175897 Glitter and greed: Adverse economic, health, environmental, and human rights consequences of gold jewelry

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Martin Donohoe, MD, FACP , Community Health/Internal Medicine, Portland State University/Kaiser Permanente, Lake Oswego, OR
In addition to its aesthetic value, gold has played a dominant role throughout history in the growth of empires and the evolution of the world's financial institutions. The approximately 2,500 tons of gold mined each year are valued at $21 billion. Approximately 85% gets turned into jewelry. This session will discuss the adverse economic, health, environmental, and human rights consequences of gold production, marketing, and global trade. Alternatives to gold jewelry will be suggested, and national and international campaigns to eliminate “dirty gold” will be described, along with suggestions for citizen education and activism. Copies of the following will be available: Donohoe MT. Flowers, diamonds, and gold: The destructive human rights and environmental consequences of symbols of love. Human Rights Quarterly 2008 (February, in press).

Learning Objectives:
• Understand economic and trade issues relevant to the mining and marketing of gold for use in jewelry • Explain the “ resource curse” and the “casino economy” as they pertain to gold mining • Describe the adverse health, environmental, and human rights consequences of gold mining • Explain the effects of gold mining and trade on women and children • Discuss alternatives to gold jewelry, along with national and international campaigns and treaties to counter the effects of “dirty gold”

Keywords: Social Justice, Human Rights

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I researched this topic and am solely responsible for the content of the talk
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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See more of: Trade & Health Forum