Blog
Water management in artisanal and small scale placer mining
Water is the most vital resource for life. Which is why it is important to understand the impact of artisanal and small-scale placer mining (ASM) on water bodies and watercourses and implement the correct water use and management practices.
Transition plan for the elimination of mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining
Public positioning of the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) on mercury.
How do we jointly define priorities to improve the conditions of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)?
In an event for dialogue and regional participation that we organized at the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) to get together with different stakeholders with whom we had been working with in Colombia (Cauca and Nariño regions), we built an agenda aimed at giving more visibility to artisanal and small-scale mining. This agenda was created based on the accomplishments, challenges and learnings that we identified throughout a year through the relationship with multiple stakeholders.
“Sustainable Jewellery. Principles and Processes for Creating an Ethical Brand “
The launch of “Sustainable Jewellery. Principles and Processes for Creating an Ethical Brand” shows us the revolution that is taking place within the jewellery sector today. An opening to the secrecy that characterizes it, if we compare it to more innovative and communicative industries like fashion, in which we find an endless number of publications addressing its harmful impact on the environment, and the question of developing sustainable practices.
The final step to achieving a mercury free dream
The general assistant of Gualconda mine and president of the Asociación Agro Minera de los Andes “Fortaleza”, Rolberto Alvarez, has been on a mission to eliminate mercury from the processes used by the 13 member association to extract gold. In December of 2017 the Colombian association accomplished this goal.
Beyond the tip of certified sustainable production iceberg
In the last decade, we have seen a spectacular increase in sustainability initiatives and Voluntary Sustainability Standards. However, in many agricultural supply chains we still face a tremendous challenge to bring small producers up to the sustainability standards required by market stakeholders and consumers.
Italian jewelry market: no fear to change
Francesco Belloni, 48 years old, handled the jewelry founded by his father in 1955. Married, two lovely daughters, he works hard to achieve his goals, he works with passion and sense of responsability. The claim he chose for his ethical brands is “Dignity is the most precious asset”.
How are miners and the government advancing in the elimination of mercury?
It is a fact that mercury cannot be used in extraction operations in the country. But, how do you get small miners to cast it aside when it gave them good results at a low cost? Article for Revista Semana - Mercury special edition (july 2018) The use of mercury by...
The formalization of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Colombia and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
In September 2015, the international agenda for Sustainable Development was published. 17 Sustainable Development Goals were defined to guide nations on their path towards eradicating poverty and achieving “sustainable development in its three dimensions — economic,...
Le devoir de diligence pour l’or artisanal
Authors: Louis Maréchal et Luca Maiotti Depuis plusieurs années, la communauté internationale, les organisations de la société civile et de manière générale les consommateurs ont développé des attentes fortes visant à s’assurer que la production et le commerce...
Due diligence for artisanal gold
Authors: Louis Maréchal and Luca Maiotti For several years, the international community, civil society organizations and consumers have developed high expectations to ensure that the production and trade of raw materials, especially gold, are not linked to human...
Water and mining: what does leadership involve?
Water has gained increased importance in communities’ and NGO’s agendas, becoming the most powerful convening issue for territorial based social movements resisting mining. Water is the most sensitive issue for communities as negative impacts on water directly...
ASM and Changing Donor Priorities
Having spent more than 15 years in a large bilateral donor agency (until recently), I know a fair bit about how policy and programming priorities are decided. Don’t get me wrong; in the right circumstances the potential to make a practical and sustained difference can...
The Link between Fairmined Certification and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
Since 1992, the issues of development and the environment have been topics of discussion, starting with the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro that same year. Afterwards the United Nations...
Four lessons on communicating good practices in artisanal and small-scale mining
(c) Photographies: Lise Remon, ARM and Eduardo Martino. The artisanal and small-scale mining sector (ASM) faces a lot of problems and many times positive experiences are not spread. Gabriela Flores analizes how efective communications can help mining communities to...
Child Labor in Mining – From Regulations to Field Experiences
Child labor prevents children and adolescents from exercising their right to education, and it infringes upon their right to health. It hinders their right to leisure and recreation, thus robbing them of their childhood. It constitutes a serious violation of the...
Achievements and challenges in the Fairmined Certification System
The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) developed the Fairmined Standard to create opportunities for artisanal and small-scale mining organizations (ASMO), helping them to transform into responsible organizations regarding their economic, technological and...
New Year’s resolution: Information for formalization
ASM formalization is a challenge to all gold producing countries. Results vary greatly, but in general, ASM continue to be predominantly informal. One, but most definitely not the only cause for this, is the lack of accurate and timely information for miners, for...
Artisanal gold miners are the new ‘COPitalists’
As a Parisian, last month was a real example of life with its mixed feelings, bumps, fights and victories. Thirty days ago our lives were hit by the dramatic Bataclan shootings. Violence was next door as almost every Parisian knew somebody who was in the attacked...
Between legality and legitimacy: which is more important?
For those of us who have been immersed in the world of small-scale mining for years, it is common to ask this question while trying to understand the historical, economic, ethnic, environmental and social contexts that affect the idiosyncrasies of our people and...