 What are rare earth metals?
08:30 How mining rare earths 'poisons' the ground
13:34 Illegal rare earth mines in Malaysia
16:46 Film crew stopped by local officials
21:06 Can Malaysia contest China's rare earth monopoly?
26:55 Worries over radioactive waste near rare earth plants
30:09 Malaysia's ugly history of bad toxic waste disposal
34:28 Rare earths as a geopolitical weapon
38:52 Australian mining town starting to process rare earths
42:41 Working conditions in Myanmar's illegal mines
======
About the show: There is tension between China and the West - over critical metals. These metals are essential for high tech applications, as well as a carbon-free future. Just why is the fight heating up?
=========
#CNAInsider #PowerScrambleCNA #China #Malaysia #Myanmar #Australia #Metal
For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER
cna.asia/insideryoutubesub
Follow CNA INSIDER on:
Instagram: / cnainsider
Facebook: / cnainsider
Website: cna.asia/cnainsider

[@leerayhunngpeihwasec5877]

People out there risking their lives and we waste their efforts without thinking 😢💔

[@htaukkyanmyo4437]

As a guy who had dealt with nuclear wastes, I can understand the concern of people in Malaysia and Myanmar. In my early days, I helped design processing plant for precious metals, and strong sulfuric acid and nitric acid were used. What I am not sure of the allegation that sulfuric acid was poured into mines to leach out rare earths. Sulfuric acid costs over $2500 per ton, and pouring on to the mine would be very expensive and toxic fumes coming out would overwhelm the entire area. Leaching is probably done in containers and HEATED to get maximum extraction. If thorium is present in the ores, operators would have another set of problems. Thorium is slightly radioactive. I think the "Illegal" mines in Myanmar have been APPROVED by the authorities, but the activists in Australia are alleging they are illegals. I wish on the phone video shown towards the end, only the Kachin native opinion should count. The Burmese guy (you can tell from his accent) was probably trying to accentuate his opposition to the mines.

[@philipwong895]

Jonathan Liljeblad, Associate Professor at the ANU College of Law gives his expert opinion and science demonstrations on rare earth mining.

[@gpsc7790]

This cannot be stopped until there is an alternative to be used in all these high end technological products … the worst part is that it’s mainly found in a country like china which is like a treasure in hands of devil … the content was well presented by Karthik I love the humour side added to it

[@kartikkuna]

Thank you!

[@user-dt9uq1kr7m]

Might want to ask Lynas and the Kalgorie council about water

[@russellteo-ix4im]

There’re many more rare earth mines outside Asia. It’s only a matter of licensing, extraction & cost

[@SoulEscalator]

🙏

[@hurrikkkanes2533]

23:18 to find out that Lynas is an Australian company lmfao 😂😂😂 ironic

[@hurrikkkanes2533]

32:46 funny how this australian reporter keeps downplaying the lack of radioactive capture facility from lynas for 10 fking years compared to how he freaks out at random photos of illegal mining sites with actual waste storage (albeit poorly built) 😂

[@hurrikkkanes2533]

36:29 and guess what? the country behind the radioactive incident in the 90s is ofc investing in Lynas!!! 😂

[@wankee888]

If it is so safe why put in kuantan? I cannot accept the explanation

[@911ram]

why is bro so zesty but overall good video

[@happymelon7129]

😂 Mainly Rare Earths for F-35 in U$A , no Rare Earths mean no F-35 Can U$A allow to reduce ?

[@shu-chunwu1910]

And now Albo is bring back rare earth refinery to be build and mined in Australia😢

[@happymelon7129]

If CNA "care" about humanitarian , dare CNA to do a "honest" report on "G$$$A$$$Z$$$A" .

[@luxmeister]

Technology is going to destroy our precious Earth.

[@saiganesh7502]

ah the 2 American bots.

[@arcencielc2065]

There must be corruption involved in Lynas (Msia). It is in Malaysia. Aputhen? LOL.

[@lastChang]

Chinese regime never learns. It's repeating the same mistake again, although it realized the mistake against Japan using rare earths as a political tool in 2010

[@user-rt6ip4kb1i]

what mistake? didn’t japan stop selling china critical parts?

[@taobsu]

I don't know what you try to said. Is that exactly what USA's chip war on China? Those restriction on advance microship (< 7nm ) making machine, in the end will make China eventfully flood the low-end chip (>=28 nm) on world market, (which used in most of electronics, except most advanced smartphone) . Because huge funds back by Chinese governments have no way to go to. So there is no bearing when come to erratic decision making, by an authoritarian regime or a "demarcate" country

[@wankee888]

Explanation by university malaya not good enough

[@ArabicReja973]

Vietnam 🇻🇳 is the best alternative to China, including rare earths. Vietnam has very large deposits of these and can offer the world, including the US, whatever China can.

[@happymelon7129]

🤣Still Chinese company in the background

[@kimchiba4570]

Your anti China stance has made you stupid.. Wait.. You are stupid

[@user-rt6ip4kb1i]

suddenly no body cares that viêt nam is also a communist country.

[@a4ldev933]

Unfortunately, the idiot commies of VN will allow anyone to destroy its land for a few cheap bucks,

[@gnz8v]

China.