The above account shows the issue of illegal mining in its multifaceted systems. Illegal mining is a cross-border issue, not only in terms of labour, as is the case in Roraima with a migrant working-force, but also when thinking about gold markets. Illegal mining also has a history and does not happen in a social vacuum. This history very often shows a lack of economic diversification and social welfare. Illegal mining, as any other illegal activity, is also a matter of policing and protection of lands, peoples, and human rights.
Thinking about the many faces of a recurrent problem in Brazil, one that has affected indigenous lands, has claimed lives, animal species and flora, the King’s Brazil Institute joined forces with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to organise a roundtable to discuss illegal gold mining in Brazil.
We listened to policymakers from Ghana who saw in small scale mining a way forward towards safety and regulation for workers and a venue to minimise environmental degradation. By registering mining workers, the government can monitor mining activities. Legalisation of small-scale mining also allows for tax income generation and funds could be used for economic diversification.
The attention to small scale mining rather than incarceration and a radical shift from mining considers the basic question “What pushes people into illegal mining?”
The answer to that, is a general lack of employment in mining areas. To end illegal mining is then to start a new social, economic, and transnational deal that investigates labour, social policies, environmental policies, and international trafficking.
In the specific case of Brazil, the Yanomami crisis was mainly caused by illegal mining, with an increase of more than 700% in illegal mining in recent years. This crisis called attention to the nexus of resource extraction, food, water, health, heritage, and human rights.
The roundtable suggested that a holistic view of illegal mining would encompass seeing illegal mining through the lens of migration, social policies, international gold markets, and human rights. Academia proved a good place to put together voices from policy sectors, the parliament, foreign governments, and the police to talk and learn together.
This event took place on 28 February 2024.