"Sears, Kmart Among Latest Companies Swearing Off 'Dirty Gold'"

"WASHINGTON, DC -- Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears and Kmart, along with two other jewelry retailers last week signed on to the No Dirty Gold campaign's Golden Rules for responsible sourcing of precious metals.

The addition of Sears Holdings, Ultra Stores and Blue Nile brings the total number of signatories to 60, representing seven of the top 10 jewelry retail firms in the United States, and a cumulative $1.3 billion in annual domestic jewelry sales -- nearly one-quarter of the country's total jewelry sales.

The No Dirty Gold campaign aims to bring to light the human and environmental costs of mining gold, which the group estimates creates 20 tons of mine waste to source enough gold for one ring. The campaign was launched in 2004 and has been working on global retailers ever since...."

GreenBiz had the story November 24, 2009.

See Also:

"Congo Army Helps Rebels Get Arms, U.N. Finds" (New York Times)

"High Gold Prices, Army Collaboration, Play Role in Mining Invasion in Southern Venezuela" (Mongabay.com)