Dirty Gold in Walmart’s ‘Love, Earth’ Jewelry
An article from the Ethical Metalsmith Newsletter:
Elvio Mamani and his 80 coworkers were fired after demanding improved working conditions.
The building that housed the factory in Bolivia, where Mamani worked. Barren inside, except some tables and chairs, the factory was shut down after workers unionized in 2006.
Walmart claims its “Love, Earth” jewelry line is “responsible jewelry from responsible sources.” In fact, they company has signed the pledge to follow the No Dirty Gold Campaign’s Rules for Responsible Sourcing, but a recent investigation in the Miami New Times shows that “Love, Earth” jewelry comes at a great cost to factory workers in Bolivia and to the environment and communities around mines in the United States.
Walmart’s “Love, Earth” Jewelry Comes From:
• Newmont’s mines in Nevada: major mercury polluters, and cited by EPA for hazardous waste violations. The report quotes a letter written from Global Response in 2008 stating “There is no evidence that the Nevada and Utah mines that provide gold to Love, Earth are any less destructive than other mines around the world.”
• Rio Tinto’s Bingham Canyon mine in Utah: home of America’s largest known toxic groundwater plume and Superfund site candidate.
• Florida-based Aurafin’s factories in Bolivia: where workers for the company face long hours for low wages and oppressive working conditions. One subcontracting shop was even shut down when its workers began to unionize.
Read the complete article for stories from workers about abusive conditions, details on the political and economic ties behind the Love Earth supply chain, and Walmart’s greenwashing of No Dirty Gold. Then read No Dirty Gold’s press release and group letter to Walmart.
TAKE ACTION!
Sign the pledge to end dirty gold mining practices and receive updates on how to take further action.
For more information about Ethical Metalsmiths, visit their website or contact: christinedhein@yahoo.com.
Please Note:
FJA is a forum open to a diversity of opinions in support of its mission. Any editorial expressed in this article represents the opinion of the author, and not necessarily the views of Fair Jewelry Action members.
