All that Glitters May Not Be Your Friend

This may surprise Marilyn, but diamonds are not a girl's best friend and all that glitters is not gold, or green for that matter. Okay, I'll stop, enough cliches for today.

 
Mining for minerals needed for jewelry is not an environmental practice. In fact, mining for these natural elements consumes huge amounts of energy, releases pollutants and greenhouse gases into the air, allows toxic chemicals to seep into groundwater, damages land, speeds up erosion and generates and unbelievable amount of waste. Metal mining was the number one toxic polluter in the United States in 2008 (as of 2010), responsible for more that 25 percent of all reported toxic releases.

In addition to the environmental hazards, mining is also associated with socially devastating practices. Diamonds fund violence against citizens, especially in African countries such as Angola and Sierra Leone. The United Nations defines conflict diamonds as, "diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council."

http://www.jewellerynetasia.com/en/Blog/345/Conflict_Diamonds_are_only_1__You_Believe_this_.html

Gold-mining is one of the dirtiest practices in the world. Gold mining conditions are dangerous for workers, it is responsible for three percent of work deaths globally. Additionally, the average gold mine uses enough water to provide the basic water needs for a population equivalent to that of a large U.S. city for a year. The open pits are required to be enormous (the largest is the Bingham Canyon mine in Utah is visible from outer space) destroying beautiful landscapes, wildlife habitat and important ecosystems.

Are you outraged? You probably should be, otherwise you must not like animals...

No Dirty Gold is a campaign that is working toward stopping dirty mining practices around the world and to prevent the sale of gold that has been mined in an unsustainable way. 

But don't fret, you can still get your bling on and all that. Here's the part in the blog post where I inform you of where you can buy earth-conscious jewelry:

• The best option is always to buy used. Find jewelry at antique, consignment and thrift stores or your grandma's jewelry box.
• Green Karat - synthetic gems and recycled metals.
• Brilliant Earth - recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds for engagement and wedding bands.
• Leber Jeweler - Earthwise line of conflict-free gems and reclaimed metals.
• Tiffany - conflict-free diamonds and responsible metal mining, oh and those little blue boxes are made from Forest Stewardship Council certified paper.