Activities
PhD research into gold mining, money laundering and environmental damage in Suriname
Esm茅e Stek is pursuing a PhD on gold mining, money laundering, and environmental crime in Suriname. Her research combines sociology and green criminology. "In my PhD research, I am primarily trying to identify the mechanisms and dynamics that enable all Surinamese gold to end up on the international market with all the right papers and certificates, as if everything were legal. My goal is not to criminalize individuals, but to map out the environmental damage caused by gold laundering. The green criminological and non-human perspective also means that I look beyond national or international legislation. Whether something is legal or illegal according to a legal system, both can lead to damage to nature."