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Gold has been front and center in our civilization since the beginning. It has become a symbol of status and wealth.
Over time humans have developed more complex forms of acquiring this precious metal; from simply panning for
pieces in river beds to melding other elements that can bind or separate the gold from other rock. Humanity has also
come to recognize the dangers of some of these techniques. Mercury and cyanide have long been used in gold mining,
but the world is beginning to recognize that these chemicals are dangerous to both humans and the environment.
Ninety-nine countries, including the United States, have signed a convention to limit the use of mercury, but cyanide
is still used worldwide despite its dangers. There have been many efforts to change how we are able to acquire gold,
but more needs to be done. Safer mining methods need to be developed and underdeveloped countries need more
support in creating and enforcing laws against the creation of mines using dangerous techniques.
Human culture has valued gold since the beginning of civilization. The origins of this value are unclear. Gold as a metal
was far less useful than the metals of copper, bronze, and iron. It couldn’t be used to make tools or weapons. There are
some that believe that gold began being used as currency simply because there wasn’t another use for it (Zorach and
Phillips 7). In any case, gold became a staple in several cultures often representing wealth, status, and beauty. This
belief in the value of gold leads to a high demand in our world. This high demand must be met in the supply. Gold
mines can be found on almost every continent, but because of the perceived value of gold the surface sources used in
the past can no longer be mined. This leads to deeper and more dangerous mining practices to retrieve gold from deep
within the earth. Finding gold has led to Gold Rushs and illegal mining which has harmed the people and environment
irreversibly.
There have been many efforts to make mining safer for the nearby communities. One such effort was the signing of
the Minamata Convention. This was a multination agreement that was aimed to reduce the widespread mercury
pollution. The Minamata Convention was named after the Japanese city that had experienced extreme mercury
poisoning due to wastewater from a chemical factory (EPA). This agreement was signed by the United States in 2013,
and ninety-one countries have joined the convention in total.
The use of cyanide and mercury is affecting populations around the world. Leading to health complications and even
death. Unless we hold every country accountable for the actions within their countries these communities will
continue to suffer. Providing support and funds to underdeveloped countries can keep them from being taken
advantage of because of lower standards. These standards are needed in our world today. If we all come together, we
can make the world a safer place and make sure that retrieving gold will not harm others simply because of greed.
“Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Without Mercury.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 21 Nov. 2018,
www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/artisanal-and-small-scale-gold-mining-without-mercury.
“Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining.” World Gold Council, 7 Sept. 2018, www.gold.org/about-gold/gold-
supply/responsible-gold/artisanal-and-small-scale-gold-mining.
“Deforestation from Illegal Gold Mining Spreads to Northern Peru.” Mongabay Environmental News, 8 July 2016,
news.mongabay.com/2016/07/deforestation-from-illegal-gold-mining-spreads-to-northern-peru/.
Goldberg, Mark Leon. “How Satellite Data Can Fight Illegal Mining in Ghana.” UN Dispatch, 29 May 2019,
www.undispatch.com/how-satellite-data-can-fight-illegal-mining-in-ghana/.
“Making Mercury History in the Artisanal & Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector.” Global Environment Facility, 12 Oct.
2017, www.thegef.org/news/making-mercury-history-artisanal-small-scale-gold-mining-sector.
“Minamata Convention on Mercury.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 11 Mar. 2019,
www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/minamata-convention-mercury.
Prints & Photographs Online Catalog, 1886, www.loc.gov/pictures/.
“The Ten Principles: UN Global Compact.” The Ten Principles | UN Global Compact, www.unglobalcompact.org/what-
is-gc/mission/principles.
Un. “A New Shine to Gold: Reducing Health Hazards of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining.” UN Environment,
www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/new-shine-gold-reducing-health-hazards-artisanal-and-
small-scale-gold-mining.
Zorach, Rebecca, and M. W. Phillips. Gold: Nature and Culture. Reaktion Books, 2016.