Rock Center
Fair trade activists and jewelers are fighting for better methods to trace whether gold has been produced in artisanal mines using child labor and unsafe refining processes.
The four tons of gold found in Mali’s artisanal mines is difficult to trace once it is sold to international gold traders in places like Dubai and Switzerland. Once it reaches those international hubs, it’s often mixed with other gold before it is turned into jewelry.
Greg Valerio is a British fair trade activist and jeweler who advocates for traceable gold and responsible mining. He worked with the Fairtrade Foundation to establish a system in England where jewelers can trace their gold. The system went into effect this year.
“What we have done with fair trade gold in the U.K., the status quo doesn’t have to be the status quo, you can actually demonstrate traceability, from the mine to retail,” he said.
Valerio is now working with jewelers in the United States to improve the traceability of jewelry sold to American consumers. In October, he and several U.S. jewelers met to discuss how to improve the presence of fairtrade and fairmined gold in the U.S. market.
“If you want to make a change on the ground, in continents like Africa, we have to get the Americans really engaged,” Valerio said. “For me, so it’s an absolute no brainer…because the American consumer consumes the most amount of gold in the world.”
Valerio and U.S. jeweler Marc Choyt have founded the Fair Jewelry Action group. Choyt owns a jewelry shop called Reflective Images in Santa Fe, N.M. that sells jewelry made of recycled precious metals.
“Absolutely dirty gold is making it into the United States and jewelers who don’t have a traceable supply chain can’t tell you where it’s coming from,” Choyt said. “One of the biggest problems we have now is that the consumer doesn’t go into a jewelry store and ask, ‘Can you trace this gold?’ If the consumer would do that, we would see a shift in the sector.”
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So this is what Newt Gingrich is talking about when he says poor kids need to work?
Thank you for reporting on this issue. It is important for everyone to learn where their merchandise comes from. Too many of us are oblivious to the fact that many in the world continue to work in dangerous and/or impoverishing industry such as these mines or sweat shops. Please continue the work, and inform the public about the conditions of most sugar, coffee, chocolate industries, factory farms, and sweatshops around the world. Our cheap food and merchandise comes at a high cost to others in this world.
And your point is?
fine except for 1 thing - gold is an ELEMENT. You CANNOT trace the origin once it has been alloyed or made into a product. Try tracing the origin of gold used for PLATING, too
If you're looking for eco-friendly jewelry, check out natalie frigo (bynataliefrigo.com). She designed our wedding rings and uses only recycled metals and conflict free gems. It's about time people started recycling silver and gold instead of enslaving miners, pumping their land full of toxins like mercury, and creating 20 tons of waste for every oz. of newly mined gold. Precious metals are being mined at a ridiculous pace, because the price is so high right now, with no regard for the destruction caused.
Great Report by Mr. Engel.
I work at an independent, family-owned jewelry store and we have been aware of this issue for some time. I feel that the industry has been working on fair trade options for consumers but has yet to reach consensus. I know that for us, one of the great avenues we're interested in is recycled gold. With so much material on the market and demand being what it is, taking someone's old gold necklace and refining it into a new ring is eco-jewelry at it's finest.
Just wanted to add my two-grams, I mean, cents. : )
Thanks again for leading with this story.
Richard Engel is AMAZING! I love what way he just puts it out there and dares everyone to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. This story about artisanal gold mining in Mali needed to be told; seeing those children worked to exhaustion broke my heart. And Samba (the child that dreams of playing soccer), his smile is so bright and beautiful & eyes full of hope. Those mines will kill all of that in just a few days. I hope the USA will get on board with the Fair Trade Gold System. These conditions are cruel and if I can help it, I will only purchase gold that has a trail. Yep, from this point on, I'll follow the "yellow brick road" to safe & mercury-free gold. Thanks for sharing this story Richard Engel.
like I said before I agree with the sentiment - now HOW would you KNOW the origin? it is IMPOSSIBLE to track the source of refined gold unless you follow it EVERY step of the way from the mine to the BROKER (since gold isn't generally sold to the consumer DIRECTLY)
C'mon guys! Child labor? Really? This is a problem that has been with us for hundreds of years, worldwide. Kids in Taiwan making sneakers, kids in China and India making everything we buy in the USA. And now you are singling out just one facet of this problem in Africa and making it look like a hot news item? Are you THAT desperate for new news?
