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Turning Away Used Clothing

Saturday 21st of July 2007 04:16:15 AM

Each year, thousands of used T-Shirts, sweaters, pants, shoes, and other items are donated to charities in the US and as well as charities in other countries. When these charities cannot sell the clothing in their own country, they oftentimes sell it to merchants living in developing countries who then offer the clothing to consumers for a deep discount. But some developing countries, including Boliva, have banned this practice citing used clothing is out pricing clothing manufacturers and forcing them to manufacture poor quality clothing.

When the President of Boliva, Evo Morales banned used clothing from the US from entering the country, Boliva became the thirty-second country to do so. "It's impossible to think that we can be dignified if, in the name of poverty, we wear clothing that has been thrown out in another country," Ramiro Uchani, the deputy minister of small business.

But banning the clothing may not stop used clothing from entering the country. At least 55,000 tones of used T-Shirts and other items from developed countries are being sent to Boliva each year. Many merchants who receive the clothing allow customers to sort through and choose the items they like for a very low price. For the poorest in the country, this is one of the only ways they can clothe themselves.

"I don't know what it's like to wear new clothing, because my pay isn't enough after the food, the rent. We want so much to dress our children in new clothes, clothes from the store. But we can't. We have to face reality," said Jose Luis Hernandez, a Bolivian policeman.

(c)Adriaan de Man, www.sxc.hu