Class ring makers join boycott against Pebble Mine gold
Originally published Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 1:21 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 8:31 p.m.
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The growing list of jewelers vowing to boycott gold from a proposed Alaska mine now includes major manufacturers of class rings.
Herff Jones and Commemorative Brands Inc., both of which make class rings, have joined the list of jewelers opposed to the proposed Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska. The mine is estimated to contain hundreds of billions of dollars worth of copper, gold and molybdenum, but would be built near some of the world's most productive wild salmon streams.
Two other companies, Birks and Mayors and Hacker Jewelers, also added their names to the list on Wednesday. The 18 jewelry companies now opposed to Pebble represent sales of more than $3.7 billion a year.
Canadian-based Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. and London-based Anglo American are developing the minerals deposit.
Project plans haven't been finalized, making the jewelers' opposition premature, Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively said.
"They've prejudged the project when we don't have one," he said.
Dan Hacker, whose father founded Hacker Jewelers of Tecumseh, Mich., in 1956, described his business as a "mom and pop" operation.
"Certainly, I am not a crazy person that is against all kinds of economic development or anything, but this proposal is a very big open pit mine, perhaps the biggest open pit mine in North America, and it really threatens to endanger a great commercial salmon fishery and some pristine water," he said Wednesday. "The salmon fishery provides tens of thousands of jobs for people and that is a sustainable industry."
Hacker said he uses recycled gold instead of newly mined gold whenever possible.
"Gold is one of the most recycled resources that the world has ever known," he said.
Tiffany & Co., with more than $1.5 billion in sales, is leading the campaign against Pebble. It took out an advertisement in the October issue of National Jeweler to encourage other jewelers to join the campaign.
"Despite the best of intentions, 175 years of experience sourcing gemstones and precious metals tells us that there are certain places where mining cannot be done without forever destroying landscapes, wildlife and communities," it read. "Bristol Bay is one such place."
Community Discussion
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These companies won't buy gold from Pebble mine, but have no problem buying gold or diamonds from countries who have no problem with human rights violations. Talk about hypocrites.
"Hacker Jewelers"...now there is a great name....
Amen Moondoggie....I guess the blood of human beings doesn't really count when it comes to publicity.
Total number of salmon killed by Pebble = 0
Total number of salmon killed by Bycatch = 9,999,999,999,999,999 and climbing.
Do you really want to protect Bristol Bay salmon? Then stop eating fish sticks!
People still eat fish sticks?
I might be incorrect, but I thought Pebble Mine is going to mine industrial grade gold which is different then gold used for jewlery. So, it really doesnt matter if top jewlery companies say no to Pebble Mine...
ealo - good point, you won't see jewelry from Fort Knox gold either.
If only environmentalist would stop buning fossil fuels, we could save more polar bears.
I can not believe they are going through with developing that disgusting mine. What is wrong with the world today, no one cares about the planet we all have to share or what? I say good job to the jewelry stores that are taking a stand.This mine will kill all the fish in that area and ruin the waters for generations to come. I know I did everything in my power as an average person who has no political power to stop that mine from being developed but it's sad that no one with the power to stop development did enough. I am reassured everyday that I have made the right choice about not having children because there wont be a planet worth leaving them when I am gone. Sad.
two words....OPEN PEBBLE!!!
I wonder how many people who will post on this thread own computers, cell phones, mp3 players, discmans/walkmans, stereos, televisions, car stereos, ... you get the drift.
Anything that uses circuit boards or microchips will have industrial gold inside it and that is where the majority of gold mined is utilized. Jewelry is the most visible use of gold but not the most common.
You want to show your support of not opening Pebble mine? Live like the Amish.
HA!
Nice advertising stunt for Tiffany and Co's.
Wonder if the buy gold from the TV hucksters cash now for your gold at 10% of it's value?
The history Ch had a program on 2012 doomsday.
Between the religious nuts, environmentalists, and fraudsters, we should catch all the salmon and eat it NOW before global warming boils it.
"You want to show your support of not opening Pebble mine? Live like the Amish." There ya go!
