Newsletter No. 1

What are Metalsmiths?

Updated 01/22/2007

THE PRICE OF GOLD by Susan Kingsley, Metalsmith, Summer 2004 (download pdf)

THE MINING NEWS An archive of mining-related news excerpts and publications linked to their original sources.

No Dirty Gold: "The more you know, the less gold glows."

New York Times Multimedia Presentations
	The Cost of Gold: 30-Tons an Ounce The Cost of Gold: The Treasure of Yanacocha Questions on the Cost of Gold
Frontline World
	Peru — the Curse of the Inca Gold, PBS FRONTLINE October 25, 2005 World report on the high-stakes battle to control the world's richest gold mine.

ESSAYS and REPORTS

Conservationists by Nature by Scott Landis (download pdf)

In The Native Way by Tom Goldtooth

Ethics of Materials by Keith A. Lewis (download pdf)

Dirty Metals: Mining Communities and the Environment

The Framework for Responsible Mining (FRM) outlines environmental, human rights, and social issues associated with mining and provides guidelines for responsible practices.

Who Owns the West? As a result of the Mining Law of 1872, for as little as $0.84 an acre, more than 28,000 companies and individuals have gained control of precious metals and minerals on 5.6 million acres of public land across 12 continental western states. Some of these companies are foreign-owned.
Father of the 1872 Mining Law Senator William Stewart

INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS

Indigenous Environmental Network "A network of Indigenous Peoples empowering Indigenous Nations and communities towards sustainable livelihoods, demanding environmental justice and maintaining the Sacred Fire of our traditions."

Western Shoshone Defense Project with the mission to affirm Newe (Western Shoshone) jurisdiction over Newe Sogobia (Western Shoshone homelands) by protecting, preserving, and restoring Newe rights and lands for present and future generations based on cultural and spiritual traditions.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs)

EARTHWORKS Protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of mining, digging and drilling.
	Waste water running through a tailing pile. Papua, New Guinea. Photo: Earthworks

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. Its certification system is a model of what a gold certification system could be.

Global Witness campaigns to achieve real change by challenging established thinking on seemingly intractable global issues.

Great Basin Mine Watch empowering communities to protect their land, air and water.

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.

A child miner works in the grueling conditions of an open pit gold mine in Watsa, northeastern Congo. © 2004 Marcus Bleasdale	D.R. Congo: Gold Fuels Massive Human Rights Atrocities, Leading international corporations established links to warlords
	The Curse of Gold Photojournalist Marcus Bleasdale podcast

The Mineral Policy Institute (MPI) is an Australian-based non-government organisation specialising in advocacy, campaigning and research to prevent environmentally and socially destructive mining, minerals and energy projects in Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

MiningWatch Canada (MWC) is dedicated to changing public policy and mining practices to ensure the health of individuals, communities and ecosystems in Canada and around the world.

Oxfam America is committed to creating lasting solutions to global poverty, hunger and social injustice.

Project Underground was a group supporting the human rights of communities resisting mining and oil exploitation. Not updated since 2001, this site is still an important archive of news, research, and campaign materials.

The Rainforest Information Centre Inc.
The Rainforest Information Centre, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer organisation based in Australia and dedicated to the protection of the Earth's remaining rainforests and the indigenous people who depend on them. 

SKYTRUTH uses remote sensing and digital mapping to educate the public and policymakers about the environmental consequences of human activities, and to hold corporations and governments to higher standards of accountability around the globe.

Simulation of the development plan for the proposed Pebble Mine / Bristol Bay Gold Mining District in the Lake Iliamna region of Alaska. Photo: Skytruth

	Junin Mine, Intag River Region, Ecuador
	Kensington / Jualin Gold Mine, Alaska
	Tulsequah Chief Mine, British Columbia
	Yanacocha Gold Mine, Peru

Westerners for Responsible Mining (WRM) is dedicated to achieving the policy reforms that will result in a West that we can continue to treasure and continue to be proud to call home.

Western Mining Action Network (WMAN) has the mission to foster and support a strong network that protects communities, land, water, air, and wildlife by reforming mining practices and holding government and corporations accountable.

RESPONSIBLE MINING ORGANIZATIONS

Artminers: the Institute for Sustainable Mining The primary objective of ISM is to offer support to the world's artisanal (subsistence) miners.

The Association for Responsible Mining (ARM) is an independent, international, multi-institutional organization whose purpose is to bring credibility, transparency and legitimacy to the development of a framework for responsible artisanal and small-scale mining.

Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM) is an organization whose stated mission is to reduce poverty by supporting integrated sustainable development of communities affected by or involved in artisanal and small-scale mining in developing countries.

Mines and Communities is an comprehensive website committed exclusively to meeting the needs and answering the appeals of mining-affected communities.

JEWELERY ORGANIZATIONS

Jewelers of America is both center of knowledge for the jeweler and an advocate for professionalism and high social, ethical, and environmental standards in the jewelry trade.

	JA Adopts Supplier Code of Conduct
	Social, Ethical and Environmental Initiative
	Early Adopters Initiative
	Statement of Intent regarding corporate responsibility initiatives for the diamond and gold jewellery sectors (download pdf)
	Jewelers of America Social, Ethical and Environmental Framework (download pdf)