Earth day, missing the point?
Today is ‘earth day’. To commemorate (or maybe commiserate) the occasion Theo Fennell decided to share what they describe as an ‘exceptional bespoke piece. A ring with a little enamel globe, surrounded by diamonds, that opens up to reveal an impossibly small polar bear and penguin. Made from 18ct gold.
But if earth day is supposed to get us all thinking about our impact on the planet then isnt using it as an excuse to push a product made from solid gold and diamonds missing the point?
You probably dont need a list of 5 ways that gold mining is bad for the planet, but I’ve found some for you anyway.
Heavy metal pollution from gold mines
Gold Mining Contaminates Villager’s Water In Kachin State
Zanu PF Youths Protests Against Magaya’s Gold Mining Activities
Brazil's largest indigenous reservation overrun by illegal gold mining, says report
Now you might be able to argue that there’s a little of synergy with the earth day message if this piece was made from either Fairmined or Fairtrade gold, both organisations that work with small scale miners to work in a safer more environmentally friendly way - but it isn’t.
Like everyone else in the jewellery industry at the time, Theo Fennel had the opportunity to use Fairtrade gold when it first arrived on the market in 2011, but he didn’t. He’s also had the chance to become a licensee every year since, but he hasn’t, though many others have.
So what’s this ring and Theo Fennell jewellery got to do with global warming, drought, famine, habitat loss and all the rest of it? Well, they’re contributing to it, whilst making no effort to reduce their impact whilst using the day as an opportunity to hawk jewellery on Facebook.