An article from the Ethical Metalsmith Newsletter: Elvio Mamani and his 80 coworkers were fired after demanding improved working conditions. The building that housed the factory in Bolivia, where Mamani worked. Barren inside, except some tables and chairs, the factory was shut down after workers unionized in 2006. Walmart claims its “Love, Earth” jewelry line

By Mike Angenent In November 2009 we visited a mining tailing in Kimberley South Africa where “illegal mining” was taking place. The people tried to make a living sifting through the gravel, hoping for a lucky find. Since the tailing was not their property (but De Beers’) “mining” there is illegal. There had been positive

Just last March, we posted about how Tanzania decided to ban the export of rough gemstones to maximize the local benefit related to the gemstone economy. This was bad news for gemstone cutters in India, where much of the rough from Africa is exported, but good news for the local economy in Tanzania. More polishing