Fair Trade Jewelry

Introduction:
(Warning: The images of the brutality and atrocities committed by the security forces of the British company, Monterrico Metals as linked to herein, may be shocking to some readers.)

A Press release from CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, working with communities in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, supporting people to find their own solutions to poverty.
~ Marc Choyt, Publisher

As alleged victims of torture in Peru bring an injunction against British mining company Monterrico Metals, NGOs are calling for foreign victims of UK corporate abuses to have better access to justice in English Courts.
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Tags: CSR, Ethics, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Spin, Transparency, Trends by admin
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The pioneering UK fair trade jewellery company has launched an exciting new venture called CRED Sources (www.credsources.com). This new business represents a significant breakthrough in the transparency and traceability of the gold supply chain.

Working with the international fair trade movement, CRED Sources will provide fine gold grain, 18ct yellow and white gold in sheet and wire format to the jewellery trade.

Christian Cheesman, CRED’s Business Director says, “We are very excited about this development and the opportunities it presents to the trade and the consumer. We really want the small jewellers, goldsmiths and designer makers to have access to the remarkable developments taking place through the fair trade movement and the social, environmental and transparency revolution that is taking place within our industry”.
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Tags: Announcements, Best Practices, CSR, Diamonds, Environment, Ethical Jewelry, Ethics, Fair Trade Jewelry, Gold, Green Issues, Manufacturing, Mining, Platinum, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Transparency, Trends by Greg Valerio
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The Battle of Greenland Ruby
By: Ms. Tida Ravn Nuuk, Greenland

This article by Tida Ravn published in 2008 kicked off a media storm in Greenland. It gives a first hand account of the origins of the 16th August Union, the Inuit Group struggling to retain their rights to collect, polish and sell the rubies that are on their ancestral land.
~ Marc Choyt, Publisher, fairjewelry.org.
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Tags: Ethical Jewelry, Fair Trade, Fair Trade Gems, Greenland Rubies, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Rubies, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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By Meghan Connolly Haupt

Meghan Connolly Haupt is a regular contributor to fairjewelry.org. Here, she reports from conferences she attended at this JCK Show.
~ Marc Choyt, Publisher.

The JCK annual jewelry show is presently taking place in Las Vegas. The show was kicked off on Thursday with a full day conference featuring 20 free seminars for jewelry retailers. To my delight, three of the four seminars I attended focused on or at least touched upon the call to action for sustainability in the jewelry sector. I use the term ‘sustainability’ to refer to business grounded in social and environmental responsibility. [Read more →]

Tags: CSR, Editorial, Ethics, Fair Trade, Fair Trade Jewelry, Green Issues, Green Wash, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Spin, Transparency, Trends by Meghan Connolly Haupt
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An article posted on DTB Online, written by Chaim Even-Zohar reports that Ian Smillie is quitting Partnership Africa Canada and departing from Kimberley’s governing body. No one is more respected in ethical diamond sourcing issues than Ian Smillie. His departure is a major blow to the legitimacy of the Kimberley Process Certification. [Read more →]

Tags: Announcements, Diamonds, Editorial, Environment, Ethical Jewelry, Ethics, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Transparency, Trends by Marc Choyt
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Press Release From . The Candescent Project:

The Candescent Project produces exhibitions, events and public art ventures that encompass craft, design, creativity and thought. With an interest in sustainability and the environment, Candescent facilitates projects where objects are not only beautiful to look at but have a story to tell. The Candescent Project seeks to educate and inform through interesting and thought provoking exhibitions, events and public art ventures, empowering people with knowledge to enable change.
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Tags: Announcements, Ethical Jewelry, Ethics, Fair Trade, Gold, Manufacturing, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Social Initiatives, Transparency, Trends by Greg Valerio
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Introduction:

Helen is studying jewellery and silversmithing at Birmingham City University in Birmingham, England. This is a presentation that was given as part of her course work.

~ Marc Choyt, Publisher, Fairjewelry.org.

An Overview of Fair Trade Jewellery

Preface – The main aim of my presentation is to discuss Fair Trade in order to ascertain what we as up and coming jewellery designer/manufacturer’s can do to encourage the development of Fair Trade jewellery and to ascertain whether Fair Trade jewellery will ever be available at a price that the mass market can afford.
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Tags: Ethical Jewelry, Fair Trade, Fair Trade Gems, Fair Trade Jewelry, Gold, Green Issues, Green Wash, Mining, Responsible Mining, Social Initiatives, Transparency, Trends by Helen Dobson
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A natural diamond represents a highly symbolic expression of love and commitment. Yet many people are concerned about the history of the diamond trade, and its ties to regional conflicts. People want their diamond not only to be ‘conflict free,’ but also to be worthy of its symbolic value.

Yet complex sourcing issues in the diamond sector fuel misleading terminology in the market place that makes it difficult to know what one is supporting in one’s purchase. For those who are also motivated by ethical concerns, it is best not to get too caught up in the internet marketing of ‘conflict free’ diamonds.

Every diamond sold claims to be ‘conflict free’ and Kimberley Certified, regardless of whether it was sourced ethically or from a mine that has poor human rights and environmental standards.
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Tags: Best Practices, CSR, Diamonds, Editorial, Environment, Ethics, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Social Initiatives, Transparency, Trends by Marc Choyt
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Introduction:

This press release outlines the latest in a long string of atrocities associated with gold mining. Unfortunately, gold from companies such as Goldcorp is sold on the open market and ends up in the jewelry supply chain, where it is used to create such items as wedding rings.

~ Marc Choyt, Publisher, Fairjewelry.org.

CAFOD and Canada’s Development & Peace demand action from mining giant Goldcorp as villagers fear gold mine is poisoning people and the environment in Honduras
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Tags: CSR, Environment, Ethics, Gold, Green Issues, Green Wash, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Spin, Transparency, Trends by Marc Choyt
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A group of Inuit small scale miners have launched their own website which will serve as a platform in their struggle to maintain control of their ruby resources which have been denied by their colonialist government.

Visit their website at: www.freegreenlandruby.com

Tags: Announcements, Ethical Jewelry, Ethics, Fair Trade, Greenland Rubies, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Rubies, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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