Goldsmiths signs up to CAFOD's Golden Rules on ethical mining

CAFOD's campaign to clean up the gold industry is making strides, with leading Goldsmiths the latest major jewellery chain in the UK to sign up to a set of international principles to ensure gold mining minimises damage to the environment and communities local to the mines.

During a meeting between the director of CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) Chris Bain and Goldsmiths last week, the jewellery chain announced that it would sign up to the principles, or so-called 'Golden Rules', CAFOD said in a report today.

"We are delighted that Goldsmiths has made this important commitment. Goldsmiths' support adds momentum to the call for changes in the way gold is mined," said Helen Wolfson, CAFOD head of campaigns.

"The need now is for the entire industry to respond. The Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices was established to improve practices throughout the gold industry from mine to shop.

"The Council is coming under pressure from the jewellery sector, and from consumers, develop an industry wide approach which meets the Golden Rules.

"This is vital to ensure consumers can be confident that gold mining has not harmed communities or the environment."

CAFOD has been campaigning throughout 2007 for higher ethical standards within the gold industry as part of its wider Unearth Justice campaign. The campaign is urging mineral mining companies to take greater responsibility for the environment and the local communities in which they mine.

More than 45,000 people have signed CAFOD petitions and pledges, and a number of jewellery shops in England and Wales have been presented with gold chain petitions calling on the gold industry to clean up its act.

In signing the Golden Rules, Goldsmiths and its sister companies Mappin and Webb and Watches of Switzerland join six other UK jewellers already adhering to the principles - F Hinds, Fraser Hart, Beaverbrooks and Warren James.

Argos remains the only target jeweller yet to commit to the Golden Rules.