The No Dirty Gold Campaign was launched in 2004 by two organizations (Earthworks & Oxfam America) to help spread information about bad mining practices and seek out a grassroots way of changing the way gold is produced. When you begin to think about who really holds the power for change, many people will say politicians and mining companies. But the real answer is YOU! The Consumer is one of the largest powers in the market of goods and services. Along with consumer, retailers hold a power that could help consumers choose cleaner gold. If retailers chose to fight back and only buy from mining companies who practiced clean mining techniques then those who don’t would be forced to search for another outlet for their product or change their ways (we would hope they change their ways!). This similar power rests in the consumers hands as well. Choose to only purchase from those retailers who spend the little extra money to have their products environmentally friends. Soon those retailers clinging to the dirty gold will only have two options; buy green or close shop.
The “No Dirty Gold Campaign” is trying to decrease the demand for gold that is not only environmentally harmful but those that also harm communities and workers. You can join the thousands of conscious consumers out there that made the pledge to end dirty mining practices by visiting Nodirtygold.com. The fact that mining damages the environment is one problem that this organizations hopes to tackle. In many countries outside of the USA, companies have no legal obligation to practices safe mining or combat the devastation that large-scale mining can cause. According to the site, 75% of the active mines around the world are currently overlapping land that is seen as extremely precious with high conservational value.
Mining also threatens human rights along with the communities that they are a part of. It has been said that mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world and violent suppression is often part of the job. In many parts of Africa, conspiracies surrounding the disappearance and death of activists, union organizers, polices officials have left many efforts to oppose dirty mining practice on the drawing boards. Environmental impacts that mining has directly affects those who live and work in the area. Laws in other countries do not protect those people or give them a choice in the conditions that those mines create. Many communities around the world are demanding that no mining practices go without their prior consent so they can continue to keep their communities safe.
Here are some sites with this information and more!
~Lindsay Hofer
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