Kids (and adults) die in those mines. They are poisoned by the chemicals they carry in their pockets. It's well worth making a priority issue out of it.
Agree with you, tomva. And their point is? No point. Making issues out of non-issues.
Be careful what you wish for. Although I hate child labor as much as the next person, when these children lose their jobs, they are often far worse off than before. In some countries, it dooms them to prostitution.
Yes don't buy their gold put those kids out of work so they can't support their family.
Their family? How about themselves? The transition away from child labor needs to move slowly, or you're yanking the food out of their mouths. There is no support service that will give them food stamps and an education. What they have is it.
Yes don't buy their gold put those kids out of work so they can't support their family.
The kids are paid in bags of dirt in hopes they'll get some gold, if they don't, then they don't get paid.
Support their family? You really believe those kids are bringing home the bacon don't you? Nope, they're bringing home bags of dirt.
Sometimes our USA way of thinking, albeit well-intentioned in many cases, causes more damage than repair in foreign nations............Our cultural and ethical norms are NOT even close to those of many other countries....... Beware of unintended consequences to those on site just to justify righteous indignation
maybe we should put all the bankers in prison for taking profits in drugs,mining,taxes and genuine theft.Prostituition of the working class has worked for centuries. A few more wars and everything will be fine
This was a fantastic report from Richard on an issue that I have to admit I was absolutely unaware of. I'm glad that this story was reported, and even more glad that Rock Center is serving as sort of a news bonus program for things that don't quite fit into the 30 minute nightly broadcast. Also glad to see that Richard is getting a lot of projects to air on the show. He always has something important to report, and does a great job doing it.
P.S. I'm sorry, but I have to ask once again, this time in this space...but WHERE in the world are Brian Williams' blog posts anymore!?!? Has he completely quick posting now? Did I miss something? I know he is busy with the new show and all, but I have to say, I really miss having his voice here and having a conversation with him through his blog. It's really bummed me out not being able to participate in his posts anymore. I miss those good old days. So please, if anyone knows, or if Brian is reading this post...where are you!? :(
-Cary AKA old, nostalgic, former Daily Nightly regular.
I don’t think the western world really tries to help when they talk about child labor. What they will do is go to these corrupt African leaders and tell them that they will help them to organize so that the country will have a good image and make sure that there is no child labor or paid more for the gold, diamond, platinum, etc. They will bribe these corrupt selfish leaders and guess what, the indigenous people will be kicked out and the westerns will try to monopolize the minerals. Guess what; leave the African people, if you want to help them help them in having a democratic government where there is JUSTICE, freedom of speech and religion; if you don’t fight for that then you have no right to talk about it. I know you are looking after your interest and I’m telling you from the interest of African people. At the end of the day remember what Steve Jones of Apple said (also in the Bible, may sink in if I refer to a human being that we all know), we all will die and guess what, you will not be able to take anything with you. We will be on this earth may be 70 or 80 years. Count the number of years you have left; therefore, please be good to others without any ulterior motives and trust is something that is earned; by the way African people are happier than American people, they have inner peace better than the Western counterpart. You might have 6 bed rooms 5 bathrooms, guest house, on and on. At the end of the day we all set on one chair and sleep on one bed what is all the hoopla anyway….
Cheers,
Please, please, please! remember to ask that one simple question this holiday season: "Can you trace this gold?"It's such an important question to ask. And don't just ask the jewelers, ask everyone you buy technology from as well. So much of our technology is created out of minerals mined in conflict areas. These areas are overwrought with violence: rape, murder, torture, slavery ... and our cell phones, computers, lap tops, T.V.'s, MP3 players and more, help supply these rebel forces with money for guns, missiles, bombs, and drugs. It's time for us to help these people rise above these corrupt forces and into freedom. What a wonderful holiday gift it would be... just to ask that question before buying!