- cross-posted to:
- australia@aussie.zone
- cross-posted to:
- australia@aussie.zone
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/45649428
[…]
Ultra cheap e-commerce platforms Temu and fast fashion brand Shein are selling products made from Chinese cotton despite the high risk of links to slavery.
More than 80 per cent of Chinese cotton is produced in the Xinjiang province where an estimated more than 800,000 Uighurs are enslaved.
This masthead has seen multiple examples of cotton products made in China available for sale on Temu and Shein, including clothing and bedding.
Australian Human Rights Institute director Justine Nolan said there was a heightened risk of slavery with any cotton products made in China.
“You just couldn’t say the risk is low when you’ve got over 80 per cent of cotton coming from Xinjiang,” she said. “That’s a high risk.”
[…]
China produces about 20 per cent of the world’s cotton, with about 84 per cent coming from the Xinjiang province. The US banned cotton from the Xinjiang province in 2022 under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Ms Nolan said retailers and manufacturers would need to ascertain whether the cotton was produced in China or was sourced from a supply chain outside of China.
“The reality of actually finding that out is very difficult,” she said. “There’s a heightened risk for any cotton products coming out of China that they are tainted by forced labour.”
Conversely, Ms Nolan said Australia had a very strong cotton industry. “I would say cotton coming out of Australia is a hell of a lot safer than cotton coming out of China.”
[…]
Okay, and? You do understand if that’s not true, how ridiculously easy it would be for China to make a fool of the United States. Ask yourself why they haven’t.
Besides, this isn’t some sports team cheering match like you seem to think it is. The United States may have had ulterior motives for passing such things, not that they ever influenced my opinion on the matter. But they did not pass them for no reason or without evidence.
Believe me, as someone whose family had their lands stolen from them by the U.S. government. Who were marched across the continental United States many to their death. Many who still suffer persecution to this day by this hypocritical government. That I don’t set out to align my thoughts or beliefs with this country.
Again, let me reiterate that I have personally interacted with people who have lost family members or been personally threatened by the CCP on the subject. People who don’t know if their loved ones are alive or dead. Because of the oppressive bigots in the CCP. You are free to believe that the Uyghurs willingly became minorities in their own province if you want. But you are in no position to lecture others on propaganda. Just spread it.
Look up proving a negative, youll learn it’s hard to do, and when opposing evidence is given by China, would you accept it?
I don’t think this is a cheering match or anything. I know that China does do bad things, they certainly arent a perfect country. I oppose all forced labor that has been proven.
I am asking you (or anyone) for proof of a positive, that this happened. You again don’t offer evidence. As soon as you offer definitive proof I will believe you, but until then to me you’re just enabling the powers that have oppresed your family, mine, and billions of others.
Ask yourself why we assume all products there are under forced labor instead of defining forced labor and banning it. If this truly was the issue, why do we only care about it in China?
It’s literally not proving a negative. Literally, all China would have to do is allow these people to contact their family and loved ones and confirm what’s happened to them. You make it sound hard.
And I’m telling you proof positive to believe the victims. The very thing you laughably tried to mock me for. It wasn’t anyone’s kitchen, by the way. It was their living room. Fuck what the US says. Fuck what the CCP says. Read about and talk to the victims.