Arlunydd Atega

As Pagans, we all support the Little Guy. Because I work in the jewelry sector and am intimately familiar with the issues of artisanal mining, fair trade jewelry making and responsible mining, I often forget that most ordinary folks have no idea, unless they happen to come across something in the local or national news or see something online.

There are some wonderful things happening in these realms and also some very terrible things. Many people in poor countries have little choice but to work mines either for large mining companies or for smaller artisanal mines.

In Sierra Leone, of course paramilitary groups were using artisanally mined diamonds to fund their struggles. Remember the film Blood Diamond, where this was vividly illustrated. That war is over now, but similar struggles continue, even with the Kimberly Process in place.

The small, voiceless artisan, struggles today to make his/her way in the world while trying to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, fired at them by multinational corporations, corrupt governments and self serving speculators.

It's not all bad news, though. In some places, these same small artisans are banding together and working with each other to create strong unions to help one another, their families and their communities. Some are thriving well under the banner of 'Fair Trade'. Others still suffer under it.

There are as well some dedicated individuals and companies and corporations who seek to help these people as well. Some out of the goodness of their heart, because it is the right thing to do and others. because it benefits their bottom line.

Here, I will attempt to honor all of this and bring at least some of these stories further out into the light of day...