Estelle Levin And WWF: A Potent Team That Can Help All Ethical Jewelers And Their Customers
In 2011, the Year of Biodiversity, WWF-CARPO and Estelle Levin Limited are trying to do something momentous: to begin a systematic and coordinated effort to curb the distressing environmental impact of small scale mining, and increasing its economic and social empowerment.
For ethical jewelers and responsible jewelry buyers around the world, this is excellent news. In context to small scale mining, the link between poverty and ecological degradation has always been evident. Many NGOs have attempted to work alleviate poverty through mining so some degree. But what is needed is a coordinate approach — one that connects these small scale miners with the market.
As I see it, we live in a world where the great web of connections has been shattered by the resource to cash to trash linear industrial mentality that has made us so “efficient” at the expense of living systems. Our job is to weave new connections back in place, like the Spider Woman character in Native American stories.
We need to set parallel economic models and to do this we need ALL the pieces working together in a circle. Producers connected to consumers.. who understand the true effects of their purchase. Estelle is in a unique position because of her relationship to jewelers and NGOs to see the big picture and weave these relationships into place. We need viable seed projects where ASM is working with environmental responsibility. This is already happening with gold and in certain gem projects run by Rubyfair and Columbia Gemhouse. Estelle can assist NGOs and work across the broad spectrum, from ASM to ethical jewelers, to help create the supply chains for the future of the jewelry sector—when buying ethically sourced will be the standard and not the exception.
Up until now, the problem that all of us have faced is that all the pieces, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing, etc need to be in place at once for everything to hum. It is starting to happen, bit by bit. I can see it very clearly, actually. Part of what we are trying to do at FJA is to create that international network of jewelers to buy this product when it is ready.
Estelle has extensive connections in the jewelry business and a deep understanding of issues related to sustainability. She is widely respected for her work in the field over the past several years. Estelle and WWF will make a potent team. Hopefully, this project will help to bridge the “capacity” gap that will someday allow greater “fair trade” material to reach the jewelry case.
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.
