Ethically Mined Gold Emily Andrews, Katinka Eikelenboom, Bryan - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Movement Toward Ethically Mined Gold Emily Andrews, Katinka Eikelenboom, Bryan Nicholson, Cate Owren & Nancy Rizkalla In partnership with Janet MacGillivray Make A Ripple Make A Ripples Ethical Mined: a US-based initiative for
a US-based initiative for consumers that
1) fighting environmental and social harms to
2) generating demand for responsibly mined
A portfolio of research for the client
Post-Extraction Stakeholders
Production Stakeholders
Organizations (15)
Extraction Point Stakeholders
Retail Stakeholders
“Artisanal Gold Mining: Balancing environmental risks and human livelihoods”
2007 – Newmont Mining Corporation WHEREAS, a rise in unfavorable press coverage resulting from increased community protests and state retaliation in response to the displacement of indigenous communities for mining projects, the environmental impact of mining operations, and the failure to fully restore land once used for mining have negatively impacted the image of the Newmont corporation; and WHEREAS, concerns for displacement, environmental degradation and land reclamation led more than 10,000 people to protest open-pit mining in 2004; and, WHEREAS, industrial gold mining leaves thousands of tons of waste in its wake and, cyanide combined with other toxic chemicals often contaminate surrounding water supplies; and, WHEREAS, the Newmont mining corporation has professed a desire to “leave a positive legacy for our communities and the environment” in areas surrounding mines which have ceased to be profitable; and WHEREAS, the Newmont mining corporation's Ahafo gold mine in Ghana will result in the economic displacement of over 20,000 residents, violating the International Finance Corporation's standards of involuntary resettlement; and, WHEREAS, the Newmont mining corporation has not provided a meaningful financial guarantee to ensure clean-up and reclamation of the Ahafo site; and, WHEREAS, the Newmont Corporation’s Minahasa Raya gold mine, which closed in 2003, discarded more than 4 million tons of tailings into Buyat Bay, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, Shareholders urge management to review its policies and financial commitment to land clean-up, community reclamation, and compensation for indigenous communities displaced due to mining activities, and report to the shareholders on the findings of this review prior to the 2009 annual meeting.
Gold has no intrinsic value Socially and culturally constructed meaning of
Gold as a gender issue: representing
Gold as a gender issue: female gold miners,
Significance of gold in developing countries:
In May 2006 price of
Represented 159%
Today price hovers
Demand:
for gold stable at around 70%
risen substantially in the past two years led by the economies of China and India.
A single gold ring
Rio Tinto’s
images of Bingham Canyon mine in Utah
Open pit gold mines
Metals mining
Industrial mining
Metals mining is the
Workers and
Workers from the
Indonesian workers
10,000 community
Police shot and
Local residents
Representatives
Shareholder activism is a way for
Several shareholder resolutions have
Newmont supported the resolution submitted by
Newmont shareholders passed the resolution with a
We are currently working with Christian
70% of gold mining occurs in developing
The International Council of Metal and Mining
Social Problems
Loss of Traditional Ways of Living Public Health
In India alone 2.55 million people displaced. Indigenous peoples' lands 120,000 tons of toxic waste spilled from the Baia
Birth defects Skin diseases Mental retardation Chemical poisoning
"Certified Green Gold” Criteria: no ecological disruption, no use of toxic
Miners receive a bonus from the social premium. The Association for Responsible Mining (ARM)
So far, no certified Fair Trade gold is available.
Miners pay US$0.15 to the mayor for legal right to
Gold is sold to a licensed buyer who is responsible
No cyanide or mercury used in region; all “Fair
The social premium attached to the gold will be
Working towards sustainability and replication with
Make A Ripple No Dirty Gold: Oxfam & Earthworks Association for Responsible Mining (ARM) Global Mercury Project Ethical Metalsmiths Brilliant Earth Choco Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices
Ethical consumerism: +/- 30% of
The ethical consumer: female, 30s-40s,
Social premium: 10% would pay + 27% for
Fair Trade
Total increase:
US increase:
Supply side obstacles → working conditions,
Demand side obstacles → jewelry retailers,
Certification process → FLO’s standards,
Marketing strategies:
How to foster change? How to contribute? Who invests? What’s next? Muddling through