About Us
A Barrick Gold mining operation
The No Dirty Gold campaign
No Dirty Gold is an international campaign working to ensure that gold mining operations respect human rights and the environment. The No Dirty Gold campaign seeks to educate consumers, retailers, manufacturers about the impacts of irresponsible gold mining, and to enlist their support to persuade the mining industry to clean up its act.
No Dirty Gold is not calling for a boycott of gold. We are demanding changes in the way that metals are extracted and produced – all too often at the expense of communities, workers, and the environment. We are demanding alternatives to “dirty” – or irresponsibly produced – metals.
The gold focus
A wedding band, or some other piece of gold jewelry-for many people, these things are almost too valuable to put a price on. But while the ring as a symbol may indeed be priceless, the gold certainly is not. Gold comes with a price-a heavy one. Gold is costing the planet and its peoples far more than the metal itself is worth.
The production of one gold ring generates 20 tons of waste.
Gold mining is without doubt one of the world's dirtiest industries: it uses cyanide, generates heaps of waste, and leaves a long-lasting scar on landscapes and communities.
In places as diverse as Ghana, Indonesia, the United States, and Peru, gold mining operations have displaced people from their homelands against their will, destroyed traditional livelihoods, and damaged ecosystems. Indigenous people in particular disproportionately suffer the negative effects of gold mining, adding to the injustices they already endure. More than half of all gold comes from indigenous peoples' lands.
The No Dirty Gold campaign supports the rights of communities to determine their own futures - not to have it decided for them by corporations. We work at both ends of the metals supply chain.
Jewelry and electronics retailers may not be operating mining equipment, but they are driving the industry. That’s why we’ve enlisted over 90 retailers including 8 of the top 10 jewelry retailers in the United States , to endorse the Golden Rules for more responsible metals sourcing .On the other end of the supply chain, we work with communities affected by mining and grassroots groups to hold mining companies accountable, and to protect livelihoods, health and ecosystems from irresponsible mining.
How you can help
We are calling on retailers and consumers to demand changes in mining practices that will protect these precious rights and resources.
If you’re a retailer, please contact us about signing on to the Golden Rules. If you’re a concerned consumer, please take the No Dirty Gold pledge and follow our work.
Contact us
No Dirty Gold
1612 K Street, NW, Suite 808
Washington DC 20006 USA
Telephone: (+1) 202-887-1872 ext 110
Email: info@nodirtygold.org
For more information:
The Golden Rules for More Responsible Metals Sourcing
Retailers Supporting the Golden Rules
Tagged with: mining, no dirty gold
Follow No Dirty Gold