On 14 February, Valentine’s Day, there was the launch in London of the very first Fairmined and Fairtrade gold ingot from artisanal and small-scale mining. This was mined at the Cooperativa Minera Cotapata in the Nor Yungas area of La Paz.
To receive this certification, the mine had to comply with a number of conditions. It had to reach certain minimum standards to guarantee social development, proper labour conditions (such as safe working standards and proper management of toxic materials), environmental standards and compliance with legislative protection for workers. The Fairtrade and Fairmined certificate not only guarantees a minimum price for the gold mined, but also a 10% Fairtrade premium to be ploughed back into improving conditions for the mine workers. See www.fairtrade.org.uk/gold for more information.
Many organisations have been involved in this initiative to help the miners of Cotapata and their families achieve this result. The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), the NGO Cumbre de Sajama , Oxfam Novib International and Belgian Co-operation amongst them. I hope that more such initiatives will follow. Mining is a hard job, and conditions for miners and their families in Bolivia and other parts of South America are often atrocious. The certification will help provide them with greater security, strengthen the communities in which they work, address gender equality in those communities, and improve working conditions. And ensure a fair price.
There is nothing like a gold ring to seal a romance. The next time you think of buying, look out for the Fairtrade and Fairmined mark. More people will benefit from your love than you might realise!