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Tell us what you think.
Selected submissions will be posted here, so check back regularly.
1/31/07
Vladimir Sanchez
San Francisco, Ca
This documentary really opened my eyes to the implications of the World Bank policies, their impact on the daily lives (and the whole LIFE) on the common people.I encourage you to follow with these very human, personal and "eyes opening" kind of programs. This is the kind of programs TV is lacking nowadays. Great work!
Many people have asked how to help. Read the filmmaker's reply >>
George Pope
San Mateo, CA
Very good show. We in the West have to know more about things like this.
I have retired in Ghana where I have put in a lot of time trying to bring
micro credit to neighboring villages outside of Accra and have learned
something about rural village economics.
Tongue in cheek I must say that I think your t shirt story painted too
hopeless a picture. I suspect that more is going on in Zambian villages than
you showed although what you did display is bleak indeed when all the cash
reserves - life blood of a country are owed to W. banks. But I admire your
young Mr. Luca, a bright young energetic trader.
I would have liked it better if you had run a parallel Grameen Bank story
I have long thought that natural resources extractors should be encouraged
to invest in manufacturing and services in these countries. Thus stock
holders would have additional profit centers in growing local economies.
1/2/07
San Rafael, CA
For those wondering what is at the root of globalization and monetary policies, here is a two part documentary. This should help the filmmaker and viewers of "T-shirt Travels" understand the why of her film. If we understand who controls our currency we understand who controls our nation.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8753934454816686947=money+mas
ters
The Money Masters - Part 1 of 2
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2665915773877500927=money+mas
ters
The Money Masters - Part 2 of 2
1/2/07
sai tallavarjula
Santa Clara, CA
I have a good model --- I want to explore further. What if a group of people get these used clothes, then do all the selling in countries where there will be no impact (in US). and raise the money and use it to fund self support projects in parts of the world that needs help. Sort it for sale and emergency help [to help thos ehit by natural calamities etc.,]
I can be reached at stallav2@yahoo.com or stallav blog
4/10/06
marcia m
Richmond, California
I was able to view this documentary yesterday. Even though I am an American by naturalization, I was born in Kingston Jamaica. Growing up I've heard so much about the world bank and IMF and really got a feel of what Jamaica is going through economically when I watched another documentary named Life and Debt. When I watched T-Shirt travel it was like watching Life and Debt and what Jamaica is going through. Growing up in Jamaica we relied on our produces now I'm shocked that supermarkets and venders are selling American fruits, there is hardly any of our own fruits around. The farmers were the first to feel the pinch after teh IMF loan. America told us to export bananas then, Jamaica made every attempt to do so and the shipment was always returned for one reason or another. America in return statred their own Chiquita plantations in central America. I recently went to Target to purchase underware for my daughter, the brand was fruit of the loom and both the outside and the inside of the packet read "made in Kingston Jamaica." More than half of the population in Kingston cannot purchase one single underware in any given month. I feel for the Zambia people and know what they are going through after seeing the country that I was born and raised in going through the same thing.
4/10/06
San Francisco
This film is so important at this time as the United States looks for ways to deal with "illegal aliens". What the film really pointed out for me were the reasons why people must leave their homes, their families and friends, and everything they hold dear and risk their lives crossing a border only to find menial jobs as dishwashers, janitors and construction workers. I teach ESL and have been seeing more and more professionals entering my classes - nurses, doctors and lawyers, who are now working the same jobs as everyone else. The practices of the World Bank and IMF and ramifications of free trade agreements are unknown to most Americans who live comfortable lives of ignorance. This is not just about second hand clothing, though that is an important piece of it - it is about how the things which make our lives comfortable, are devastating economies around the world and forcing people to find alternatives. I was thinking about the huge debt the US has racked up in the past few years. Our government, I guess because we have big armies, can just raise the debt ceiling, and I guess because we control the IMF and WB, we don't have any pressure to make structural adjustments and repay our debts, but what if we did? What if suddenly we could not afford to send our children to schools? What if all of the Wal-Marts and Costcos suddently closed down and people were forced to pay prices they could not afford for clothing and food? Would we be able to survive?
