The singer Ellie Goulding has admitted her error at having promoted diamonds at the centre of environmental concerns about Indigenous land in Australia, despite having spent years campaigning on environmental issues – including the effects of mining on ancestral lands.
She appeared at a event in London earlier this month for the jewellery brand Boodles, modelling some of its newly acquired pink diamonds, some of which came from a controversial mine in Western Australia.
“Protecting the environment is a cause close to my heart. I always strive to uphold those values. Regretfully, in this instance, I fell short,” said Goulding, who was made an MBE for services to biodiversity and the climate last year. “I was not aware of the concerns surrounding the Argyle mine and I am grateful that it has been brought to my attention.
“You will certainly not see me wearing diamonds originating from the Argyle mine again. The Indigenous and local communities affected deserve better. While I am mortified to have made this error in judgment, I am letting this moment serve as a reminder and an opportunity to continue to question the status quo, to learn and do better.”
As well as serving as a global goodwill ambassador for the UN environment programme, Goulding is an ambassador for the environmental organisation WWF, which said it “takes seriously the environmental impact of mining and the effect it can have on Indigenous and local communities”.
The charity added: “Ellie is a passionate advocate for nature and human rights and has championed the rights of Indigenous peoples as a WWF ambassador. We have discussed this issue with Ellie and continue to value her support.”
A week before the Boodles event in London, it was announced the firm had bought the Argyle Pink Diamonds brand, as well as its inventory, from the mining firm Rio Tinto. A source close to Goulding suggested this timing may have led to the singer falling short of her own environmental values.
According to the Daily Mirror, which first reported the news, the Gelganyem Group, which represents the traditional owners of the land that was mined for the diamonds, has expressed concerns about the state it has been left in by the industrial processes now the mining has ceased.
The group told the paper: “Gelganyem chair Kia Dowell, a Gija woman, acknowledges Ellie Goulding’s apology and welcomes her recognition that Indigenous and local communities deserve better. She hopes it helps the public and Rio Tinto shareholders understand what is at stake at Argyle and the standard Rio Tinto’s mine closure must meet.”
The paper quoted the organisation’s representative as saying traditional owners wanted “unrestricted access without unresolved risks being left for future generations”, adding that Pfas – or forever chemicals – were one of “several technical issues traditional owners, Gelganyem and independent experts have raised”.
Rio Tinto said: “Mining at Argyle in Western Australia ended in 2020 after 37 years, and we are currently undertaking major mine closure works, including rehabilitation, with long-term monitoring and maintenance to follow. We acknowledge traditional owners as custodians of country. We are continuing to talk to them and their representatives, the Gelganyem Group, about closure, including Pfas.”
Boodles has not responded to a request for comment. The Mirror quoted a source close to the firm as saying it was not responsible for the mine itself and adding: “Boodles have bought the last batch of pink diamonds and assets from Rio Tinto including their website and Instagram account. Other jewellers have used pink diamonds in their collections.”