I know I have done everything in my power as an average person to promote this mine. I used the political power I have, my vote, to stiffle the opponants of this mine, and development in general. I enjoy my children and look forward to many generations living in the land of their birth. With good jobs in the mine and good luck on the fishing grounds. The family owns a B.B. drift permit and did well this season. Looking forward to a 3rd generation taking over the permit.
When the Chinese start dumping our bonds and buying gold, who's going to sell it to them?
I don't think any of you pro Pebble mine know what is a stake here. First off the place they want to put this open pit mine is smack dap in the middle of the most productive fishery in North America and the mining activity proposed is so extensive, so huge, that there is no possible way for it to operate without destroying the fishery. Second off the people there are fishermen not miners, they like their lifestyle the way it is, they don't want this mine, and it will destroy their livelihoods. Third, who gains from this mine? - The state may see a bit of tax revenue, a few imported miners may be put to work, but the mine will be operated by non U.S. companies and the profits will go elsewhere. Basically we will be enriching some foreign company for a few jobs that aren't needed in that area, and some taxes. Meanwhile many more will lose their livelihoods, one of the most productive fisheries will be eradicated, and a small group of men from overseas will be enriched who have no qualms with human rights and environmental catastrophes as shown by previous and current mining operations by the same companies abroad.
I am all for expanding our states infrastructure and expanding our industrial activities however not all and every scheme is worth pursuing. Just do a little research and don't be so quick to automatically grant a blank check to any Tom, Dick or Harry developer that comes down the pike. It's not prudent and it’s potentially destructive.
tyrant, I like the way you think - mostly because I am a third generation Alaskan born and raised. I don't like Pebble though; I don't believe it can coexist wish the current economic activity already happening there. Otherwise we agree.
They know it is meaningless. Once that gold is poured into bars no one will know where it originated.
I support Pebble despite the false propaganda against it.
It's the individual jewelry company's prerogative if they don't want to buy Pebble Mine gold. I just can't imagine there there will be a worldwide shortage of customers willing to buy Pebble Mine gold.
In a way, it's like me with Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Or why I dropped my AARP membership a few years back. I refuse to support their enterprises because a slice of the money goes to their Dumas liberal causes and candidates. It doesn't seem to stop them, but I feel better about myself.
homegrownalaskan-
Thanks for not reproducing. Really, I mean it.
They want it open so bad because the price of gold is up and the future looks like it could keep on going, most of the world trades commodities in U.S. currency, but most would like another standard, gold is stable, and it's no secret that our largest creditor is looking to buy.
<<<<two words....OPEN PEBBLE!!!.>>>>>
one word: never.
What a bunch of ignorant hypocritical boobs... not only is Pebble not producing any gold to sell to jewelers; Pebble is primarily a copper mine.
Samm,
And your point. Pebble if it produces what they say will still be one of the biggest gold deposits ever discovered. Just because its surrounded by a bigger deposit of copper is hardly saying anything...after copper is far more abundant on the planet..which is one reason the wiring in your house is made from it, and not gold. ;o)
Tyrant, I suggest you learn to spell. And punctuate. And use paragraphs.
Or don't bother, because you won't be taken seriously either way.
If the Pebble project were at least being done by an American company, I could support it. But I refuse to support the further raping of our state by foreigners! Canadians, no less! I refuse to believe that potentially sacrificing one of our greatest resources (the Bristol Bay fishery) by giving away another (the Pebble deposits) to a FOREIGN company makes any sense at all!
Other than a few token jobs (John Shively is only a figurehead!), Alaskans will not benefit from this project at all!
Not_From_North_Pole,
Big difference. Pebble has the potential to destroy the salmon spawning grounds permanently, the place where they are most vulnerable to an extinction event. Its impossible for bycatching to do that.
In fact the only reason bycatching has killed so many fish is because spawning has replenished the supply. Get rid of the spawning ground, bycatching won't ever kill another salmon ever...not 1, not a trillion.
