Open Letter to RJC and ARM Signed by 161 Jewelers, Organizations and Civil Society Members.
An Open Letter to The Responsible Jewellery Council and the Alliance for Responsible Mining.
Current Signatures 161.
We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concerns in regards to the Fairtrade and Fairmined gold label, in context to the current relationship between the Alliance for Responsible Mining and the Responsible Jewellery Council. We are concerned about how this relationship might impact the jewelers currently selling, and those interested in selling Fairtrade and Fairmined (FT/FM) gold in the future. We are also concerned for the strength of the Fairtrade and Fairmined brand, the enhancement of the quality of life for artisanal and small-scale miners and the expansion of responsible mining practices everywhere.
From its conception, the Fairtrade and Fairmined standard for gold and associated precious metals was the realization of a dream shared by small-scale miners e gioiellieri. The result of this collaboration is the FT/FM brand and story based upon traceability and transparency from FT/FM certified mines. The purity from source is critical. Pertanto, all gold labeled as Fairtrade and Fairmined must continue to be traceable da a certified FT/FM mine, a a Fairtrade and Fairmined license holder. Gold that is a mixture of FT/FM gold e gold from other sources (mass balanced gold), must not have any association with the FT/FM product, the certification process, or any vague association with fair trade language.
We actively encourage RJC members to become a part of the FT/FM certification system by purchasing FT/FM gold, paying the FT Premium, and thereby making a positive contribution to future development and security of the certified communities. Any attempt to bypass this process would be a blatant attack not only on efforts to create a consistent consumer brand; but also on, the work that many have done to bring us where we are today. The chain of custody from producer through manufacturing must remain traceable, transparent and third party certified.
As FT/FM gold gains acceptance in the market through the pioneering efforts of smaller, artisanal jewelers, large companies will step into the market, which we view as an entirely positive development. Tuttavia, systems must be put into place to assure that jewelers currently holding FT/FM licenses and jewelers who will be license holders in the future will continue to have full and complete access to purchase FT/FM gold.
We believe that FT/FM gold is a transformative opportunity for the artisanal small-scale mining community and jewelry sector. It is truly the most precious gold in the world. We hope to see the day when FT/FM gold is the first choice for all consumers who wish to purchase gold jewelry.
Thank you for considering these critical points. We request that you sign this open letter if you share the views expressed herein.
Christina Miller, Fabbri etica
Marc Choyt, Fiera Gioielli Azione USA
Greg Valerio, Fair Jewellery Action UK
Mike Angenent
Jeweltree Fondazione
Open Source Minerals
Dr. Michael E Conroy
Colibrí Consulting — Certification for Sustainable Development
Jane Theobald
11464 Willow Valley Rd
Nevada City
Shamsa Diwani,
Gemstyles Company and Sparkling Sun-Gem Company
Tanzania
Zoe Pook Jewellery
www.zoepook.com
Australia
Demos Takoulas & RZdenek Svoboda
Vukani-Ubuntu Community Development Projects South Africa
Katherine DalPra
Verde Diva Gioielli
Stati Uniti d'America
Jörg Eggimann
Eggiman-Goldshmied
Switzerland
Beth Gerstein
Eric Grossberg
Brilliant Terra
Stati Uniti d'America
Carolyn Barker
Carolyn Barker Jewellery
Australia
Julia Turner
Stati Uniti d'America
Helen Chantler
Reflective Images Inc.
Stati Uniti d'America
Amy Pieroni
A Pieroni Design
Gail Shaner
Gail Shaner
Shelby Fitzpatrick
Shelby Ferris Fitzpatrick
Ralph Parus
Ralph Parus
Susan Saul Susan Saul Design
Amanda Hunter Amanda Hunter Designer Silversmith Amanda Quinby Amanda Quinby
Hobbs Wells The Derelict Group, LLC
Designed Silver, Regno Unito
Raissa Bump Raissa Bump Jewelry & Knitwear
T Lee T Lee Fine Designer Jewelry Orland Larson Ilektrom Design Studio
Robert L. Bowley
R. L. B. Designs. Stati Uniti d'America
Jennifer Cross Gans
Jenny’s Jewels
Kim Carpenter
Todd Reed Inc. Stati Uniti d'America
Ute Decker
Ute Decker, Regno Unito
Karin Birch-Cromar
Salish Sea Silver Co.
