National Jeweler - Case Against Angolan Journalist Dropped
Really a shame only two companies stood up on this. Anyway Brian Leber is a man I know. We did great biz together for many years. He walks thewalk on sustainable practices, using only post consumer precious metals and the cleanest sources for gems.
A link to his advocacy page.
He was the guy that had the first scientific analysis done on Chinese pet food out of his own pocket. Then he went to Senator Durbin’s staff and got him behind the first big public pushback on that product scandal. IIRC that was truly a trailblazing report, so many product issues followed of Chinese manufacture. Most recently Lumber Liquidators found out the hard way how deceptive practices are over there, and how hazardous it is to play the game like that. It’s telling a guy paid himself where the import officials failed so badly right here in the US.
Brian Leber of Leber Jeweler Inc. in Chicago, one of two companies in the jewelry industry that signed on to a statement asking the Angolan government to drop the charges against the journalist, said that he’s known de Morais for years and that they were pleased to hear that the charges have been dropped.
“It can be seen as a tacit acknowledgment that his reports of human rights abuses in the diamond fields of Angola have merit. This should strongly encourage the jewelry and diamond industry, who have largely remained mute throughout the entire trial, to seriously reflect on any role they may have played, either directly or indirectly, in the documented violence,” Leber said, adding that “In light of Rafael’s reporting, our industry needs to collectively admit the diamond trade has a long way to go before the phrase ‘conflict free’ truly lives up to its claims.”
The other jewelry company that signed that statement supporting de Morais was Tiffany & Co.
De Morais’s trial began in March but was pushed back twice, first to give his lawyers time to review additional charges brought against him on his first day in court.
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