Artisan Small Mining of Fair Trade Silver and Gold
Artisan Small Mining of Fair Trade Silver and Gold
Before Europeans ever came to Mexico, many kinds of mineral ore
came out of the innumerable small mining operations in the mountains.
In those pre-Columbian times, the population of Guerrero was much larger than it is now; then, there was considerable economic activity
involving the refinement of mineral ores into alloys for a variety of useful purposes,
such as the inclusion of jade, and other colored stones, into expertly fabricated and exquisite jewelry.
Before the money system culture of the conquerors was established, silver, gold, and tin were extracted
by small-scale miners who where also creative artisans. Not only were the high-grade ores refined and hammered into wire and sheet, the lost-wax casting method was mastered and practiced by these people.
For the people in and around Taxco, Artisan Small Mining is nothing new in the scope of history..
The autocratic mining business system was imposed with the Conquest of Mexico (1512-1515).
Hernán Cortéz himself opened the first mine in Taxco. As such, mining going on outside
the control of the big mining company is what is referred to here as: Artisan Small Mining.
In the context of Fair Trade Silver, the mining is done on a small scale, using environmentally responsible efficient technologies socially and; particularly, in the area of the reclaiming of metals, and waste treatment. Artisan Small mining contributes to environmental protection, human health and ecological restoration
in its operations and communities. In mining where toxic substances are used, where tailings are generated,
and where biodiversity is affected, proactive measures are taken to identify, manage and mitigate impacts.
The standards for Fair Trade Gold are based on natural law, the right of every human individual to dignity
and the opportunity to work to provide for one’s family; and, secondly, upon the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and later UN declarations regarding the cultural, social and economic rights of individuals, respect for the rights of artisans, and small-scale miners.
Indeed, the material purpose of Fair Trade Silver is to provide dignified standards of living to small producers, workers, and families, particularly, by offering an alterative to migration to the United States.
Artisan Small Mining of silver and gold, and other metals contributes to the sustainable human development
of village communities, benefiting the people and improving quality of life of productive workers and families.
Fair Trade labeling of Silver, and other precious metals, improves the quality of the lives of mineral workers.
Of course, this is always within the history, traditions, conceptions, and priorities of the producer villages.
The certification of the products of Artisan Small Mining in the forms of Fair Trade Gold and Fair Trade Silver is a condition, fundamental and necessary, yet not sufficient, for healthy growth in the physical economy, with substantial benefits for the artisan producer as well as a living example of durable environmental responsibility.
