Theory of mind

£430 million project to extract ilmenite, a mineral which can be used to produce titanium dioxide pigment. Around 750,000 tonnes of the ore will be extracted each year at the start of the operation, which could last 40 years. The huge economic growth of China has led to an enormous demand for the white pigment, which is used in paper, paint and plastics, at a time when other ilmenite mines in Australia and South Africa are being exhausted. Tony Juniper, head of Friends of the Earth in the UK said: " This is a very sad day and very bad news for the people of Madagascar. Rio Tinto is exploiting natural resources in the developing world and, once again, it is the local people who will pay the price. " Rio Tinto, highly sensitive to conservation criticisms, set up an independent biodiversity committee in order to assess any likely damage and to see how much could be avoided or minimised. As a result, the company decided to set aside a conservation area on land that it was previously going to mine, so that some of the plants and other species could be protected. It also worked with experts from Kew Gardens in London to preserve the seeds from threatened plants. Amongst the gloom surrounding mining and other developments, there is some hope that new projects will help people process food products grown on the island into quality products for the world market. A British company has helped set up Malagasy, a company that sells and markets finished chocolate bars and, in due course, coffee, herbal teas, honey, nuts and spices under a system known as Equitrade. Neil Kinsall, Malagasy's marketing director says: " All it would take to end poverty in Madagascar is £750 million a year. " New trading arrangements are seen as a major opportunity to meet this goal and many believe the alleviation of local human poverty is one of the best chances for the future survival of the island's extraordinary biodiversity. What is 'theory of mind'? Maxi eats half his chocolate bar and puts the rest away in the kitchen cupboard. Then he goes out to play in the sun. Meanwhile Maxi's mother comes into the kitchen, opens the cupboard and sees the chocolate bar. She puts it in the fridge. When Maxi comes back into the kitchen, where will he look for his chocolate bar? …