Latin America is seeing increased activity in the mining of rare earths, with countries such as Brazil potentially challenging China's dominance in the market. However, the rush for these minerals has also been linked to human rights abuses and environmental concerns, including the looting of the Amazon rainforest and lawlessness in Venezuela. The impact of rare earths mining on local ecosystems and communities is a subject of concern, as countries weigh the benefits of a domestic supply against the potential costs.