China's Exploitative Cotton Factory

The Epoch Times ^ | July 14, 2007 | The Epoch Times

[JACKRUSSELL]

In the wake of the heartbreaking story of underground brick factories involving scores of child slaves found in China's Shanxi province, a similar exploitation has emerged: a corrupt cotton factory in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. In a darkened factory chamber several dark-skinned workers surrounded a large pile of contaminated cotton. Some workers lay exhaustedly on the factory's grimy floor, their bodies covered with dark mosquitoes and flies. One of the workers raised his hand, which was dyed black from his labor, and revealed a damaged finger that had been cut off by a machine.

Photos of Exploited Workers

On July 7, Wang Haofeng, a former photojournalist for a Wuhan-based newspaper known for exposing hidden crimes, found the factory by chance. At his own risk, Wang snuck into the facility and shot some breathtaking photos that he later posted on his own personal web page—Wang Haofeng's "Focus." In his posting Wang included a call to save these exploited workers.

According to the Information Times , Wang revealed that the media actually exposed this factory in 2001. At that time the factory was accused of employing underage children who were tortured and denied pay. The story broke when the children escaped and the local government in Wuhan fined and condemned the facility. But despite media exposure and police intervention, the factory soon resumed its old ways, and has secretly remained in operation until now.

Since its initial exposure, circumstances have grown even worse for factory workers. Composed of five or six enclosed brick chambers, the factory resembles a dark tomb. The facility lacks windows, lights and fans, making for suffocating, hot and stuffy working conditions, particularly in Wuhan, which is notorious for its unbearably hot summer. The chambers are hazy with dust that irritates the nose, eyes and throat. No person would stay inside this facility of his own free will.

Due to the extreme temperatures, nearly all workers labored naked from the waist up. Just like the contaminated cotton that they dealt with, the worker's bodies were dyed black—each of them was black from head to toe. The white surgeon's mask worn by one worker revealed black marks at his mouth and nostrils. One could clearly see that the air inside the chamber was dirty and smoke-saturated. One very young laborer looked to have been responsible for processing the various colors of collected worn-out cloth. His many hours spent in the factory had dyed his hair a lifeless pale red, like dead grass. It was quite painful to rest eyes on this ruined youth.

During his secret investigation, Wang talked to one worker who showed him a damaged finger, explaining that his finger had been cult off by a machine in the factory. "The boss is quite cruel," the worker told Wang, "Since I entered this factory, I have become thinner and there is great pain in my chest when I breathe." Soon after the worker finished his words, a man who appeared to be a supervisor showed up, pointing a long sharp knife at Wang. Another supervisor shouted, "If you dare to take photos, I will beat you to death!" Meanwhile, another man who appeared to be running the operation came forward to give the worker a tongue-lashing "Why did you talk to an outsider?!" he shouted.

When recounting how he managed to come out of the factory in one piece, Wang said with a smile, "It was really a narrow escape." The armed supervisor grabbed Wang's camera, yet when he checked it he found that no photos had been taken. Cleverly, Wang brought several cameras with him and the supervisor never found the camera that had actually been used to document the facility. When the supervisor saw that no photo was taken, he promptly threw Wang out.

Because of his close brush with the angry supervisors, Wang did not have enough time to observe the other chambers in the factory. Therefore, he could not accurately determine just how many laborers there were in the facility. But he did spot over ten workers in the chamber when he first arrived.

This exploitative cotton factory was located next to a funeral parlor in Hankou, Wuhan City. Most of its ingredients came from the used and dirty cotton cloth retrieved from the funeral parlor's garbage.

[JACKRUSSELL]

These workers seemed to be dyed black just like the contaminated cotton. Each of them was black from head to toe. The white surgeon's mask worn by a worker had black marks at the mouth and nostrils. (The Epoch Times)

Due to the extreme temperatures, almost all workers labored in the exploitative factory naked to the waist. (The Epoch Times)

One very young laborer looked to have been responsible for processing the various colors of collected worn-out cloth. His many hours spent in the factory had dyed his hair a lifeless pale red, like dead grass. It was quite painful to rest eyes on this ruined youth. (The Epoch Times)

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

T shirts at Wallmart !

I wonder which celebrity fashion house or reatialer uses this cotton...Versace? The Gap? Abercrobmbie?

and this is the country that will host the Olympics???

[Shots]

"This exploitative cotton factory was located next to a funeral parlor in Hankou, Wuhan City. Most of its ingredients came from the used and dirty cotton cloth retrieved from the funeral parlor's garbage."

Given that last statement I am taking this story with a grain of salt. Either that funeral home is the biggest in the world or someone is lying to try and make a bigger issue out of this then it really is. meaning an equal rights activist group, which is fine but stretching the story only makes the look like idiots in my mind

[sweetiepiezer]

This is so disgusting.
Thanks for posting Jack.

[sweetiepiezer]

peiping

[sweetiepiezer]

I like your tag line Shots.

Did you see Dick Durbin’s speech on the Senate floor after the amnesty bill was defeated.
He said he knows several illegal aliens, mentioned how he knows them, one he even grants an emergency visa to every year.
He should be reported.
Wonder how you can get a copy of that speech.

[metmom]

Last I checked a well known mail order catalog company located in the northeast sold a lot of goods from China, which is why I won’t give them my business anymore.

However, I’ve found Land’s End to be very good about putting country of origin and manufacture on the items. And their stuff is great quality. It lasts about forever.

[sweetiepiezer]

Most times if you see an item on qvc or hsn, you can check their website on that item to see where it comes from.
A lot from China.

[Shots]

No I did not catch his speech after the vote old whats his face with parkinson’s or whatever got up and I an not stand his ramblings so I changed channels. Darn do I hate that when I forget a name but he is from the south and old enough to be father times grandfather and has no business being a senator at his age.

[sweetiepiezer]

Byrd (KKK)
Did he have one word on eack on his pages? lol.

[Calpernia]

I’ve seen so many pictures of these poor people and yet, I’m still shocked, anew, by it.

[Calpernia]

More on known labor camps:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1602444/posts?page=24#24

[Shots]

yeah dats who thanks

[Right Wing Assault]

All most Americans seem to care to hear is the price of the clothing.

[Calpernia]

Did you see this one?

[mom4kittys]

[metmom]

This just makes me sick, and more determined than ever to not buy anything from China.

[metmom]

Would this qualify as a moral issue?

And would it be appropriate for the other ping lists as much of the labor used to manufacture goods is prison and slave labor, including those persecuted for their religious beliefs?

[nw_arizona_granny]

It is wrong to use people or animals, as slaves.

But that is the communist way.

[nw_arizona_granny]

This exploitative cotton factory was located next to a funeral parlor in Hankou, Wuhan City. Most of its ingredients came from the used and dirty cotton cloth retrieved from the funeral parlor’s garbage.<<<

Is this toy stuffing????????