3/6/06
Karen Abney Korn
Dayton, Ohio
I use this film in my college level Introduction to Cultural Anthropology course. I find it compelling and eye-opening for my students. I believe that it greatly assists this population of generally benign, uninvolved students in understanding a bit more about our complicity in the state of our world. I would LOVE to see this film coupled with a film documenting the production of cloth, the design of t-shirts, the production of the shirts themselves, and the "first" consumer sale - further informing us about the "social life" as well as the economic life of one object.
12/19/05
Meghan
Madison, WI
I really enjoyed this movie. It made me think critically about the role the US has and the responsibilities that aren't being held. I am not sure about the motives of the IMF Bank. They just want to get paid back, do they care that these people are impoverished? I do, I see the faces of these children and can't believe that their education could be hindered because their family can't afford to send them. I am curious about how the debt in third world nations is similar to the economic situation created during the era of colonialism. The Native Americans were impoverished after selling off their land to settlers. How is this similar to what is happening in Zambia today? Also a nation is said to be a developing nation. Is this just us imposing our views of developed on the world. As I see it a country like Zambia was in good shape before colonists came and decided that Copper needed to be mined. What is the real connection between Copper and T-shirts? Also what is the compromise being made by Zambians, does this effect their integrity? I know I asked alot of questions but this movie really intreged me to find out more.
11/4/05
Emilia Rossi
Chula Vista, CA
I was really amazed with your film, it was wonderful. I was so happy to see so many people who were able to have clothes and provide for for their kids aswell. It made me realize alot about how sometimes we really don't appreciate what we have because at least I have clothes to wear everyday and some people don't. Its good to see such a positive film about this type of situation. Hey if the government isn't providing whats neccessary for these people at least they are getting help somehow. Thank you for making such a compelling film and I'll be waitng to see more of your work.
10/17/05
Taonga Mbambara
Toronto, Ontario
I think it would be of great benefit for people like Ms. Lynne Warshaw to travel to Zambia and evaluate the situation firsthand; I think it would help them to understand why the piece is "biased." What most people forget to consider when looking at the second-hand clothing industry is that more important than the impact on the economy of a country, is the impact that occurs on the culture of a people. Ask yourself, how would you feel if part of your culture, part of the way you identified yourself, was destroyed?
L. Nygaard
San Francisco, CA
Thank you for the wonderful documentary. Please inform me if there is any way to more directly assist Luka and others in his situation.
1/14/05
Lynne Warshaw
Wynnewood, PA
A very biased piece. Have you read Karen Tranberg Hansen's scholarly research regarding used clothing? You list her book as a resource but don't seem to have digested the content which explains how used clothing benefits the people of Zambia. The film makers could also better understand the impact of used cothing by reading a study conducted by the Swiss Academy for development "Secondhand clothing: Export, Social Compatibility and social acceptance"
1/10/05
David Knight
Seattle, Washington
I loved the film. Very insightful and well done. Yet I do feel there was a rush to find ill will versus full analysis. Looking at the labels on my clothes I see the Philippines, Jamaica, and El Salvador. These are the countries Zambia is competing with. Why have manufactures moved to these other countries?
6/4/04
Sesshu Foster
Los Angeles, CA
Terrific, wonderful film making. Congratulations! Make more movies! This shows what film can do besides backlight empty eyeballs for people sucking down Coca colas.
Sesshu Foster
L.A.
