Remember that haunting tune which goes like “Gold…Gold…Gold…” from the legendary movie staring Omar Sharif & Gregory Peck. Yes, Mackenna’s Gold. You don’t remember? Too bad. Even if you don’t, it is still ok as it has nothing to do with the story really. Then why did I put that in. For two reasons, one simply being every time anyone mentions the word “gold” the song plays in my head in all its splendor & two, just to add some star value to my writing; Simple as that.
Now getting to the issue on hand, Fairtrade plans to classify gold & ethical & green by the time we all roll into 2009. There have been plenty of fights & lot of bloodshed for diamonds & gold across the planet. Hence, Fairtrade wants to brand pure gold extracted in eco-friendly conditions as being ethical. According to them:
We’re interested in bringing our expertise in trying to get a better deal for small-scale producers, how to get a fairer price for their goods, how to use the sale of gold to improve terrible health and safety environmental issues, and set up best practice.
Now firstly, I find all this a bit amusing & frankly a bit bemusing too. I do not understand the point of all this at all. In fact, every time the word ‘ethical’ is mentioned, I laugh a little bit on the inside. According to one of my favorite writers, Sigmund Freud, there is nothing called “ethically correct way” or “moral righteousness”. He says all this is just a human creation & illusion. While I agree with that, let us not venture too far in that direction.
Fairtrade’s attempt seems equally hollow as there is no way in which “ethical jewelry” is going to be guaranteed by “ethical gold”. I still don’t like the name & the whole task might be a bit of a waste. While the effort is commendable, people will buy gold irrespective of the ethical branding. As long as it is still yellow & shining, they will take it both hands.
