Newsnight investigates the Uzbek cotton industry (1 of 3)

An undercover reporter investigates the use of child labour in the Uzbek cotton industry. Air date: 30th October 2007. Part 1 of 3

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Uzbekistan
• bbc
• newsnight
• undercover
• report
• cotton
• trade
• child
• labour
• human
• rights
• abuse
• clothing
• retail
• exploitation

[rushnrussian12321]

sorry. but I dont have enough power to talk to the government. Beleive it or not everyone has to do backbreaking labor here. our parents are dying and we have no other choice. I am ashamed that we have to work for our respect and education. but living in a terrible state w face many many problems. if I were you, Id regret what I said.

[malikagirl]

here, yuo said it yourself, your children are forced into labor, people die. i bet that you you are just a kid of some "big boss" who controls everything, that's why you are so passionate in defending the rich instead of little kids. have you worked on the cotton plantations yourself? do you know how hard it is to pick cotton? i haven't done it myself, but i've heard from people who have actually done it. it's harsh, the weather, the back breaking, the hands hurting. go, try it youself.

[rushnrussian12321]

I couldnt have said it better myself. other than we are hurting ourselves just giving you gifts.

[rushnrussian12321]

are you saying we are cruel? just because our peole are dying and children are forced into labor, does not mean we are a bad country. we have to face poverty, diseases, and many other terrible things that I doubt you have to face in one day. so, I know it sounds harsh on our children, but they are too young to understand the losses. we are a shadow of how we were as a member of the USSR, but we are trying our best. just appreciate we give you the clothes on your back.

[malikagirl]

they shouldn't have to work anyways, especially when they are 8 or 12 years old. these kids need to go to school, learn, become something more than a "labor monkey". without proper education, it is very hard to get a good deal in life. Uzb, need to adopt some of the programs that the US has, such as "no child left behind", and all the Federal Programs in helping the needy with food stamps, medicare and such.

[rushnrussian12321]

well so am I, but how are we gonna make money else otherwise? maybe adult labor perhaps. And I know how it might have been like then.

[malikagirl]

i ain't saying that Uzbeks are terrorists, what i am saying is that those "big daddy's" instead of getting their fat asses to work, are making those little kids work very hard and pay about 4 dollars a month!!! WTF!? i am against the child labor of any kind, and hate that those kids are working for asses that live in luxury while those kids can hardly eat fine.

[rushnrussian12321]

we are not terrorist! maybe we are forcing child labor, but we actually have to make money doing these things in a 10 US dollar worth state. we are actually being blamed for something we are trying to do!

[AKAMAR]

Big business means big money, no wonder, they put an american in charge of that cotton organization. All what Terry Townsend says is lies, lies, lies...Uzbek government never ever bought cotton at world prices from farmers. Farmers run to neighboring Kyrgystan to pick or sell their own cotton,they pay at least 8-10 times more. See the difference???US and EU dont really care...You guys bring it up when politically convinient...

[malikagirl]

the Uzbek government if full of assholes will use anything for profit. they don't care if a little child,and old man or anybody else doing the shitty job. as long as they make money, they are fine.

i surely know that if i tried to speak against the government or Uzbek president, dude, I'll be killed. there is no way that the Uzbek government will tell you the truth, because they are risking with their reputation, money and lives