Exchanging true values with Ethical Metalsmiths

Today was a very special day: Christina Miller of Ethical Metalsmiths, Ohio, paid me a visit together with her wonderful family, and we had a chance to talk about the topic that is of great interest to both of us: Fairtrade and Fairmined precious metals – what we can do to help the artisanal miners to a better future where Fairtrade gold and Fairmined gold is not the exception but the rule.

The beauty of birds on the lake

While Christina’s husband took their 18 months old son for a walk in the garden and down to the lake to talk to the ducks, Christina and I talked about the difficulties for the miners, especially the miners of Oro Verde, Choco, Colombia, who are threatened by internal differencies as how to mine and also by violent illegal mining groups from the outside who want to take over the land because of its richness in gold. It was shocking to hear Christina relate the stories of how some of the miner’s relatives are kidnapped to put a pressure on the groups of mining families and try to get them out of the area.

Gold miners at one of the Oro Verde mines, Colombia – Photo: Ronald Hommel

What are the standards that set metals above human lives?

Think about the power you have as a consumer and remember next time you buy a piece of jewellery to ask for the origin of the raw materials.

Gold heart in Fairtrade and Fairmined gold, 18 k with Jeweltree certified rough diamond disc

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