On 4/19/21 1:04 PM, Andrew Stewart wrote:
When it comes to the column at Counterpunch, I read it a few days ago
when he first published it via email list. I think that this is a
subjective call.
My problem was not with he said but what he didn't say. Vijay is a very
shrewd writer unlike Max Blumenthal. He understands that China is
involved in forced assimilation but is not willing to say anything about
that, as the JCP did. It is like the 800 pound gorilla that is being
ignored.
Also, his take on Xinjiang and cotton production is missing an important
piece of information:
In 2009, many of these companies created the Better Cotton
Initiative (BCI), which has—until last year—been upbeat about
developments in Xinjiang (including
<https://go.ind.media/e/546932/aise-their-yields-and-profits-/jnsww4/817851903?h=SWGhfh9iSMu_MJyu0Esru46sBViwnIVVzLVqQAqeRmc>co-ops
of small farmers in Xinjiang). As recently as March 26, 2021, the
BCI made a clearstatement
<https://go.ind.media/e/546932/-cotton-xinjiang-idUSKBN2BI1KH/jnsww6/817851903?h=SWGhfh9iSMu_MJyu0Esru46sBViwnIVVzLVqQAqeRmc>:
“Since 2012, the Xinjiang project site has performed second-party
credibility audits and third-party verifications over the years, and
has never found a single case related to incidents of forced labor.”
If you click the link for statement above, you'll discover that it is
referring only to the Chinese branch of BCI. What would you'd expect
them to say? The truth. They'd all end up being "reeducated" themselves.
Did Vijay think nobody would look carefully at the statement?
This is the BCI's position
<https://www.ecotextile.com/2020032725887/materials-production-news/bci-pulls-out-of-xinjiang.html>:
XINJIANG – The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has suspended activities
with licensed farmers in the Xinjiang region of China for the upcoming
cotton season (2020/21) over persistent allegations of forced labour in
the region.
This decision comes just two months after the organisation said it would
stay in Xinjiang – from which it sources 20 per cent of its ‘better
cotton’ – standing with Huafu Fashion Co Ltd, a member of the BCI
Council implicated with accusations of using Muslim prisoners.
BCI says it’s now contracted a global expert to conduct an external
review of the situation in Western China before it considers returning
and is in the midst of establishing a Task Force on Forced Labour and
Decent Work – comprising representatives of Solidaridad, Impactt and
Ergon – which will provide guidance in future decision making.
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