CONTACT: Visit www.globalresponse.org; www.gbrw.org; www.wsdp.org
Paula Palmer, Global Response, 303 444-0306 ext 103, paula@globalresponse.org
Dan Randolph, Great Basin Resource Watch, 775.348.1986, dan@gbrw.org
Larson Bill, Western Shoshone Defense Project, 775.744-2565, wsdp@igc.org
Groups Charge Wal-Mart with “Greenwashing”
“Love,Earth” Gold is Tarnished
Boulder, CO: Environmental watchdog group Global Response announced today that it filed complaints with Consumers Union and the Federal Trade Commission, charging that Wal-Mart’s “green” claims for its “Love,Earth” jewelry are false.
“It is unconscionable that instead of addressing the planet’s serious environmental problems, Wal-Mart hoodwinks consumers into thinking they can ‘reduce impact on human health and the environment’ by buying gold jewelry,” says Global Response’s executive director Paula Palmer
The mines in Utah and Nevada and the factories in Peru and Bolivia where Wal-Mart claims its gold for Love,Earth is “sustainably mined and manufactured” are not monitored or certified by any credible independent agent.
“Wal-Mart has chosen to publicly endorse mining operations which have significant problems,” says Dan Randolph, executive director of the Nevada-based Great Basin Resource Watch. “These mines emit unacceptable quantities of mercury into the air, threatening the health of fetuses and young children. They deplete water quantity in an arid region, and they will go on contaminating water with toxic metals for centuries to come.”
Denver-based Newmont Mining Company mines Love,Earth’s gold on Western Shoshone lands without the permission of the Western Shoshone. “Wal-Mart claims its jewelry comes from ‘community friendly sources,’” says Larson Bill of the Western Shoshone Defense Project. “But they’ve never talked to us, and we’re the community affected by Newmont’s mines. They should meet with us. We need an independent health study here to show how these mines are affecting our people.”
Wal-Mart’s Love, Earth logo is encircled by the words, the “reduce, reuse, recycle, respect.” But mining is an extractive, non-renewable industry that is, by definition, unsustainable. A single gold ring leaves behind as much as 20 tons of waste rock and tailings that continue to pollute ground water even after the mine has stopped operations.
“The only sustainable gold is recycled gold – your grandmother’s wedding ring remade into a new piece. When Love,Earth jewelry is made entirely of recycled gold, it will earn its name. Until then,” says Global Response’s Palmer, “don’t believe it, and don’t buy it.”
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SEE THE GLOBAL RESPONSE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO… and ACTION!
This Global Response Action was issued at the request of and with information provided by the Western Shoshone Defense Project (www.wsdp.org) and Great Basin Resource Watch (www.gbrw.org). For more information about Wal-Mart, see www.loveearthinfo.com, www.wakeupwalmart.com and www.walmartwatch.com. For more information about the impacts of gold mining, see www.minesandcommunities.org and www.nodirtygold.org. Special thanks to George Blevins for his drawings.
1 Comment(s)
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Greenwashing is an understatement.
The notion of equating large scale strip mining which is massively polluting and calling that “love earth” is nothing short of nefariously offensive to any one who cares about the environment. They must have channeled George Orwell to come up with that title.
Also, as a jewelry manufacturer who has worked to convert his 3000 piece inventory to 100% recycled metal, I view the marketing of this product as earth friendly undermining legitimate efforts within the jewelry sector to produce gold and manufactured jewelry that truly does represent a higher standard.
In essence, Wal-Mart is attempting to define the space in this new emerging market in their own terms by marketing a big lie.
Marc Choyt, publisher:
http://www.fairjewelry.org