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186

Ultra cheap e-commerce platforms Temu, Shein selling products made from Chinese cotton despite the high risk of links to slavery, Australian Human Rights Institute says (www.cairnspost.com.au)

submitted 6 days ago by Hotznplotzn@lemmy.sdf.org to c/world@lemmy.world

45 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/45649428

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[...]

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.”

[...]

all 46 comments

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[–] Elextra@literature.cafe 13 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Honestly, I would not be surprised by this statistic for these companies.

Most clothing is likely made from cheap, unregulated, likely exploited individuals, slavery ties or not. China, Vietnam, etc.

To really bring in your ethics into clothes shopping you have to be privileged or thrift everything second hand. It is not cheap to ethically shop for clothes.

Shout out for Prana for introducing the concept of Fair Trade to me.

However, it is not to say everyone wearing other clothing brands should feel guilty or anything. Most people are living paycheck to paycheck. Its not easy affording >$25 ethically sourced shirts when you can get another brand new shirt for $3, $5, whatever.

[–] mPony@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

I love how Kotn has ethically sourced Danny Trejo

[–] MajorasTerribleFate@lemmy.zip 3 points 5 days ago

Expanding on whay youre saying:

There is only a certain amount of responsibility we can lay on a person doing their best and still not earning enough to afford to live with fully ethical sourcing of everything in their lives. It sucks that this is the system we are in, and we can all take steps to try to reduce our "unethical consumption" footprint, but ultimately the largest blame must lie with the powerful industries that happily benefit from unethical sourcing, the powers and politicians that permit or even reward it, and the forces both political and corporate that fight to keep all wages low.

This all bears huge similarities to carbon pollution, where powers have worked to shift the sense of responsibility off of themselves and onto the populace/consumers.

[–] tornavish@lemmy.cafe 20 points 6 days ago (2 children)

It’s only a bad thing when it makes the USA look bad, otherwise slavery and genocide is just fine.

-ML

[–] Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

ML doesnt think the labor used to create these items is slave labor. ML generally thinks its hypocritical for one of the few countries to have legal systemic slavery to going around claiming all of its "enemies" use slave labor. ML also likes to note how cultural differences often are exaggerated or reframed to use as nationalistic propaganda.

America puts a lot of effort into trying to convince the rest of the world that China is a horrible country.

[–] tornavish@lemmy.cafe 1 points 4 days ago

ML (on Lemmy) has a singular goal, and everything else comes second: crush the west, especially the people—double for the innocent ones.

[+] optissima@lemmy.world -8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I cannot tell when a government is creating a whataboutism through a captured Human Rights group that focuses on protecting the state from being accused of wrongdoing.

tornavish

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Can't rebut what was said so you attacked the messenger. The classic tactic of someone who is right. Not.

[–] optissima@lemmy.world -2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

No I am trying to tell you you're getting sucked into propaganda. There's a reason why even the title claims "high risk:" The forced labor of capitalism is known, the claimed forced labor in China that's been claimed for years now somehow still has no definitive proof and is still "high risk."

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (3 children)

So you're calling all the family members and other people around the community liars. Talk about getting sucked in to propaganda. I have had interaction with people directly impacted by this. But please do. Go ahead and keep repeating your propaganda.

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It is fascinating, isn't it? It's the OTHER guys that use propaganda! I use facts!

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 4 points 5 days ago

Both governments do. But then I'm not the one marginalizing the victims and the families like you and other people around here. Frankly, I would love for the United States criticisms to be un-hipocritical and mean something. And I would love for China to even be a fraction of the democracy they pretend to be.

But, as I said elsewhere, as someone whose family has personally suffered oppression at the hands of authoritarian capitalist forces. I can empathize with the victims. They've told me their experiences and their stories. They just want their family back and to be left alone by the Han supremacists. It isn't some CIA conspiracy. Or anything complex even.

I'm not some gaslighting apologist. Bending over backwards to defend calcified oppressive institutions of power like some people. I don't like the taste of boot. If you do. That's on you sweetheart.

[–] optissima@lemmy.world -4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

You had direct interaction? In your kitchen? Can I see it?

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

I see, so you are engaging in bad faith as I assumed. Good to know.

[–] optissima@lemmy.world 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I want to believe evidence. "My friend told me but I won't provide that proof" is not evidence and demanding that evidence isn't bad faith.

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Proudly. I will believe the families of individuals every day over oppressive governments, whether it's the United States or China. My family has personally suffered many similar instances at the hands of authoritarian capitalist governments. The fact that you think this is some sick burn or massive own. That you're cool because you gaslight people and repeat CCP propaganda. It's hilarious. You got any other sick burns tankie? I'd love to hear them.

