Dear Reader,

The world’s anxieties on the not-so-peaceful rise of China has registered another flashpoint - the monopolisation of ‘rare earths’ - a critical component in computer memory chips, smartphones, EV batteries, among others, by that country. The Print explains why the minerals are deemed so critical that the ‘Quad’ summit between India, Australia, Japan and the US, last week, discussed joining hands to build a rare-earth procurement chain to counter Chinese dominance.

The ongoing farmer protests in India has provoked comments from a number of international celebrities, activists and governments. The criticism has clearly received a split verdict in India with the Indian government clearly not considering it kosher. The heat on the issue was raked one step higher last week when the British Parliament deemed it fit to debate the issue, and New Delhi summoned the British High Commissioner to administer a rebuke. Mojo Story debates the nuances of the issue and asks if it was “plain interference in internal affairs” as construed by the government, or if in a globalised international system, India should take criticism from fellow democracies in its stride and stop being unduly prickly.

Reports of China’s decision to build a dam across the Brahmaputra has raised concerns of acute water shortages in India’s northeast, the lower riparian region. Swarajya explains that while the fears about water shortages may be exaggerated, it does give rise to other concerns, including impact on the environment.

Imphal Free Press reports on concerns of environmentalists on the Manipur government’s decision to “develop” the water bodies in Lamphelpat, one of the biggest wetlands located in Imphal, without a deeper scientific and environmental scrutiny.

And The Caravan reports on the advent of a wave of young environmental activists and groups, who have been so vigorous in their scrutiny of the adverse impact of mining, deforestation and the erosion of wetlands that even big businesses, often the targets of their ire, have begun to take note.

For these stories and more from the Foundation’s grantees this week, please read on.

Warmly,

Sunil Rajshekhar
IPSMF