State-enforced child slavery in Uzbekhistan - intensive cotton farming - please look

[TooTicky]

One in four cotton garments in the UK contain a percentage of Uzbek cotton. The origin of the cotton itself is never stated on the label.
The Aral sea has been drained for this intensive cotton production.
Please read more clothing here
Also, pictures of the child workers here

Sorry, my first link isn't working. Here

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This is a major humanitarian and environmental problem!!

Yes, TooTicky, it all looks terrible. But what are the consequences if we don't buy the cotton? Can Uzbekistan easily diversify into other areas, or would greater hardship result from a boycott, especially now fishing is no longer an option.

If people boycotted products that were produced like this, and let it be known it was because of the child labour, or inhumane working conditions, and that they would stop boycotting if that changed, then believe me, it would change.

These things happen because we allow them to happen. Take away the market and things change.

Awareness is the key. I thought I was relatively well informed on these issues but I had never heard of the problems in Uzbekhistan until a couple of days ago.

MTPW, my concern is that the change might be that everyone buys their cotton from elsewhere and Uzbekistan is not in a position to change its practices and remain competitive, leaving the people there with absolutely nothing.

TooTicky, I take your point on awareness, but sometimes it's hard to see what one should do. For example, how can a boycott work if the labels don't say where the cotton comes from. What action are you suggesting?

Where poss, buy Fair TRade cotton stuff. Again it's a question of supply and demnad - if no-one buys FT cotton then comapanies will stop offering it.

M&S are doing some FT 100% cotton school uniform, Monsoon do some FT childrens clothes, and then you've got the likes of people tree and traidcraft, whose website I can't connect to atm!

It's like chocolate - the only way of knowing that your choc has not been produced using child and adult slave labour is to buy Fair Trade (ones that have the FT logo on them - they have to meet FT criteria to qualify for that status). A high proportion of the choc eaten in the UK comes from East Africa where slave labour is very widespread.

FT stuff (food, drinks, cotton, all sorts really) are also very committed to environmental improvement, so a lot of it is organic / endorsed by the Soil Association. Yes it's more expensive but I'd rather have a clear conscience.

Thanks for that information, Roseylea. That answers the "what can you do if it's not labelled" point, but I'd appreciate some more on the "what will people do in Uzbekistan if we avoid their cotton" question.

As a consumer I think you should make a point of buying fair trade and organic, echoing what others have said here.

As I sell fairtrade clothing, I would make sure that I check up on my suppliers and ensure they're sourcing their cotton elsewhere and highlight the fact on my site.

I also read that there was a movement in the EU to get clothes labelled with origin of raw material, so you would know that your t-shirt contains cotton from Uzbek.

They could always start a Fair Trade co-operative Hallergetda...

Actually I don't know enough about international trade patterns to answer. I am reading "The End of POverty" by Jeffrey Sachs atm though, so maybe soon i'll be able to answer a bit more!

In all honesty I think in the UK certainly that the persuasive bargains of places like Primark and the supermarket clothing brands means that slave drivers in places like Uzbekistan will always have a market . It's going to take a lot of social change before Fair Trade becomes a major player in the UK markets. Having said that there has been a huge increase in FT sales over the past few years, new FT products /companies are being launched all the time and people are becoming more aware that it is a real and very good consumer choice.

What do you sell Mellow? (I'm on the local FT action group btw! I do talks and presentations and provide resources to schools; that's my FT speciality!)

Roseylea,
I sell ethical and organic clothing and skin care products. You can check out my site www.greentrading.co.uk

I'm interested in your FT action group. Do yo have a website where I can find out more info?

Nice site Mellow

I'm not sure what action I am suggesting. Buying fairly traded goods is always good because it benefits the producers and sends a clear message that that is what people want.

I think what shocked me most about the Uzbek situation is that it has been kept so well hidden.

Yes your site is lovely Mellow.

The FT action group is working with the council towards our town becoming a FT town - you have to fulfil various criteria. It's getting there slowly but there is a fair way yet to go. Lots of towns already have FT status and Wiltshire is a FT county.

People are becoming more aware of issue of trade justice, but it takes a lot of prodding IME! Eg I got FT coffee put in our hot drinks machine at work, but it took me months of actually telling people to choose it rather than the Nestle coffee which was the alternative in the machine before they really noticed. (And these are teachers! Supposed to be more aware! Hah! )

You can find out more information on thesite of one of my suppliers.

About the eco disaster in Uzbek I mean.

Thanks tooticky and roseylea.