Details
The facts about cotton
'Cotton might appear to be the best choice for people looking for natural clothing, but did you know that more chemicals are used on cotton than any other crop? The cotton that is used to make the majority of our clothes is sprayed with some of the most deadly chemicals in the world. Around 150 grams of pesticides are used to grow the cotton for one T-shirt – the equivalent of one cup of sugar.' *
The health impact on producers
'Cotton farming uses one quarter of the world's pesticides and whilst wearing non-organic clothing may not directly affect our health, non-organic cotton production can have a serious effect on the health of cotton farmers. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 20,000 deaths occur in developing countries each year from pesticide poisoning, many of these are attributed to cotton production.' *
The social and economic impact on producers
'Much of the world's cotton is grown in developing countries, and as more and more pesticides and chemical fertilisers are used, the soil fertility is damaged, forcing the farmers into buying more chemicals to encourage their cotton plants to grow – and sinking them and their families into debt. This means many of these farmers cannot afford to send their children to school.' *
The alternative: Organic Cotton!!
'There is an alternative: organic cotton is now farmed in over 22 countries in the world, including many developing countries and there are already 25,000 organic cotton farmers in Africa. By farming organically, cotton farmers have reported that they do not have to get into debt, and using viable alternatives to pesticides protects their health. For example, Ugandan organic cotton farmers use black ants to keep the cotton pests away, and grow okra plants next to the cotton plants to attract away cotton stainers, a pest that the black ants don't attack.' *
The benefits to producers
'Organic cotton farmers can also grow food safely on their land, which they can then use to feed themselves and their families or sell to increase their income, thus providing food security. Organic farmers also report substantially higher incomes, allowing them to educate their children and gain access to health care.'*
* This information has been sourced from the soil association website
Soil Association (no date) Consumer Guide: Clothes and Texiles [Online] Available:
http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/Living/clothing_textiles.html (Accessed 06.06.2008)
Illustration
by Ley Roberts