The jewelry community, with the encouragement from Earthworks, has focused heavily on the Pebble Bay mine in Alaska. However, Mine’s Management proposal for a silver and copper mine in NW Montana, 18 miles from Libby, would destroy another ecologically sensitive, pristine mountain and recreational area for forever. An article in the Missoulan details the environmental

Link to the survey: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/595227/Fair-Trade-Gold-Interest-Survey Background Information About Fair Trade And The Fairtrade and Fairmined Label Ethical Metalsmiths and Fair Jewelry Action, are investigating the potential market interest in Fairtrade and Fairmined gold in the US market. Fairtrade and Fairmined certification for gold from artisanal and small scale mines is the result of a partnership

  Editorial Comment by Marc Choyt, FJA USA   Large scale mining corporations and small scale miners have historically clashed. Now, we learn from a press release that the RJC and ARM have signed an MOU to work collaboratively on Standards, Industry Outreach, and in Support of Artisan Mining.   This is excellent news and