Diane Tintor
Head of the Jewelry /Metal Arts Program a the Santa Fe New Mexico Community College
Stati Uniti d'America
Susan Kingsley
Susie Ganch
Ethical Metasmiths
Genevieve Flynn
G. Flynn Jeweler
Stati Uniti d'America
Josh Humbert
Kamoka Pearl
Tahiti/USA
Sam Salmons
Sam Salmons Jewellery Ltd
Regno Unito
Kate Wilkonson
Arcatus Jewelry, LLC
Stati Uniti d'America
Todd Pownell
TAP Studios
Stati Uniti d'America
Boris Bally Bally Humanufactured, LLC
Douglas Zaruba Vortex 13, LLC
Sheena Thomas, Co- Elements, Ltd.
Evelyn Colemandin Ekstasi Jewelry/OAK Collections, Inc.
Thomas Michaels Thomas Michaels Designers.
Savannah Lisle Harmony Jewelry USA
Sarah Kate Burgess
Sarah Kate Burgess
Robin Gaston
Uncommon Metals
Cassandra Adams
Cassandra Adams Architect
Julie Ashton
String of Blue Jewelry
Stati Uniti d'America
Linda Tien
James Hutchinson
4th Street Gallery
Rosemary Mifsud
The Story of Two
Judy Geib
Judy Geib Plus Alpha, LLC
Marianne Hunter
Marianne Hunter
Susan Crow
East Fourth Street Jewelry
Michele Ratté
Michele Ratté Textiles
Jennifer Trude
Trudesign Metalsmithing
Daniel Szwaczkowski
UTEP
Sarah West
Sarah West Designs
Susan McCauley
Susan McCauley
Nina Dinoff
Nina Dinoff Jewelry
Wanesia Spry-Misquadace
Wanesia Fine Arts
B.M.Friedl artist
Beate Maria Friedl
Gary Roberts
Fiera di Ruby
Tanzania
Christine Lawrence Caratess (Regno Unito)
Vivien Johnston BA(HONS) FRSA — Fifi Bijoux, Regno Unito
Tessa Holland, Jeweller, Newcastle upon Tyne, Regno Unito
Ardis Bartle
Apex Measurement and Controls
Audrée H.St-Amour
Audrée H.St-Amour
Jennifer Trask
Trask Studio Jewelry
Dee Frost
Silverworkz Gallery.
Caz Guiney and Ali Limb
Northcity4
Cheryl Kelly
Metal Wear
Hattie Rickards Hattie Rickards Jewellery (DK)
Orland Larson
Ilektrom Design Studio
Anna Moltke-Huitfeldt,
Jewellery in Life
Danimarca
Brooke Battles
Brooke Battles Design
Bethan Carr
Bethan Carr Jewellery
Linda Weiss
Linda Weiss Designs
Molly Dingledine
Molly Dingledine Jewelry
Felicity Peters,
Felicity Peters, Australia
Stefan Alexandres
Art
Nancy Zappala Pierson Metalsmith
Nanna Grønborg, Germany, Nanna Gronborg
Miia Turunen
LaNinja
Marina Belsito
Dalanisha
Linnie McLarty
Linnie McLarty (Regno Unito)
Melinda Nugent
Gioielli etica
Australia Pty Ltd
Katie Walker, Believer Jewellery Limited, Regno Unito.
