AngloGold Wins Award For Environmental and Social Atrocities
Responsible Jewellery Council Member Named to the “Hall of Shame.”
Editorial by Marc Choyt
AngloGold, one of the major sources for gold in the entire jewelry sector, and a Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) member, has been named to the “Hall of Shame” by Public Eye. Among multi-national corporations worldwide committing atrocities in the international communities, AngloGold took fourth place behind BP, Phillip Morris and Neste Oil.
AngloGold is heavily invested in West Africa, which has some of the largest gold deposits in the world. Environmental destruction is widely associated with many large scale mining operations; but AngloGold exemplifies the resource curse, which is when abundant resources in developing countries actually lead to greater poverty.
Over 50 rivers in Ghana that are indispensable for local residents have been destroyed through toxins or dried up as a result of AngloGold’s gold activities. Many Ghanaians at this very moment have no alternative but to drink water contaminated by AngloGold’s mines. Torture, attacks by dogs and fatal shootings against individuals suspected of artisinal mining have also been documented. AngloGold has “the worse possible rating” for environmental protection from the government of Ghana.
Gold mining is often one of the most destructive practices on Earth by human beings. Conflict gold and dirty gold are common. Unfortunately, AngloGold’s gold will find its way into the supply chain as “responsibly sourced” gold because of its membership in the RJC.
RJC’s stated mission is to, “Reinforce confidence in the gold and diamond supply chain.” According to the RJC website, “Members are committed to promoting responsible ethical, human rights, social and environmental practices in a transparent and accountable manner throughout the industry from mine to retail.” AngloGold clearly has no commitment to this mission. Given that the RJC is one of the highest profile organizations responsible for ethics in the mainstream jewelry sector, the RJC validation of AngloGold as “ethical” has a negative impact across the jewelry sector.
To have any international credibility in an informed civil society, RJC standards, funded by many of the large players in the jewelry sector, must have meaning based upon traceability and transparency. They need to implement a multi-sector process to provide checks and balances in their decision making process. Independent jewelers who are members of RJC and maintain a level of integrity need to call for the enforcement of meaningful standards and true accountability.
If RJC would truly carry its stated intent, and implement true traceability and transparency, all jewelers would benefit. In the meantime, the gap between intention and reality makes all of us more vulnerable to bad publicity and public scorn.
As an independent jeweler, I know our business is heavily based in emotion. A piece of jewelry can signify the most significant and meaningful commitment. Only a psychopath would feel good about having their wedding ring made from AngloGold’s Ghanaian mines. Jewelers who care need to continue to only provide their customers with precious metal that can be traced to the source.
Please Note:
FJA is a forum open to a diversity of opinions in support of it’s mission. Any editorial expressed in this article represents the opinion of the author, and not necessarily the views of Fair Jewelry Action members.
