The Astonishing Stupidity Of Greenland’s Bureau Of Mining And Petroleum
Editorial Perspective by Marc Choyt, Publisher, Fairjewelry.org.
The Greenlandic Bureau of Mining and Petroleum (BMP) recently released their brand new rules for the small scale mining of rubies, without key stakeholder review. Small scale mining in Greenland is to be as regulated and nearly as costly as large scale mining.
The new laws essentially codify the disenfranchisement of a local gemstone economy based on small scale mining. They also violate the Mineral Resources Act, protected by The Greenland Constitution which, under Section 32, guarantees Intuits the right to the minerals on their land.
In an article that I published last week for the Epoch Times, Greenland’s Aparteid Rubies, Greg Valerio, fair trade jewelry activist and jeweler who negotiated with the BMP on behalf of the Inuit’s 16th August Union responded to the new laws by saying: “The actions of the BMP and their legal team demonstrate a fundamental disrespect for the Inuit, a total lack of experience in facilitating small scale mining and a level of economic discrimination that breaches the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These are not the policies or actions of intelligent people.”
I think it is much more to the point to call the recent actions of the BMP–Stupidity. Here’s why;
First, just imagine if the BMP’s new rules were favorable to small scale mining. Everyone associated with Greenland rubies, large companies and Inuits with their rifles and fishing poles, would be able to start prospecting. Greenland would have an entirely new grassroots economy.
The 16th August Union is not opposed to large scale mining or working cooperatively with their government. They provided input to the BMP and were perfectly willing to work toward a win/win scenario.
Denied that right, the rubies are now labeled as “Apartheid.” That effectively soils the Greenland gemstone brand for large scale and small scale mining until the issues are satisfactory resolved.
Last September, I interviewed Andrew Lee Smith, the CEO of True North Gems (TNG), which has the major ruby claim on Greenland. He stated: “The days of colonialist approach to mining are an anachronism in today’s industry. Not only is an exploitative approach to rights of local peoples an abdication of a moral obligation, it is fundamentally good business to make sure you have the support of local people…”
Given recent events, and that TNG is allied with a government that is totally colonial, (namely, the BMP) — these words seem utterly hollow.
Unfortunately for both the BMP and TNG, the jewelry sector has become acutely sensitive to bad publicity. Who wants to invest in a company associated with a policy labeled as ‘Apartheid’ by the leading spokesman of an emerging indigenous rights movement? Perhaps if TNG had taken my advice in an editorial I wrote last September calling for truth and reconciliation, their stocks might not be trading so poorly.
TNG could have supported the 16th August Union from the beginning, but that would have been a betrayal to their colonial partners who want nothing more than to keep the Inuits disenfranchised as long as possible.
But from another point of view, Lee is also entirely correct. Colonialism is on the wane. As the actions of the Inuit continue to gather widespread international support and publicity, the actions of the BMP seem more and more anachronistic.
The Inuit will regain their rights to collect and sell ruby. The new rules will not stand once Greenland gets their Homeland Rule in June of this year. The BMP has lost their credibility and opportunity.
“The days of colonialist approach to mining are an anachronism in today’s industry.”
Indeed.
