Fair trade gold is sourced directly from small scale miners that adhere to strict environmental and labor standards. Some fair trade gold is done without mercury, which is the goal. However, even when mercury is used, it is captured in a closed loop system. A premium on the metal goes back into the community, where it is usually used to create schools and clinics.
Though small scale gold mining is terribly destructive to the environment and communities imagine the effect of a vibrant fair trade gold market in North America and around the world! Hundreds of thousands of small scale miners would be supported in producing gold responsibly. Instead of a resource curse, gold would become a positive economic development initiative.
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