Mass protest in 2004, the last time Newmont proposed expanding its Yanacocha mine into Cerro Quilish. Credit: GRUFIDES

According to a report from EARTHWORKS, as
Newmont Mining Corp. held its annual general meeting on April 19, 2011, environmental and human rights groups demanded the company drop plans for a gold mine at Cerro Quilish, Peru, where strong community opposition blocked previous plans seven years ago.

"Developing Cerro Quilish is an untenable proposal, both in terms of the financial risks represented as well as the damage to Newmont's reputation and social license", said a letter to Newmont President and CEO Richard T. O'Brien from EARTHWORKS and Oxfam America.

Cerro Quilish has spiritual significance for the region's indigenous people and sits atop the water supply for the city of Cajamarca. In 2004 thousands of Cajamarcans staged protests, clashing with police and blocking access to the proposed mine site for two weeks. The company later acknowledged that community concerns had not been adequately heeded, and in 2009 adopted a "commitment to the principle of free, prior and informed consent".

But in a call with investors earlier this month, Newmont said its plans to mine at Cerro Quilish would be operational by 2016. The site is estimated to hold about 4 million ounces of gold, worth almost $6 billion at current prices.

Cero Quilish is four miles from Newmont's Yanococha mine, the largest gold mine in South America and second-largest in the world. The area has been marked by toxic contamination, including a 335-pound mercury spill that harmed more than 1,000 residents, and by violence and intimidation toward mining activists.

Read the joint letter to Newmont Mining Corp. from EARTHWORKS/Oxfam America.

Defining the Terms: Recycled, FairTrade, and Conventional Precious Metals

By Guest Columnist, Jessica Hudson

 

Jessica Hudson is currently creating her own course of study for sustainable jewelry making in Brazil.    

I believe it is important and highly beneficial for anyone working or studying in the jewelry field to be able to decipher the difference between recycled, fairtrade, and conventional precious metals and jewelry. Not only will this knowledge open new avenues to pursue in your jewelry practice, but also the ability to share this information with your fellow jewelers and potential customers. 

The expression "green" jewelry would best describe a finished work made from recycled or reclaimed precious metals. Recycled metals can come from numerous post-consumer sources, such as old/unwanted jewelry, industrial-use metals, and electronic components. When precious metals recycled, they are re-refined back into their pure elements, which means they are of the same quality as pure, newly mined metals. With the aid of using reclaimed precious metals the global demand for newly mined gold is decreased, and the environmentally and socially destructive effects of metal mining practices are reduced. Also, precious metals are renewable resources due to the fact that they can be recycled repeatedly with out degrading the quality. However, while recycling is a good way to reduce the environmental impacts of mining, only 30% of the market for gold can be satisfied from such sources. Learn more about recycled precious metals.  

Fairtrade in relation to precious metals is a fairly new concept and is often confused with the term "ethical" jewelry. It is important to note that claiming something as ethical does not necessarily make it fairtrade. A certification process is required before a precious metal can be labeled as fairtrade or fairmined. Certified gold results from artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) organizations meeting the Fairtrade and Fairmined gold standard. This means the gold has been responsibly mined and that the miners have received a Fairtrade minimum price and premium that supports their communities' social, environmental and economic development. The term Fairtrade and Fairmined acknowledge the partnership between FLO (Fairtrade Labeling Organization) and ARM (Alliance for Responsible Mining) who are jointly distributing certified gold. Learn more about these efforts.

The majority of jewelry out in the market today is made from conventional precious metals, or better referred to as "dirty metals". These metals are considered to be "dirty" because of the massive human rights abuse and child labor involved in the mining process.  Also, the highly toxic chemicals mercury and cyanide used to separate gold from ore continues to impact communities around the world, even in the U.S. Learn more about dirty metal and how you can help.

Sterling earrings by Adelaida Acosta of Bogota, Columbia 

"In Colombia we use alumina as a "green" pickle. Even before the green movement began, Colombian jewelers where using it to avoid toxic fumes and health problems. Alumina is used as a deodorant and antibacterial, among other things.

Alumina is sold as a soft rock or powder. To use it mix 80 grams with a liter of water and warm it in a pewter or in a heat resistant glass pot. Use it in the same way that you would use any pickle, though it can be hotter than other pickle varieties. When your piece is ready, rinse it with water, you don't need to use baking soda to neutralize.

In my studio I keep a pot with alumina and water. I don't measure it. I just add water as needed. Another good thing about the alumina is that you can leave it in the pot for days. If all the water evaporates crystals will form, but you can just add water and reuse it.

For a deep clean, put the pieces in the solution and heat to the boiling point. Add more water if needed as the water evaporates.

Alumina is a good option if you want to go green and don't like the smell of vinegar. The only downside is that it may take a little longer to get the piece clean that regular pickle, but it's worth the extra time."

-Adelaida Acosta

 Bogota, Columbia