Mining

Small-scale miners work in treacherous conditions at Kanga-Usine mine, Democratic Republic of Congo [Richard Wainwright]

In poor parts of the world, extractive industries are often a cause of conflict, suffering, and dangerous pollution

Some opencast mines are so big they can be seen from outer space, and mining consumes up to ten per cent of the world’s energy.

The Honduran government has found dangerous levels of cyanide in the water supplies of people living close to the country's biggest gold mine.

Globally, 40-70 per cent of small-scale gold miners suffer mercury poisoning. And up to 47 per cent have a lifetime risk of silicosis.

Gold and poverty

Three-quarters of our gold comes from developing countries. Globally, 13 million people work in small-scale mining, one million of them children.

Gold is mined not just for jewellery, but for use in aircraft engines, computers, mobile phones and even food.

Conflict over gold has cost thousands of lives in developing countries such as Indonesia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Peru, Philippines and Guatemala.

CAFOD's campaign Unearth Justice sheds light on the harm caused by gold mining

take action for Unearth Justice

Shine a light in the darkness

Please sign our petition calling on the world's largest mining company to listen to communities in the Philippines worried about the effect mining will have on their land - plus send a personal message of solidarity to the people of Macambol

section highlights

Trying to save their way of life The close-knit community of Macambol in the Philippines is under threat from a large mining development Philippines blog: The mine in my mind

Mining communities speak out The people of Palos Ralos, Honduras, a focus of CAFOD’s Pure Gold? photo exhibition, lost homes and land to a destructive gold mine

The Philippines: Sacred land destroyed Mining for gold and other minerals in the Philippines has caused people to lose homes, lands and livelihoods. But they are standing up for their rights