EARTHWORKS and eight other nongovernmental organizations sent a letter to the mining and jewelry industry trade association, the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), outlining serious concerns with the RJC’s mining standards and process. Among the criticisms from the NGOs are the absence of key environmental and social criteria, such as community consent, no-go areas for biodiversity conservation, and protection of natural water bodies from tailings disposal.
- Read the Aug 6 2009 NGO letter sent by CAFOD, EARTHWORKS, Center for Science in Public Participation, Oxfam Australia, Great Basin Resource Watch, Oxfam America, Canadian Boreal Initiative, Global Witness, and MiningWatch Canada.
- Read EARTHWORKS’ joint comments on the first draft of RJC mining standards
