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JA speaks out on responsible mining
January 10, 2007
New York—In response to the recent public controversy concerning the proposed Pebble Mine project in Alaska's Bristol Bay Watershed, Jewelers of America (JA) announced on Jan. 5 that it is working, along with jewelry retailers, mining companies and non-governmental organizations, on standards for the responsible sourcing of minerals.
JA is creating such standards through the "Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)", a multi-sector effort launched in June 2006 to establish a system to independently verify compliance with environmental, human rights and social standards for mining operations.
"Jewelers of America understands that it is in society's best interest to see to it that metals and other minerals are obtained, produced and used in environmentally and socially responsible ways," the organization said in a statement. "We are committed to respecting the responsible sourcing of minerals so that we might have greater confidence that the gold and other metals in our industry's products were not produced at the expense of communities, workers or the environment."
JA has a history of supporting mining issues in the jewelry-supply chain. It is a founding member and actively supports the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices, an international non-profit organization representing member companies across the gold and diamond supply chain. It is also a founding member of the World Diamond Council and represented the U.S. retail jewelry industry in the 2003 establishment of the Kimberley Process (KP), which works to prevent diamonds mined in conflict countries from entering the legitimate trade. In support of the KP, JA worked toward enactment of the Clean Diamond Trade Act and also regularly educates and updates its 11,000-member stores concerning their responsibilities to the System of Warranties.
In 2005, JA urged the House of Representatives to drop certain provisions of a budget bill that would have changed a complex 1872 mining law that determines which public lands are available for mineral rights and private purchase, and would have lifted a moratorium on processing mineral patent applications. The provisions were subsequently removed from the House budget bill.
"It is through Jewelers of America's consistent and active work on responsible diamond- and gold-mining issues that we are able to demonstrate our underlying solidarity with the concept of protecting Alaska's Bristol Bay Watershed, its fish and wildlife habitat, and the commercial, subsistence and recreational ways of life in that area," the organization said. "We believe that responsible sourcing should reflect mine development and operating criteria that do not threaten nationally or internationally designated areas, or areas of high conservation or other ecological value."
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