The Amazing Rare Earth Race

Our edge - We are the second largest producer of rare earth after China. We have the share of about 2% of the world output. The race for rare earth elements is making India change a lot of its strategies.

The government is firming up plans to triple rare earths production from 2,700 tonnes to 7,700 tonnes by the end of 2011, according to R.N. Patra, chairman of Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL), a state-run firm set up in 1950.

India signed a deal to supply rare earths to Japan. China banned exports of rare earths to Japan in protest against the detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain who had strayed into Japanese waters that are claimed by China.

Here's an article that predicts trade war because of the rare earth race.
http://news.discovery.com/earth/rare-earth-metals-trade-wars.html

The rare earth's story - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5973996/Users/Rajendra/Rare%20Earth_Indetail.pdf - what are the elements and what will they do for us in the future.

Not just the fancy high-tech things...check this out - The neo cube

Composed of 216 individual high-energy rare-earth magnets, the NeoCube allows you to create and recreate an outrageous number of shapes and patterns.