255832 Tokens of love or symbols of war: How gold and diamond mining contribute to violent conflicts

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 12:48 PM - 1:06 PM

Martin Donohoe, MD, FACP , School of Community Health, Portland State University, Portland, OR
  
     
On Valentine's Day, anniversaries, and throughout the year, suitors and lovers buy cut diamond and gold jewelry for the objects of their affection. Their purchases are in large part a consequence of traditions maintained by aggressive marketing by multinational corporations. Most buyers are unaware that in gifting their lovers with these aesthetically-beautiful symbols, they are supporting industries which damage the environment, utilize forced labor, cause serious health problems, and contribute to violent conflicts and terrorism. This presentation will discuss the phenomenon of the resource curse, and review how diamond and gold mining contribute to violence and warfare, directly and via environmental destruction, human rights abuses, forced resettlement of indigenous populations, and funding of terrorist organizations. Recommendations to limit the effects of these extractive industries on violence will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Environmental health sciences
Occupational health and safety
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Explain how diamond and gold mining contribute to violence and warfare, directly and via environmental destruction, human rights abuses, forced resettlement of indigenous populations, and funding of terrorist organizations. Define the resource curse, wherein a country's dependence on gold and diamond mining reduces economic growth while increasing poverty and encouraging governmental corruption. Describe efforts to limit the effects of these extractive industries on violence, such as the production or purchase of alternative tokens of affection, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the United States' Clean Diamonds Trade Act, the "No Dirty Gold" pledge, and consumer and shareholder activism.

Keywords: War, Human Rights

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have published and lectured locally and nationally on the subjects of war, human rights abuses, and environmental health, including the relationship of gold and diamond mining to violent conflict.
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.

Back to: 3257.0: War, Terrorism and Public Health