Jewelers oppose Alaska gold mine
February 12, 2008
Washington, D.C.—
Tiffany and Co., Ben Bridge Jeweler, Fortunoff, Helzberg Diamonds and Leber Jeweler all pledged their support today to permanently protect Alaska's
Bristol Bay watershed from large-scale metal mining, including the massive proposed Pebble gold mine.
The retailers took this step at the invitation of local Alaskans, who seek to protect the Bristol Bay watershed, where the proposed mine would be located, which supports the world's most productive wild salmon fishery. The fishery is critical to the state's economy and to the livelihood of many Alaskan communities.
"I am pleased to stand with others in the jewelry industry today in announcing our support for protecting Alaska's Bristol Bay watershed from large-scale mining," Jon Bridge, co-CEO/general counsel of Seattle-based Ben Bridge Jeweler said in a media release. "As retail jewelers, we want to be able to tell our customers that the precious metals we use are mined responsibly—that the materials used in the jewelry they purchase have been mined in environmentally friendly ways, respectful of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery and the communities that depend on it."
The proposed Pebble mine is highlighted in a new report released today by the No Dirty Gold campaign, led by Earthworks and Oxfam America.
The report, "Golden Rules: Making the Case for Responsible Mining," documents the toll of irresponsible mining on people, water and wildlife at a time when soaring metal prices are driving new mining development globally.
The report specifically details damaging practices at 17 metal mines around the world. These include the Grasberg mine in West Papua, owned by U.S.-based
Freeport McMoRan, which has been linked to human rights abuses and extensive water pollution; the Jerritt Canyon mine in Nevada, owned by Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp., which is a leading source of airborne mercury pollution in the United States; and the Bogoso/Prestea Mine in Ghana, owned by Canadian firm Golden Star Resources, which has contaminated drinking water and local fisheries with cyanide spills in violation of the industry's voluntary "Cyanide Code."
The No Dirty Gold campaign has been running since 2004 and seeks to clean up irresponsible mining practices. More than 100,000 people in more than 100 countries have signed on to the No Dirty Gold pledge, urging mining companies to provide alternatives to dirty gold.
In addition, Ben Bridge Jeweler, Fortunoff, Fred Meyer Jewelers, Helzberg Diamonds, J.C. Penney, Leber Jeweler, QVC, Sterling Jewelers, Tiffany and Co., Wal-Mart and Zale Corp. are among the 28 jewelry companies that have endorsed the No Dirty Gold campaign's "Golden Rules," which require the following:
* Respect basic human rights as outlined in international conventions and laws.
* Obtain the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of affected communities.
* Respect workers' rights and labor standards, including safe working conditions.
* Ensure that operations are not located in areas of armed or militarized conflict.
* Ensure that projects do not force communities off their lands.
* Refrain from dumping mine waste into oceans, rivers, lakes or streams.
* Ensure that projects are not located in protected areas, fragile ecosystems or other areas of high conservation or ecological value.
* Ensure that projects do not contaminate water, soil or air with sulfuric acid drainage or other toxic chemicals.
* Cover all costs of closing down and cleaning up mine sites.
* Fully disclose information about social and environmental effects of projects.
* Allow independent verification of the above.
For more information about the No Dirty Gold campaign, visit its Web site,
Nodirtygold.org.
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