Kachin, in northern Myanmar, has long been known for its dense forests, green mountains, and rich natural resources. Because the mountains are so steep, travelling between villages usually takes hours along winding roads.
These days, it is hard to even get a flight in or out because of the ongoing fighting. As the conflict worsens, ordinary people end up carrying most of the burden and worry.
A while ago, I had to see off the Myanmar Columban seminarians as they headed back to the Philippines to continue their studies after their home vacation. We could not get a flight to Yangon, where the international airport is, so we decided to drive them through the mountains to a safer town. On a map, it was not that far, but driving on rough, unpaved dirt roads took us a full day.
Even though the ride was tiring, I tried to relax and enjoy the green mountain views. But the view outside the window was nothing like what I expected. The green mountains were dug up everywhere, revealing their raw, red earth. On the hillsides, hundreds of white PVC pipes were sticking out of the ground.
At first, I thought they might be for watering trees or for farming. But they were actually mining sites. Workers drill holes into the mountains and pump chemicals in to extract the rare earth minerals from the soil.
I knew Kachin produced a large share of the world’s rare earths, but seeing it with my own eyes was heartbreaking. This method is cheap, but toxic chemicals seep into the ground and flow into the rivers. People living downstream can no longer drink the water they have used for generations. Many suffer from skin and kidney problems, and some have had to give up farming. Amid civil war, there is no real protection for the environment or local people.
What makes me feel heavier is that these hurt mountains are directly tied to our daily lives. The quiet electric cars on the road, wind turbines, and the smartphones in our hands all rely on these minerals. Technology meant to cut carbon and protect the earth is taking away the homes and health of the people living here.
Here in Kachin, resources often cause more conflict than help the community, and ordinary people are always the first to lose their livelihoods. When we hear the word “eco-friendly,” we feel good about it. But true green living cannot be just about cutting carbon numbers. It should be about protecting nature, respecting human dignity, and not sacrificing our neighbours.
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis wrote, “Everything is connected.” The red dirt of Kachin and the hard lives of the people here are connected to the clean, comfortable lives many of us enjoy.
Riding that mountain road all day, I kept thinking about the local people here, quietly paying the price for the green future we dream of.
