How many of us know the story of our clothes?
In Uzbekistan, children as young as 7 are forced to hand pick cotton by the government. Taken out of schools, they live in Soviet style camps, without clean drinking water, protective clothing and adequate renumeration. Many leave in debt because their living expenses out weigh how much cotton they were able to pick.
Uzbekistan is a former Soviet Union country in Central Asia, ruled by a brutal Totalitarian regime.
The second largest producer of cotton, also known as White Gold, the Uzbekistan government continues to profit from the back breaking work of its people who farm and pick the cotton.
Sadly, the largest inland sea is now a mere desert. During the Soviet occupation and in the years since, irrigation to produce cotton has dried out the sea. This has left a large majority of the 10 million Uzbeki people without an income. The left over sand and dust cause cancer and other respiratory diseases.
It takes 2,000 litres of water to produce one cotton T-shirt.
This is a grim story of our clothes. But there is hope.
As we increasingly choose to wear organic cotton T-shirts, we are voting with our wallets and demanding a fairer deal.
This modern day form of slavery must end in our lifetime. Children deserve an education rather than being forced to hand pick cotton and families deserve to reap the profits from their harvests.
In Uzbekistan, children as young as 7 are forced to hand pick cotton by the government. Taken out of schools, they live in Soviet style camps, without clean drinking water, protective clothing and adequate renumeration. Many leave in debt because their living expenses out weigh how much cotton they were able to pick.
Uzbekistan is a former Soviet Union country in Central Asia, ruled by a brutal Totalitarian regime.
The second largest producer of cotton, also known as White Gold, the Uzbekistan government continues to profit from the back breaking work of its people who farm and pick the cotton.
Sadly, the largest inland sea is now a mere desert. During the Soviet occupation and in the years since, irrigation to produce cotton has dried out the sea. This has left a large majority of the 10 million Uzbeki people without an income. The left over sand and dust cause cancer and other respiratory diseases.
It takes 2,000 litres of water to produce one cotton T-shirt.
This is a grim story of our clothes. But there is hope.
As we increasingly choose to wear organic cotton T-shirts, we are voting with our wallets and demanding a fairer deal.
This modern day form of slavery must end in our lifetime. Children deserve an education rather than being forced to hand pick cotton and families deserve to reap the profits from their harvests.
