Jewelers to Broadly Introduce Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold to US Market in 2012
Santa Fe, NM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2011
A diverse, international group of jewelry, environmental, and mining stakeholders convened in Santa Fe, October 29-30, 2011, and agreed on a common vision of a world in which jewelry, from mine to market, benefits the environment and everyone that touches it.
Participants identified an initial goal to broadly introduce certified Fairtrade and Fairmined gold to the US market in 2012.
The group will undertake a critical examination of standards and work to ensure the best outcome for communities and the environment through the mineral supply chain. The group also sees emerging opportunities to build a market for transparent and traceable ethical metals, and discussed other areas of concern including colored gems, diamonds, other precious metals and manufacturing.
Fair Jewelry Action and Ethical Metalsmiths hosted the dialogue attended by Larry Bohlen (Green Leaf Gold), Eric Braunwart (Columbia Gem House), Marc Choyt (Fair Jewelry Action and Reflective Images Inc.), Christine Dhein, (Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts and Green Jewelry News), Bill Gallagher (Lori Bonn Design, Inc.), Genevieve Ennis Hume (Hume Atelier, Canada), Christina Miller (Ethical Metalsmiths), Toby Pomeroy (TOBY POMEROY Jewelry and Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)), and Greg Valerio (Fair Jewellery Action, United Kingdom).
Fairtrade and Fairmined gold certification is the result of a joint effort between Fairtrade International (FLO) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), who combined their expertise to enable artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) to improve their livelihoods through a set of standards for responsible mining, which the miners have to fulfill in order to get certified. Standards include democratic organization, safe working practices, management of toxic chemicals, as well as respect for the environment and women’s rights. Certified miners will receive a guaranteed Fairtrade and Fairmined minimum price, which is democratically reinvested in community projects and improving miners’ operations. Mining organizations will be audited by FLO-CERT, an independent, international certification body, to ensure compliance.
Observing the meeting were Jennifer Krill (Earthworks) and Maya Spaull (Fair Trade USA).
For more information, visit www.fairgold.org, www.communitymining.org and www.fairtrade.net.
Marc Choyt: 505-699-8179 reflective@cybermesa.com
Christina Miller: 513-551-0559 cmiller@ethicalmetalsmiths.org
Toby Pomeroy: 541-231-7836 toby@tobypomeroy.com
