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Groups > Custom Jewelry > Discussions > Topic: Ethical Jewelry
Topic: Ethical Jewelry

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Jana M.

Ethical Jewelry August 09, 2007 4:45 PM

How often do we think about where our supplies come from?
I'm not talking about the stores where they are sold. I'm talking about the companies that produce raw materials. I'm talking about the mines where we get our metal and gemstones from.
What we don't realize is that often, severe environmental damage is caused by mining. Many companies do not pay their employees a sufficient wage, and safety concerns are often overlooked. While we are buying cheap beads, thinking we are getting a good deal, other people are paying for it.
I'm going to post several links so this subject can be further explored.

A good place to start. Look on the right side of the screen. Right below where it says INFORMATION, click on sweatshop free.
http://www.thebeadedneedle.com/index.php

Workers are suffering from an incurable lung disease in Hong Kong. Sadly, Hong Kong is a place where it's cheap to produce beads and therefore many wholesalers sell beads and gemstones cut in Hong Kong.
http://www.jewelrycampaign.net/eng/index.htm

Another like-minded person, Caleb at Purebeads.com, voices his opinion about unfair trade beads in "Semiprecious Beads, the Moral Dilemma."
http://www.purebeads.com/silicosis.htm

This site discusses mining, particularly of gold.
www.nodirtygold.org

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