Considering most of the Gold will be purchased by industrial concerns in palces like China, I don't think Pebble is to worried about what a few hypocritical jewelers think.
Henry,
You have no problem supporting our fisheries which are largely Japanese owned and largely Seattle based for both labor and supplies?
Great jobs those Bristol Bay cannery jobs or Dutch Harbor processors paying a nickle over minimum and bringing up foreign workers by the plane load. I've seen it and so would have you if you'ld ever been within a thousand miles of the place. Ask the NANA shareholders if Red Dog jobs are token. Or Pogo or Fort Knox or BP on the slope. Ask their workers if their jobs are "token". Alaskans and our treasury have benefited from all these projects. Just what projects would you support? Tyrant is honest when he says he made $100,000 a year building Fort Knox. You can do that when you put in the hours and work hard. Lets see the Naknek processors make 25K for a season. Oh and lets see if your accomplishments in life will ever match John Shively's. Worm. Who cares what you think.
Tyrant, I'm as Alaskan as you are.
Robir8, I know people who have worked in canneries. It's hard work. Work I'm glad I don't have to do. They're not all foreigners imported by the planeload.
Sure, some mines in Alaska employ many Alaskans. Take your example, Red Dog. It is OWNED BY NANA!
And to think I thought gold was gold and fish was fish. So, I guess we just leave copper and gold in the ground... for.... ?
Mike Jayne, are you nuts or what? thousand of salmon come up the tanana and chena every July wake up and smell the fish !! Open Pebblle now Gold is Gold
Salmon? Fun to catch, good to eat. 80% of this state's budget is funded by oil tax revenue...oil that is running out...revenue that is running out.
New technologies have made lower-48 shale gas extraction affordable. The remoteness of our gas combined with the instability of our tax structure practically guarantees we will see no natural gas development.
Just what do you imagine is left to fill the coffers here people? Oil/gas, and the military are all that keep this state afloat. We can't survive off tourism and fishing. Mining is all we have left. Mining is Alaska's future.
Mining may be Alaska's future, but only if we control development and ownership of the resource. If we let Canadians control it, we're sunk.
www.ftknox.info
Tyrant - For all we know, you are a child just learning how to write and spell. Afterall, since the manner in which one writes on this board is the only indication we have of the intelligence of a person, you are either a child just learning or lack the ability to write proper english. It is very hard to take you serious as your lack of puncuation and spelling combined with improper syntax and sentence structure clearly indicate that perhaps you should go back to school with all that money you allege that you earned building all the construction projects throughout Alaska.
As far as the pebble mine goes. I only hope it is not run like the the Pogo Mine. The Pogo Mine is also 100% owned by foreigners. The majority of the miners are also foreigners. The policy and procedures that are in place at Pogo defy all common sense. I work for a company that delivers products to the mine every day. I am in Pogo every day. Pogo is run like a dictatorship. Many disgruntled employees. The general manager of the mine stated at a chamber of commerce meeting in Fairbanks last month that they have trouble retaining employess. I have seen chemical spills at the mine that should have never happened. Their latest environmental report to the state indicates that "acceptable levels" of arsenic and cyanide have been released into the Goodpaster river.
If Pebble mine is operated like Pogo, it will be a big disaster.
We will buy all our jewelery from companies who protect pristine places and boycott any that buy from Pebble mine. Good to know some companies are not so greedy as to spoil the entire world to make a buck.
Tyrant - Typical reaction from a union thug. I don't work for Pogo, I work for a union motor carrier that transports into Pogo every day. Tyrant, you are the typical union attitude that the unions of today are trying to get rid of. Your inability to articulate your thoughts and expressions as a result of your obvious minimal education is ever so evident. Perhaps while you are sitting around waiting for the next big construction project to happen, you should use your PFD this year and take some classes at the university to learn how to write and use the english language.
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If Pebble gold doesn't go into jewelry that will make it a tad cheaper for me to buy it.
I don't get why so many "long time alaskans" want to turn our state into another California complete with a network of highways, towns and superfund sites. If you like that kind of place so much move Outside.