Gina D’Onofrio
Jewelry Appraisal Services
Ryan Justin Holandes
Meriken Metals
Jimena Bolaños
Jimena Bolaños jewelry
Annika Rundberg Annika Rundberg
Catherine Pépin
Catherine Pép
Elisabetta Brodaska
Eco Fairtrade Jewellery Designer — Italy
Juliet Cline
Juliet Elaine Design
Charlene Modena
Modena Designs
Erin Fader
Erin Fader Jewelry Design
Naomi Padowicz
Mietek Padowicz
Becky Thatcher
Becky Thatcher Designs
Julia Thompson
Designer Maker in Silver & Oro
Renee Mendola
White Goat Studio
Linda Weiss
Linda Weiss Designs
Michelle Lenáe Jewelry
Goldsmith, Fine Jewelry Artist
Mary Jo Goralski
Jamie Windhaeuser
Michael Goralski
The Jewelry Mechanic, Inc.
Penny Payne
Olive & Reg (Regno Unito)
Caroline Lepargneur
Cachou Bijoux
Claudia Abderhalden
Claudia A. designs (US)
Jorge Arrieta
Niccolo Bella
Jessie Turner
Jessie Turner Designs
Wiebke Goos
Goos Jewellery
Germany
Erin Daily
Brooklyn Metal Works
Rochelle Dodson
Rochelle Dodson
Robin Halpin
RxRox Jewelry
Barbara Heinrich
Barbara Heinrich Studio, LLC
Ursula Bettmer
Bettmer-Gold
Germany
Laura Ryan
Gemologist
Brazil
Ingeborg Ohly
Bijohly
Germany
Tania Kowalski
Synnove Saelthun
Oria Gioielli
Margherita de Martino Norante
Aprile Doubleday
(Regno Unito)
Kristen Bak
Baks
Danimarca
Carol Dacre
Contemporary Jeweller,
New Zealand
Professor Patricia Madeja
Patricia Madeja Studio Jewelry — Pratt Institute
Stati Uniti d'America
Meghan Connolly Haupt
Sulusso, Stati Uniti d'America
Spring Rees
Spring Rees
Neke Moa
Maori Jewellery
New Zealand
Godfrey Gardner
Jewellery Designer, Regno Unito.
Jo Taylor
Tootsie Valentine UK
Blanca Schusterman
Jewelry by Blanca
Elyse Demaray,
Demaray Designs
Felicia Szorad
Independent Jewelry Artist
Joe Muench
Associate Professor of Jewelry Iowa State University, Stati Uniti d'America
Ed Lay
Educator/Metalsmith
Breeta Toma,
Vitriarts
David Crump
Vipa Designs Ltd
Regno Unito
Gina Johnson
Chocolate Couture (Regno Unito)
Alan Frampton
CRED Jewellery UK
Ben Manning
Utopian Creations
Australia
Anna Loucah
Fine Jewellery
Judith Lotter
Kleinodien-Werkstatt
Germany
Thomas Becker-
Atelier für Schmuck
Germany
Alexandra Simpson
Enchanting Jewellery Design UK
Amanda Li Hope
Amanda Li Hope UK
Jan Spille
Jan Spille – Schmuck
Germany
Jane Macintosh
Jane Macintosh Jewellery
Regno Unito
William Rohtert
Geologist and Gemologist
Stati Uniti d'America
Harriet Kelsall
Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design UK
Martha W D Bushnell
W D Bushnell
Stati Uniti d'America
Liv Runa Ditte Thrane
Jewelry Students
Hereford College UK
Samantha Rose
September Rose Ethical Jewelry
Regno Unito
Julia Bray Garretson
Julia Bray Garretson Jewelry
Anna Bario
Bario-Neal jewelry- Stati Uniti d'America
Ian Doyle
Associate, Lifeworth Consulting: France
Andrea Antonucci, Andrea Antonucci Ädelstenar
Sweden
Cindy Dennis Mangan
Jewellery Designer Manufacturer UK
Jesse Finfrock
Co-Founder
Il progetto Clarity
Individuals
Mariah Jo Layton Marie
Vanek
Stefan Padowicz
Erin Pinto
Laura Judith Ryan
Erika Miller
Magdalena Goudie
—
