 Uzbekistan
Cotton
Presented by: Simon Ostrovsky
Camera: Scott Corben
Produced by: Therese Randall and BBC Producer Sara Afshar
Running Time: 18 mins
The Cotton Curse: Child Labour in Uzbekistan
has been nominated for a Banff Award, in
the 'Investigative & Current Affairs Programs' category.
In this exclusive 18-minute feature aired on BBC's Newsnight on Tuesday
October 30, journalist Simon Ostrovsky investigates claims that the
world's second largest exporter of cotton, Uzbekistan, uses forced
child labour every harvest-time.
Every year, human rights groups estimate thousands of children are
forced out into the countryside solely to pick cotton. Schools are left
empty and the pupils are marshaled by police into buses headed for the
cotton fields. For those who refuse to participate, the consequences
can be harsh because the authoritarian Uzbek government relies on the
cotton to bring in big bucks.
Multinational retailers often claim it is too difficult, in this global
marketplace, to find out if the cotton clothes they sell in their
stores are made from Uzbek cotton, despite the country being the
world's second-largest exporter of this 'white gold'. Yet this film
shows following the supply chain is possible and in the process proves
that Western shoppers may just be buying clothes made using forced
labour.
The Uzbek government has cracked-down on foreign media and the
filmmakers had to pose as reporters from a textile industry magazine
interested in Uzbekistan's emerging power in the cotton industry.
During filming, the team was arrested after being spotted filming kids
being escorted onto buses by police. They manage to hide the footage
from the police and smuggle it out of the country.
The report put the spotlight on major retail outlets and highlighted
the immediate need for companies to investigate where exactly the
cotton they use in the clothes they sell comes from. Newsnight
commissioned another film, broadcast on Wednesdsay October 31st, where
Simon spoke directly to the retailers about what they planned to do
next.
Uzbekistan Cotton aired on BBC Newsnight Tuesday October 30th, 2007
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