As for Pebble, it's in the wrong place. Big mining's track record is poor and this isn't the spot we gamble that they are going to finally get it right.
Now, now.
Let's be real Alaskans and be civil.
We can all agree that our state needs jobs. We would like them to be jobs that last, rather than repeating the boom/bust cycle. Then, there will be jobs for our kids, too.
The questions are:
Who gets the jobs? Residents who want them, or people who move to Alaska for the jobs. If you were here during the pipeline, or came to work on the pipeline, then you know what can happen. The net cost to the community and state was high, as we then had to supply services for all the new residents.
Do we create jobs for people in Fairbanks/Anchorage at the expense of taking jobs from people in the Bristol Bay region? Is it fair to take away the livelihood that a man's family has had for generations so that someone who doesn't even live in the area can come in and work there? Aren't we taking his freedom, as well as his job, if we tell him that he can just now go work at the mine instead of staying in the family business? A big hole in the ground surrounded by men and machinery is going to affect the water systems of the area, not to mention animal behavior and hunting success. That's just the way it works.
If, according to state constitution, Alaska's resources belong to ALL residents, is it really fair to allow a single entity to claim an Alaskan mineral deposit, invest in it and profit from it without making certain that all residents are: 1. not harmed by the development, and 2. benefit from the development.
And what if some of the people who have lived in the area since before recorded time aren't in favor of it? Do we just say, "too bad"? That's a dangerous precedent. Next time it could be your neighborhood.
The land proposed for the mine is publicly owned, by you, me and the people who live nearby. To them, it's as if someone came into your yard, cut the trees and sold them for firewood. It's that personal. From far away in Fairbanks, it may be hard to see that. (And before you say that you own your trees because you bought your land, remember that many residents may not own the mineral rights under their own home. The state has reserved them in many cases.)
As an Alaskan, it just doesn't seem right to me to trample the rights of the people in Bristol Bay and to once again bend over to some industry just because they promise jobs, especially at the expense of existing long-term jobs.
It shouldn't matter, as all arguments should stand on their own merit, but in case it does to you, I was born in the Territory of Alaska and have been through two oil booms (Kenai and Prudhoe), worked in all parts of the state and worked in most of our industries, if you think that somehow gives me more credibility.
It would be great if they had a website where one could buy Gold Nugget's! Open Pebble!!!
If the State of Alaska made any more than a pittance from the miners taking our precious metals it would be one thing but we get squat. Same with timber and fish. Miners leave a mess even when they don't go bankrupt and the taxpayers get to finish the job. I say let them mine our metals but make them pay loads for it.
It's funny how the mining folks brag about high pay but don't seem to be able to come up with cash for Alaskan minerals like big oil does. How come? Seems to me mines were working at $250 an ounce for gold a while back and now we give them $1,000 an ounce gold for almost the same money. Do I think all the gold that is mined gets reported for taxes and corporate income? Sure I do, and I want that bridge your selling too!
I do not know how effective this will be, but I agree that no mine should be opened that endangers one of the few sustainable sources of clean fish in the world. NO Pebble Mine!!!!
How many of you know teachers who come to our villages and make money teaching? How many of you actually know that these same teachers, making more money than most villagers will ever see in their lifetimes, spend that money in the villages? Hardly any one of them, they ship their food and supplies from Anchorage and Fairbanks, some even from the lower 48. They say everything is too expensive in the villages.
Not financially supporting the community they come to make money from.
It's the same with the Pebble mine and other entities that profit from doing work anyplace in Alaska, who bring the majority of the workforce in, not really hiring locals.
And where will they spend the money they'll be making? Definitely not in the Bristol Bay region!!!!!!!!
They don't really care for the locals, they care for the money!
Villagers, wake up and see who'll last longer here in Alaska, the salmon that have been here for millenia? Or the mine whose operation will only be temporary, and whose operations will decimate and destroy our way of life, the salmon.
Real Alaskans are civil? WOW! There's civility in them thar hills!
