Toxic Mining Threatens Southeast Asia's Food Basket

Summary

Fishermen in Thailands Mekong River face dwindling catches due to toxic runoff from unregulated rare earth mines in Myanmar and Laos. The surge in demand for these minerals, used in electronics and military gear, is fueling hundreds of mines, contaminating the river that sustains seventy million people. Farmers irrigate crops with poisoned water, risking …

Show notes

Fishermen in Thailands Mekong River face dwindling catches due to toxic runoff from unregulated rare earth mines in Myanmar and Laos. The surge in demand for these minerals, used in electronics and military gear, is fueling hundreds of mines, contaminating the river that sustains seventy million people. Farmers irrigate crops with poisoned water, risking health hazards and export losses. Communities, including hill tribes, lose their fishing traditions, while heavy metals threaten cancer and org

Themes

• daily