[–] optissima@lemmy.world 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Is my sick burn is "I want evidence" or "I dont believe in unsourced claims." Maybe your claims are true, can you share them? Is there an interview I can see with those people, the ones you say you have talked to?

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 1 points 5 days ago

You absolutely do. The only evidence you have that it isn't happening is CCP denial. The US says it's gestapo is only rounding up those with criminal records. Do you believe that too? Or do you believe the victims claiming otherwise? I believe the victims.

You want video of these people? Stop being lazy expecting to have everything dumped in your lap and use a search engine. Some "unknown journalist" by the name of Medhi Hasan..... who has reported for the BBC NBC, and Al Jazeera has done just that. But don't pretend to be curious or care about the facts. It's too late for that.

[–] optissima@lemmy.world 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

"The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act made it U.S. policy to assume that all goods manufactured in Xinjiang are made with forced labor, unless the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection certifies that certain goods are known to not have been made with forced labor." from the wikipedia page

So we assume it's forced labor without evidence. Also cool, send a link with proof with those famlies. Certainly they must bring proof, because many have been known to make up wild claims for show.

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] optissima@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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?

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 4 points 5 days ago

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.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 4 points 5 days ago

Damn. Wait until you hear about iPhones. Lmao

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Yeah, and? Hasn't this been know since like. A decade or so? Hasn't this been like this since it's founding?

Everyone knows, and so far, nobody able to stop this has cared.

This isn't news, this is just sad

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Remember the building collapse in Bangladesh filled with textile workers that got crushed?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rana_Plaza_collapse

I remember clothing industry executives going on the news tearfully saying they didn't know about it and will change things.

Uh uh.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

Oh I remember that, and I remember right away thinking "buuuuuuuulshit you won't change anything, you'll just make sure any news won't come out as easy next time"

[–] bassad@jlai.lu 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

It is not new but we need permanent reminders to not buy these stuff.

An other reason to avoid buying stuff from them is that 80% of their products are illegal or out of EU regulation, like toxic components in kids toys, from a recent survey from french customs, after someone reported pedo sex dolls on shein online store.

[–] GaryGhost@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Is AliExpress no different?

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago

That's why I only buy electronics on AliExpress.

[–] Hotznplotzn@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 4 days ago

I would say it is the same according to several other reports, but the Australian institute just didn't investigate specifially AliExpress in that case I would say.

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

Close, it's "because", not "despite."

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca -1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Oh yes as opposed to the cotton grown by executives and lawyers

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Nothing in between lawyers and literal slaves?

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world -2 points 6 days ago

I believe everyone would use slaves if there were no moral consequences, hence the demand for humanoid robots.

The filthy rich, having zero morals or empathy, happily use literal slaves in any country they can get away with it, also explaining their obsession with building humanoid robots. Robots which they imply will be affordable for everyone, but which will only ever be available for the filthy rich to have and use, in turn furthering their plan to make literal slaves of all of us.

[–] dogbert@lemmy.zip 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Uh huh, im sure this western colonial state is super worried about human rights abuse…

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 1 points 6 days ago

You certainly aren't. Hows the whataboutism working for you champ?

[+] earlstilt@feddit.uk -7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Lol we’re all slaves, it’s just that this slave labour disrupts amazon’s business

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

And that makes it okay how?

[–] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Who the fuck said slavery is ok?

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Literally the person I replied to. The fuck has Amazon got to do with anything. If it's wrong for Amazon to do it. It's wrong for shein/temu to do it. Exploitation is wrong. One exploitative capitalist group isn't going to save us from the other. There's no reason to even bring Amazon etc in. Apart from whataboutism/justification.

[–] earlstilt@feddit.uk 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The point is that this has nothing to do with slavery, it’s a part of the massive campaign underway to discredit temu and shein because they are disrupting amazon and the like. The same shady shit has been on sale on amazon for years and no one batted an eye

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

It has plenty to do with slavery. Plenty people have noticed. There's been articles for years about Amazon. Just because someone calls out shein/temu and China's complicitness doesn't make it a defense of Amazon. Temu and Shein aren't going to save us from Amazon, or make Amazon better. And even if they did, it doesn't justify the exploitation.

Fuck Amazon, Shein, and temu. They're all exploitative capitalist ghouls.

[–] chemicalprophet@slrpnk.net -4 points 5 days ago

Jajajajajajajaja