CAFOD’s partners have long reported the devastating impact of illegal gold mining on Indigenous and farming communities in the Amazon, and many other precious biodiverse regions of the world.
Illegal miners use mercury to separate the gold and this pollutes rivers, poisoning fish and resulting in malnutrition and child mortality among the communities who depend on them for their survival. Recent rises in the price of gold have only worsened an already dire situation, attracting organised crime, increasing levels of violence and providing a lucrative income that can fuel armed conflicts and wars.
Seventy per cent of the global gold trade takes place on the London Bullion Market, and as such the UK is uniquely placed to play a leading role in addressing this terrible situation. CAFOD is calling for new legislation to hold to account powerful international mining companies trading in the UK when they fail to prevent abuses within their activities and supply chains, while also challenging the London Bullion Market Association to strengthen its own regulatory framework and thus ensure that consumers can buy gold that is not tainted by these abuses.