Also, when the school year is over, the teachers leave the villages right away. Like a day or two after the last day of school. The Pebble mine will do the same thing once they've sucked our region of it's minerals and gold. Only they will leave a huge mess behind.
Whoop dee doo! Ten years from now, IF Pebble Mine gets permitted, these companies will not buy the gold.
People who are posting that this will create devastation are ignoring the fact that Alaska has the best regulations on mining in the world right now. This is a NIMBY issue: Have these companies pollute 3rd world countries instead, so I can have my modern conveniences NOW!
homegrown -- "I am reassured everyday that I have made the right choice about not having children"
You can be reassured that we are, too.
The whole thing comes down to who has the best line of BS to dump on the people.
There are those who do not want the mine and I hope they win.
But this will be like the last election them with the biggest bunch of lies BS and money will do as they wish and ruin Bristol Bay
skinfish
No worries. To read these comment boards, you'd think librechauns actually had political force in this state. They don't. That's why we'll elect conservatives to fill every post, save a handful in Anchorage and 1 or 2 in areas around here where the ablutophobes and pseudo-enlightened, America hating 'kit' people live...
That said, though, we do have plenty of anti-establishment populists that call themselves conservative. These people think that the state should be investing in and controlling oil/gas exploration, development, marketing, and selling of finished products. They want us to be like Venezuela. It's the people's resource, comrade. They say...an attitude that stands as the antithesis of everything a conservative believes in.
another uninformed company.
Tyrant... If you get out of the Kool-aid I will consider avoiding mushrooms.
rationalcitizen ... The value of the deposit (inferred) at current prices is Copper: $202 billion; Gold $95 billion. That makes the mine primarily a copper mine. The gold will be formed into ingots which will be sold to other entities for further processing into smaller units which will be untraceable as far as the jewelry industry is concerned. They are hypocrites and fools.
And as far as the salmon industry... there is no way the State and Federal Agencies will issue permits for that mine that allow for deterioration (let alone destruction) of that river. But even if the ridiculous worst case scenarios painted by the opponents did destroy the river, the fish in that one river represent but a small percentage of the total in Alaska. It would be unfortunate for sure, but it would NOT destroy the fishing industry.
The lines have been drawn. I am of the belief that this mine can operate w/o damage to the water and its recourses. Alaskan's can have a say so.I would like to think we have learned something from the developement of the oil pipeline and can apply that experience to the developement of a resource that can supply much employment in an area that is depressed. I understand that many of the commercial fishing boats are out of the Seattle area and not local people gaining from the selling of the fish resource. I also strongly believe that the local BB people who do not want jobs then should not hold their hands out for welfare either. Instead they can be a part of the deal making the requirements for the mine such as borough taxes and local hire. Those opposed only increase our dependence on foreign product and why when we have our own?
Thousands huh? We catch that in one tide in Bristol Bay smart guy. I was saying was there used to be a lot more. - Mike_Jayne
****
Of course there used to be a lot more back then... there was no Pollack industry scooping up the bulk of the Yukon salmon run out in Bristol Bay.
The fishing industry is the greatest danger to the salmon... not mining.
If Pebble gold doesn't go into jewelry that will make it a tad cheaper for me to buy it. - internationa
****
It won't affect the price of non-jewelry gold one cent. The price of gold is set by international markets, not the mine operators. It is a fungible item and is not strictly tied to supply and demand. Jewelers on the other hand charge whatever the market will bear.
I don't get why so many "long time alaskans" want to turn our state into another California complete with a network of highways, towns and superfund sites. If you like that kind of place so much move Outside.
As for Pebble, it's in the wrong place. Big mining's track record is poor and this isn't the spot we gamble that they are going to finally get it right. - skinfish
****
You are mistaken... those of us long term Alaskans who support Pebble are not trying to establish a California-like State. We have been here long enough to know that without creating wealth through resource development the State will wither and die. It cannot sustain itself on Federal Grants and tourism. ... and it cannot sustain itself on the fishing industry alone... mineral development is the only resource that has the potential to sustain our economy.
