Mining Issues
« Previous Entries Next Entries »Executive Order Prohibits Trade with Zimbabwe’s Minerals Marketing Corporation
Friday, August 1st, 2008President George W. Bush signed an executive order to expand sanctions against Zimbabwe. The executive order prohibits individuals and entities closely linked with President Robert Mugabe to operate with U.S. firms. It also forbids U.S. residents and businesses from conducting financial or commercial transactions with rough diamond supplier Minerals Marketing Corporation (MMC) of Zimbabwe, and […]
US Senate Bans Import of Burmese Gems
Thursday, July 24th, 2008Over 90% of the world’s rubies originate from Burma. Given the human rights abuses and totalitarian regime in Burma, Brilliant Earth has never sourced any gemstones from Burma. All of our gemstones are sourced in accordance with fair trade principles. A new law has been passed banning the import of Burmese Gems into the US. […]
Big increase in illegal gold mining
Monday, July 14th, 2008Illegal mining of gold has rocketed in many poor countries as gold prices have risen. This has created difficulties for established gold mining companies, dangers for the illegal miners themselves, as well as environmental problems.
Eight Killed at Guyana Diamond Mining Site
Friday, June 27th, 2008Reuters and Rapaport are reporting that unknown assailants shot as many as eight people at a remote diamond mining camp in Guyana, burning the bodies afterwards. Criminal gangs operating in the area are known for other similar attacks. They sometimes take refuge in the mineral-rich […]
Q&A: Artisanal Mining
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008A Customer Asks…
I’ve been hearing about “artisanal” mining and how it’s a big part of the jewelry industry. What exactly is it?
Brilliant Earth Answers.
Very few consumers and even retailers know exactly what artisanal mining is, and how important it is to the jewelry industry. The technical term is artisanal and small-scale mining, often shortened to […]
Gem Mine Tragedy in Tanzania
Thursday, May 8th, 2008Last month saw small-scale miners in Tanzania devasted by floods in the tanzanite mines near the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. At least 70 miners died in the flooding, with national response hampered by power cuts due to the storms.
Investors Urge Responsible Mining in Guatemala
Monday, April 28th, 2008Shareholders in Canadian mining firm are exercising their influence in support of human rights in Guatemala. A group of shareholders from Canada and Sweden have reached an agreement with Goldcorp Inc., which has agreed to commission an independent human rights impact assessment of its operations in Guatemala.
The investors spent more than two years trying to […]
Country Update: Congo Violence Continues
Monday, April 7th, 2008The Democratic Republic of Congo has abundant natural resources, including diamonds, cobalt, copper and petroleum, but little to show for them. Conflict over resource management has led to bloody conflict and the deaths of literally millions of Congolese. Today, while the conflict has formally ended, the violence and misuse of resources has not.
South Africans Lose Against Platinum Giant
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008Rural communities in South Africa are losing their farm land and clean water to the activities of platinum mining giant Anglo Platinum, the world’s largest platinum company. A new ActionAid report, Precious Metal: The impact of Anglo Platinum on poor communities in Limpopo, South Africa, focuses on just one of a number of platinum producers […]
Protecting Bristol Bay
Friday, February 15th, 2008Brilliant Earth just signed the Bristol Bay Protection Pledge, an important step in protecting Alaska’s land, water, wildlife, and salmon fisheries from the ravages of open pit gold mining. You can help too!