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watduhdamhell t1_jahn91u wrote

Reply to comment by AGVann in German scientists show a commercially feasible method for cyanobacteria to extract 17 rare earth elements from low-concentration sources. Currently, most of the world's supply of these elements is mined in China. by lughnasadh

It's not just lack of environmental regulations.

It's the lack of environmental, labor, safety, and health regulations.

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leoyoung1 t1_jaj9xo3 wrote

So much for being the government for the people. China isn't even remotely communist. It's just a fascist dictatorship in smug clothing.

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tanstaafl90 t1_jajag40 wrote

Authoritarian is the word you are looking for.

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leoyoung1 t1_jajsslk wrote

Could be. The guys at the top are raking in the loot...

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tanstaafl90 t1_jajys0n wrote

That's how authoritarian states operate, regardless of their political rhetoric. It's the concentration of power in the hands of a few or individual that demands submission to that authority at the cost of individual freedom. Both fascism and communism as witnessed in the 20th century can comfortably fit under the header of authoritarian.

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Seen_Unseen t1_jala571 wrote

Like it or not the West has been exporting these problems to China for decades and China gladly accepted that in return for dollars. We are offshoring our pollution at a scale that nobody likes to talk about. Hence why it's so important when we talk about environmental sustainability that we include the global cost of pollution into products. That way it might be interesting to onshore rare elements mining or vice versa China gets forced to work more sustainable. It's a win-win eitherway, though what we do now both the West and China is literally raping our planet.

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