Why are countries rich in natural resources, such as gold, often some of the poorest in the world?

What’s the problem with mining?

While gold mining creates huge profits for multinational companies and their backers, it can destroy the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. CAFOD's Pure Gold? exhibition and Unearth Justice campaign reveal the hidden harm caused by gold mining across three continents.

In the relentless pursuit of gold, communities have been threatened and forced from their lands and homes. Rivers and streams close to mines have been polluted with arsenic, and hillsides and fields have been devastated – the damage lasting long after mines have closed.

In Honduras poor communities have seen their water poisoned as a result of mining; in the Philippines mining has forced indigenous people from their land; and in north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the development of a new mine brings an uncertain future for thousands of people. As consumers, there is no way of tracing how our gold reaches the shops and knowing what damage it has caused.

What is CAFOD’s Unearth Justice campaign calling for?

CAFOD is calling on governments and multinational businesses to make changes in mining practices which will end these injustices.

CAFOD works with local partner organisations who witness the impact of mining on poor communities and help people in those communities to stand up for their rights. Through their actions, and with your support, there is hope that gold can be turned from a curse to a blessing for the communities where it is mined.

CAFOD is calling for:

Governments to:
  • make strong laws to regulate mining companies in the countries in which they operate.
Mining companies to:
  • guarantee communities, who will be most affected by mining, a say over whether or how mining goes ahead on their lands
  • publicly disclose their contracts and the revenue they gain from each mine
  • work to eliminate harmful social and environmental impacts from their operations.
Jewellery retailers to:
  • make a public commitment to the Golden Rules, pledging to work towards sourcing cleaner gold, both in their own supply chain and across the industry.

Pension funds to:

  • find out the social and environmental impacts of the mining companies in which they invest
  • use their influence as investors to change mining company practices that risk harming people's rights, livelihoods and environment.
What has the campaign achieved so far?

Over 50,000 people in England and Wales have taken action with CAFOD to clean up dirty gold. They have successfully persuaded seven major jewellery chains to sign up to a set of Golden Rules – a public commitment to work towards sourcing cleaner gold, both in their own supply chain and across the industry.

Now the industry as a whole is beginning to address these issues. They have set up the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices to develop social and environmental standards covering the gold supply chain from multinational mining companies to jewellery retailers. CAFOD is calling on the Council to ensure its standards are based on the Golden Rules and are independently monitored and verified.

CAFOD campaigners continue to keep up the pressure on jewellers and mining companies to ensure that these standards are strong enough to clean up dirty gold.

Take action as part of CAFOD’s Unearth Justice campaign today

Further background on the Unearth Justice campaign