ADVISORY FOR CONTACT: Bama Athreya

(202) 347-4100 ext. 106

BILLION DOLLAR COTTON INDUSTRY RIFE WITH HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSES

Calls on Governments, Retailers & Consumers to Take Action

Uzbekistan’s billion dollar cotton industry uses forced child labor to supply buyers in Europe according to a report by the London-based Environmental Justice Foundation (EJC) to be released on Thursday, December 8, 2005 in Washington, DC by the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF). The study, “White Gold—the True Cost of Cotton” will be available on the internet immediately after its release: [www.laborrights.org]

Both human rights organizations will call on governments, retailers, buyers and consumers to refuse to buy cotton sold by Uzekistan that is produced by child labor.

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