A monument stands in a field of wind turbines near the town of Damao in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

A monument, which reads: “Home of rare earths welcomes you”, stands in a field of wind turbines near the town of Damao in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region October 31, 2010. The near monopoly China has in producing 97 percent of the world’s supply of rare earths has been well-known among industrial users for years but came under the international spotlight after reports Beijing halted shipments to Japan over a territorial dispute with Tokyo last month. REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA – Tags: BUSINESS ENERGY ENVIRONMENT POLITICS)