Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Do you know where your jeans come from?



Take a moment and check, read the labels in your clothing.  You might be surprised at some of the places your jeans and t-shirts have been. 

Over the past few weeks, there have been two major fires in Bangladesh resulting in 123 deaths.  U.S. Retailers like the Gap, Wal-Mart and even high-end fashion like Tommy Hilfiger make clothing there.
           
The experts say we don’t care.  We don’t care enough to pay more.  A teenage Bangladesh girl named Lovely is hoping that we do.

It was February 23, 2006,  Lovely was 11 years old and working in a garment factory in Bangladesh, when her life changed forever. The factory where she was packing socks caught fire. There was never a fire drill.  Exits were locked. Panic and chaos spread with the fire and 63 workers died and 150 were injured.  Lovely was left with injuries and can no longer work, a burden to her family, with not enough to eat.

But hey, that was a great deal you got on Black Friday.        
Lovely has found the courage to speak out and has started a petition online.  She’s petitoning H&M, Wal-Mart and Gap to commit to a real fire safety program that will save the lives of the Bangladeshis who sew the clothing that we wear. You’ll find the petition www.change.org, search for Lovely from Bangladesh.






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