And as far as Pebble... it is in exactly the right place... it is where the minerals are. Why would you spend $1.5 billion dollars to dig a hole where there were no valuable minerals?
As I have said many times before... the regualtory process WILL ensure that the mine does not destroy the river. Anybody who has ever dealt with those people knows that to be true. The rules are stringent and the Agencies are diligent. If Pebble is developed it WILL be done in a safe manner so as to protect the salmon resource.
Alaska needs an industrial base and actualy produce something, mineral mining is one of the cornerstones of a real economy. We need to produce more than calendars with photos of the 60% of our lands locked up to prevent mineral development and wealth creation.
Commercial, sport and subsistence fishing should be supported in conjunction with mineral development. It has been an effective tool of the environmentalist/control freak lobby to divide Alaskans with propoganda to lock up this state.
The social/human cost in rural Alaska communities following 50 years of socialist control alone is reason to return to a working/production based economy for rural Alaska.
I am so proud of Tiffany & Co. I love that there are still some good people left on this planet who care more about the environment than they do about money. Kudos to all of them
I try to avoid arguing on the internet and limit my posts but this nonsense about Ak having strict mining regulation needs a response.
State mining regulators (and I'll exclude coal since we're talking Pebble) don't regulate much of anything. They issue cookie cutter permits w/o land use fees or insurance and their bonding system is a smoke and mirrors process using a pool w/very little real money. It's a serious double standard as regular land leases/permits/easements require real fees, real insurance and real bonds, but miners get a pass.
Mining permits are issued in bulk with boiler plate stipulations that are rarely site specific. There is a bit more regulation for larger mines but the only real protection comes from federal agencies who have limited jurisdiction on state lands.
You may not believe this but despite the above I'm not anti-mining just anti-Pebble. Alaska will get along just fine w/o it.
I wish everyone could stick to commenting on the issue at hand instead of wasting space personally attacking each other all the time. I get on here to share my views on the issues and inform my self on the pros and cons of the other side, seams like some of you get on here just to pick a fight. Some people have way too much time on there hands I guess.
And to stick with the issue as I suggested I would like to say that the more and more Alaska is mined and raped for resources the less and less beautiful it becomes. That is not a good thing considering how much income tourism generates in this state. if there is nothing beautiful left and Alaska starts to look just like the lower 48 then all we have is a big cold waste land that no one will care to come see.Pebble is not a step in the right direction for preserving the Alaska most of us know and love.
DO we really care that they are boycotting the mine? I do not. So why is it news? Because it is against mining in AK.
Oh my God!! How do any of you people expect to be taken seriously when you can't even make a valid, comprehensive argument or even SPELL properly?! I get a headache trying to figure out whatever is being implying by their muddled, garbled int3rn3t sp33k. Speaking of "THEIR", I think many people here needs a spelling lesson...
THERE
Function: adverb
1 : in or at that place <stand over there> —often used interjectionally
2 : to or into that place : thither <went there after church>
3 : at that point or stage <stop right there before you say something you'll regret>
4 : in that matter, respect, or relation <there is where I disagree with you>
5 —used interjectionally to express satisfaction, approval, encouragement or sympathy, or defiance <there, it's finished>
THEIR
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to them or themselves especially as possessors, agents, or objects of an action <their furniture> <their verses> <their being seen>
2 : his or her : his, her, its —used with an indefinite third person singular antecedent <anyone in their senses — W. H. Auden>
If only 3rd generation Alaskans are to be allowed to run the state in this little dream world running around in the comments, I hope they can at least learn spell at a 3rd grade level first.
*implied
Typos don't count ;)
homegrown -- out of curiousity, where are the good gold mines from which you would buy gold from?
Mike_Jayne -- "....there are huge vats of cyanide just sitting there."
This is a lie.
The early mining companies did not use NaCN to recover the gold. All the gold at Chandalar is free-milling, recovered by simple milling and gravity.
Jayne is full of crap.
Oh man - I missed the party with the koolaid and mushrooms! Sounds psychadelic...
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