It's not easy being green

Before

After

This is Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia. In just a few years, mining turned picturesque steppe with nomads, yurts and ponies, into a mining wasteland.

You know what they're mining?

Germanium. 38% of the world's germanium is mined in Inner Mongolia, if memory serves. And you know what germanium is for?

It makes components for wind turbines.

Suddenly, wind power is a rather sickly shade of green.