Work has begun to clean up mercury contamination at a small gold mine in Colombia. What a learning experience! Imagine launching a project and the Colombian government shuts down the mining organization’s bank account, the project receives incredibly generous donations of skills, time, and resources, AND, new emerging opportunities wait on the horizon.
The panel will be moderated by Monica Stephenson (ANZA Gems, Moyo Gems), and will also feature Eric Braunwart (Columbia Gem House), Cristina Villegas (PACT Worldwide), Eunice Negele (TAWOMA), Monica Gichuci (African Women in Mining Association), and Conny Havel (Fairmined).
One of the most vibrant parts of the ethical metalsmithing movement is the Ethical Metalsmiths Student group. These students begin exploring wise studio practices early on, and will ultimately have a profound effect on the world of jewelry making as new students move out into the jewelry industry and share their practices.
This is a panel discussion moderated by Luis Fernandez. During this discussion, Mr. Fernandez, Paul Tullis (National Geographic), Kai Kresek (World Resources Institute), and Jen Marraccino (Pure Earth) will discuss how and where mining contributes to forest loss, and a model for "forest secure" mining communities.
Jo Becker presents on human rights and responsibilities in the jewelry industry, illustrated with an account of gem cutters in khambhat by Jagdish Patel. Together, they ask the question: What are our human rights responsibilities in the jewelry industry, including to laborers?
It can be challenging for small jewelry producers to achieve transparent supply chains. While meaningful progress is finally being made in the jewelry industry, much of that work has been targeted at larger corporations with large purchasing departments, and on supply chain initiatives that serve larger volumes.
Using data from the Just Gold project (see more information about the project, below), Joanne Lebert and Kesha Frank will illustrate the impact of gold mining on social, gender, and environmental issues. How many people can gold educate? How many can it feed? What are the risks of mining gold? What are the demographics of the miners? How can gold mining be used to incentivize positive social and environmental action?
Swarovski, long an influencer in creating a more responsible fashion industry, will bring information, innovation, and inspiration to the jewelry industry at the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference on October 25, 2019. Dax Lovegrove, Swarovski's Global Vice President of Corporate Sustainability & Social Responsibility at Swarovski, will provide the keynote address at this year's gathering.
Do you report suspicious activity in your supply chain? The Us State Department considers you a partner in keeping the flow of money clean. What are your legal requirements and obligations? When and what should you be reporting in your business?
"Moyo Gems is an ethical colored gemstone collaboration of Pact, Everledger, TAWOMA, Nineteen48 and ANZA Gems. Alongside AWIMA, we’re exploring the potential of online marketplaces for rough gemstones in order to streamline and scale ethical purchasing operations. We’re looking for feedback on what works for YOU and understand potential demand by ethical cutters, designers and retailers for more direct connection to miners and traders.
Public Health Impacts of the Jewelry Supply Chain: Challenges and Solutions. In this session, Perry Gottesfeld, Executive Director of Occupational Health at Knowledge International (OK International), will cover the following topics:
