Rising gold prices worry Thai temple decorators

Rising gold prices are worrying gold leaf makers in Thailand, where tons of the precious metal are turned into paper-thin sheets to decorate temples and images of the Buddha every year.

Gold leaf is used worldwide to lend towers and statues a shimmering glow. In Thailand and other Buddhist countries, temples and Buddha images are gilded more and more frequently. The gold leaf is produced primarily by family businesses.

The exact amount of gold used or the number of businesses is not known. In 2010, Thailand went through 196 tons of gold bars, according to a gold traders' association.

Full story.

That's approximately 360,000 million baht per annum.

I wonder whether this practice is counter productive in terms of wasted resource/opportunity?

It seems such traditions which deify the Buddha actually result in the very opposite of what the Buddha was teaching.

How can we practice metta (boundless friendliness) and compassion towards those who are dispossessed when we throwaway what little resource there is on decorations?