Ethical Jewelry? Are You Guys Serious?
A blogger on the website, ‘www.all-jewelry.net’ picked up my press report on the Ethical Jewelry Handbook, expressing incredulity.
“I mean I truly see nothing wrong with people spending thousands of dollars on jewelries, but I’d really feel embarrassed to hear them saying that they had actually spent those thousands in a socially responsible way. I couldn’t help but think that, they were rather responsible towards their own consciences. I am ready to take the blame, but I feel it’s somewhat similar to the phenomenon of huge oil companies, like British Petrol or Shell becoming front-line fighters of the environmental movement.”
When I read this post, I immediately wrote a response trying to give some of the thinking which led me to the FRE system. But over the subsequent few days, I couldn’t stop thinking what that my efforts were being compared to ‘British Petroleum’ or ‘Shell’ becoming front-line fighters of the environmental movement. It is ludicrous and personally shocking. Apart from my core values, which I best in this post, http://www.fairjewelry.org/archives/28, I’m the co-owner of a company of ten people that is barely scratching by in this economy. Even to call this blog and my work a ‘mouse that roared’, would be an insult to mice.
Well, let me just say this. There is a whole maverick world out there of small producers who are not beholden to anyone but their own personal ethics. And together, with the 100 million artisanal miners, we count for something. So the analogy to big oil really isn’t accurate.
All I’m trying to do is to get people to realize that we have to change the way we do business because humanity’s future is in the balance. I write because I wish to encourage action in alignment with what I know to be true: that we are all deeply connected in a greater web of life. We created this mess and we need each other to solve it. I get angry at times when I see things I don’t agree with, but I also know that all voices in this circle must be listened to and respected.
Given that this person is sympathetic to the jewelry sector and writes about issues on his post, I might draw some tentative conclusions, and some greater observations.
There is also tremendous cynicism around corporations in general and the jewelry sector gets lumped into that category. And rightly so. Except for the efforts of ‘fair trade’ jewelry made in small, third and second world villages, an effort which the mainstream sector has ‘ghetto-ized’, jewelry is treated strictly as a commodity.
Many of the people who have no respect for the jewelry sector, I view as some of my target customers in a Blue Ocean Strategy. I know many people who would never, ever walk into a jewelry store. We’re going to have to work hard to convince the progressive community that our efforts toward ethical sourcing are real and worthwhile.
The most authentic way to do this is to make sure that our efforts are focused on the plight of small scale miners rather than large corporate interests that are solely motivated by the bottom line.
I certainly do not wish to see fair trade becoming simply another avenue for large scale interests, blessed by TransfairUSA, to polish their image, analogous to the green washing efforts BP and Shell…
Here’s the original post:
http://all-jewelry.net/ethical-jewelry-are-you-guys-serious
6 Responses to “Ethical Jewelry? Are You Guys Serious?”
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Wow.. I’m not sure how to react to this..
On one hand I feel for you and the feeling that have with being lumped in with the rest of us evil jewelers.. But on the other, I have to wonder if there isn’t some better approach to this whole topic than to continue to drive wedges in to the industry with comments referring to us as ghetto-izing commodity brokers..
I have read your FRE stance several times, but wonder about it’s value as anything other than a marketing tool.. Most of us can claim Fair working conditions, social responsibility and being or using environmentally processes..
I love the idea of what you are trying to do.. But I have to wonder if tearing parts of the industry down in the process is the proper approach.. I think that you are missing the point that we, all of us in the industry, are British Petrol to a great many people out there.. Regardless of what we do or how we go about it.. We, as an industry, are simply evil and only do things with profit in mind..
I’m fine with that role.. And I understand that I can never do anything to convince them otherwise.. It would be like trying to convince hippie to vote for George Bush for a third term or an H1 driving conservative talk show host to vote for Hillary Clinton.. It simply won’t happen..
I think that the best we can do is what we do now.. Our best, and let our actions speak for us.. Then let the rest take care of itself..
I disagree with Steve. You are not doing all you can if you make no further strides towards a fair and equitable stance. If you remain complacent and never work towards change, then nothing changes.
In my opinion, this FRE system is a logical first step. Find out exactly where your jewelry does come from. If you don’t know, then Say So. As a consumer, I would prefer this rather than a salesman hemming and hawing or feeding me bullshit.
I don’t think it’s perfect. But the first version of anything looks less than perfect in hindsight. It makes it easier for me in the future to have it in my head to ask my jeweler, where does this stuff come from? Who is benefiting and who is being harmed? Would Zales tell me? Hell, no! I’ve asked. They stare at me like I’m an alien and then I leave. So, they don’t get my business.
There’s nothing wrong in making money. How you make it, is more important. If you are grinding others into the dirt, how is that helpful? How is that Fair?
So I guess I’m a weirdo because I care about my fellow man….even if he is and 8 year old African in a bucket, dropped into a tiny little hole to chip out some colored stones I can pay a premium for, while the kid only gets a penny. That’s not very fair to me. How about you?
But by all means sit on your hands and do nothing to improve the system…
Steve,
FRE is much more than marketing. It is about allowing the customer to understand what the true consequences of his or her actions are.
If we knew what the environmental and social costs were for everything we purchased– if that was open and transparent, then people would be more empowered to use their money to promote their values.
I believe that this type of transparency would help make our world a better place through a market driven process.
My concern for the long term viability of the jewelry sector is reflected in my activism, for which I devote a huge amount of time and energy. The sector as a whole has the potential to do a world of good. Everything does not have to be about the bottom line.
Look at what Tiffany is doing– their good actions enhance their brand. I see myself as a change agent using altruistic business practices as an essential part of the bottom line.
I’m curious how you took this
“I love the idea of what you are trying to do..”
“I think that the best we can do is what we do now.. Our best, and let our actions speak for us.. Then let the rest take care of itself”
to mean that we are sitting on our hands doing nothing?? But thanks for taking the opportunity to take a shot at me..
I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your website. Thank you for doing your part to address the issue of fair social and ecological practices within the jewelry trade. What a wonderful dialog to have started!
Well Steve, I did not mean to fire any shots at you– I was just trying to state my position, so I am sorry that you took what I said to be something of a personal attack which was never my intention. I agree that we will be known according to our actions. . II do see what you’ve written in quotes as words of support and for that I am thankful.