Climate notes: China's world monopoly in high-tech inputs

Recently rare earths have moved to the centre of public discussion. China produces 97% of these inputs for modern communication technologies, environmental technologies such as hybrid cars, solar and combustible cells and even weapon systems. China has had this monopoly position for almost a decade but the results were not felt until July 2010 when China abruptly reduced its exports of rare earths by 70% over the first half of the year. What are the alternatives?