This interesting look at the darker side of what is happening in Inner Mongolia (environmental effect of rare earth mining) was posted on HN two days ago:
>>Technology companies continually urge us to upgrade; to buy the newest tablet or phone. But I cannot forget that it all begins in a place like Bautou, and a terrible toxic lake that stretches to the horizon.
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150402-the-worst-place-on-...