Category: Resources and Materials

Sep 13

Goa’s ban on iron mining

India’s Goa state, which exports more than half the nation’s iron ore, banned all mining after a panel of experts said the province’s government lost an estimated 349.4 billion rupees ($6.3 billion) because of illegal mining. Trading and transportation of minerals that have already been mined will be allowed after scrutiny, according to the Goa …

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Sep 13

The Water-Energy Nexus

Energy generation and resource extraction are dangerously connected to the large use of water resources. Coal, nuclear and natural gas power plants drink up half the freshwater withdrawn from US rivers. The threat appears most acute in Asia, where rivers are being diverted to feed thirsty coal-fire power plants: India and China alone plan to …

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Sep 12

Commodities markets: food price rush

In 2012 the price of soy grew over 30%, and this summer wheat and corn hit respectively +30% and +38%. In the last six months of 2010 alone, more than 44 million people were driven into extreme poverty as a result of rising food prices. At the same time, banks and financial investors are making …

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Aug 23

Earth Overshoot Day

Yesterday,   August 23, was Earth Overshoot Day: in 8 Months, humanity exhausted earth’s budget for the year, Global Footprint Network calculated.

Aug 23

Taking conflict out of consumer gadget

Enough Project, a non-profit sponsored by Center for American Progress issued its 2012 report on Company rankings on conflict minerals, where the top companies engaged at eliminating conflict minerals from their supply chain are in evidence.

Jul 31

China’s new cut to rare earth export quota

USA is looking at building a trade case on the restrictions at WTO, accusing China of market manipulation with its 72% cut of export quota of rare earth elements. China currently dominates the market of rare earth elements with 95% of global production, and its move is seen as particularly dangerous for the ICT and …

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