Posts Tagged ‘cotton’
Uzbekistan Cotton Success
ACRATH members and supporters would know that ACRATH has been involved in the campaign to raise awareness about the issue of forced and child labour in the Uzbekistan cotton industry. For years, the government of Uzbekistan forcibly mobilised almost two million citizens (including children, young people, students, teachers, doctors, nurses, and employees of government agencies and…
Read MoreEnd Uyghur Forced Labour
Forced labour, child labour (including worst forms) and state-enforced forced labour is not unknown in cotton. In fact, of the top ten cotton producing countries in the world (including the US), only Australia has a clean record for its cotton. China is the third largest cotton producing country in the world, and Xinjiang Province provides…
Read MoreUyghur Forced Labour
Did you know 1 in 5 garments worldwide are linked to Uyghur cotton? The systematic oppression of the Uyghur people by the Chinese Government is undeniable, and the exploitation of detained Uyghurs as a captive labour force is clear. Senator Rex Patrick has been calling on the Federal Government to pass legislation forcing companies to disclose…
Read MoreFebruary Campaigns
It is not too early to begin the campaign for a slavery-free Easter. Gather a few others to help organize an slavery-free Easter chocolate campaign in your parish, school and community. Use parish and school bulletins and social media to invite others to join the slavery-free Easter campaign. Post feedback to suppliers’ websites letting them…
Read MoreUzbekistan Cotton Update
Decline in the Use of Forced Labour Over a number of years ACRATH has joined with other organisation in campaigning against the use of child and forced labour in the Uzbekistan Cotton Industry. It seems our efforts are bearing fruit. Human Rights Watch has reported: “President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed forced labor in his speech to…
Read MoreProgress in Uzbekistan
ILO Monitoring in the Cotton Industry in Uzbekistan For a number of years ACRATH and other NGOs have been speaking out about child labour in the cotton industry in Uzbekistan. In a report released in February 2017 the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicated that organized child labor is now socially unacceptable in Uzbekistan and the…
Read MoreCotton On Sourcing Ethical Cotton in Kenya
Ethical Fashion Products Soon to Be in Australian Stores The Australian Newspaper recently reported that Cotton On has been working towards selling ethical fashion products in Australian stores by sourcing cotton from farmers in Kenya. Working in partnership with Business for Development (BFD), the hope is to develop sustainable sources of cotton. Tim Diamond, the general manager…
Read MoreBuying Ethically this Christmas
Cotton Field to Closet As Christmas approaches with its promise of celebration, gifts and summer, a nagging little question worms itself into my brain: How can I tell whether the products I’m about to buy have been ethically sourced and produced? Let’s take cotton for example. For some years now global markets have abounded in…
Read MoreAustralian Fashion Report 2015
Behind the Bar Code The Australian Fashion Report recently released by Baptist World Aid points to the increased risk of child and forced labour in the garment industry because most local companies are unable to trace or fail to monitor their supply chains. Gershon Nimbalker co-author of the report said while there had been improvements at…
Read MoreThank You Rivers
Rivers Signs the Cotton Campaign Pledge It is with great delight that we announce that Australian owned company Rivers has signed the Cotton Campaign pledge. In signing the pledge they become the 140th label to do so. They are committing to working to ensure that forced child and adult labour does not find its way into…
Read MoreAustralia’s First Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Report Aims to Empower Consumers The Australian Fashion Report summarises the ethical standards of the fashion industry and provides a detailed grading of the systems fashion brands have in place to protect the workers in the their supply chain from exploitation, forced labour and child labour. The report has been condensed into…
Read MoreFair Trade Fortnight 4 – 19 May
How Will You Celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight? When you purchase goods carrying the Fair Trade logo you know that the product has been produced without the use of child labour or exploitative practices. When purchasing everyday products such as chocolate, coffee, tea, and cotton opt for the Fair Trade products. This will ensure that the world’s…
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