5/20/04
Meagan
I was talking about this documentary for weeks. It was so amazing. I was just in shock about how a country's economy is so heavily influenced by our castaway clothing. I have a friend from Africa, but his life was so much different, being from a rich family in a different part of Africa. He did realize how difficult it was there, though. I was rather ignorant as to how things worked so far away. I also don't know what to think about our charitable organizations. They need the money to keep going, but so does a third world country. Do we take care of our poor or theirs? It's a very difficult situation. My friend thinks we're so spoiled, and should help them. He said to me after visiting our public schools that it was so nice! Why did we need two gyms? (He didn't even know that we had two when he visited, he'd visited just our old one) They could do so much with that money in Africa. It's true. They could. People are living off of selling our old t-shirts that we get maybe 10 a year of new from various events. These things are given away. We don't want them after the event or concert's over. Forget about it, and it ends up in Zambia. Then we go and build huge, million dollar gyms, just because it'd be nice for the basketball teams to have one place to practice, and another to play. It's crazy! We do have somewhat of a responsibility to these people. They're starving and need help. Wouldn't we want them to help us? Maybe we should spend less money on things we don't really need, and put more money, time, and love into helping others. The world could be a much better place. Who knows, maybe a country like Zambia could also become self-sufficient?
4/16/04
Bekki Songolo
Riverside, RI
I was so excited to see "T-Shirt Travels", although unfortunately, I missed the fist half. The story was touching and very close to my heart. You see, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia 1999-2000. It was the greatest experience of my life. I lived in a very remote village in Northern Province in a village called Chalabesa, in a mud and grass hut in the middle of the bush. It was there I learned some REAL life values- and imagaine,it was I who was supposed to be the one teaching! The people in Zambia are some of the most wonderful, generous, loving people. Though they have nothing, they give everything. Living for a year in this sort of environment, gave me a sort of compassion for people I could have never found had I just minded my own business in our "land of plenty".
I am now back here in the US, and I am living a NEW life. You see, I met and fell in love with a Zambian man, Harrison, and we are here together with our son (my step-son), "Little Harrison", living the American dream as a family. So, you can imagine, I will always have Zambia in my heart!
My in-laws back in Zambia face the same struggles that Luka and his family do. They are old, and have no means of income. (pensions and social security don't exist) We are their sole means of income. Luckily, money transfer systems are funtioning in almost every town in Zambia. They are also keeping an orphaned grandson,Mike,who has just passed his grade nine exams and is going to high school. Luckily, we have a friend who pays for Mike's school fees. But the needs are endless. I have brother and sister-in-laws who are often hungry. Families in Africa are usually quite large. We can't afford to help all of them, but we do what we can.
It is a constant struggle emotionally for me to decide whether we can manage to send money to Zambia, or if we need it for our mortgage, or car payment, or grocery bill. Often times we think we "need" money when it's more of a matter of wanting something. I think this can only really occur to you if you can see how our brothers and sisters are living across the world.
I thank PBS for showing such a touching film that has obviously has evoked a lot of emotion, and even the will to give to people like Luka. I feel good inside to know that more Americans now know what Zambia is facing.
It may not be the appropriate place to write this, but if anyone out there is interested in giving directly to people in need in Zambia, without worrying if an organization might me corrupt and not giving to the people who really need it, I would be happy to forward names and addresses of Zambian families like Luka's, who are faced with very similar struggles. These people, in my heart, were always my global family, and now I can proudly say that they are, in fact, MY FAMILY.
Love and Peace to all, and thanks for taking the time to read and learn about Zambia!
4/12/04
Mary V.
Chicago, IL
I just spent the last year travelling in South America and have found it difficult to articulate to people here at home exactly what is the link between the wealth of countries such as the US with the poverty of the third world. If only I could just show everyone this film! As I watched I thought "That's it, exactly." Yes, many of these nations are led by corrupt people. Yes, the vast majority of the people are "uneducated" by the standards of the first world (I noted that Luka was using English words such as "school" and "book"--concepts which, I imagine, came with colonialism). But what is the price for acheiving "success" by capitalist standards? A simpler way of life which, while not perfect, functioned more or less, is replaced with a more complicated mess. And at this point, it doesn't seem that there's any turning back.
4/6/04
Inye Wokoma
seattle
I come from what you might call a "pan-African family". My father is
Nigerian and my brothers and sisters have a senegalese father. What we
were groomed to know from youth about the state of our home nations in
relation to the major western European economic powers is that the endemic
poverty of so many Black nations is a direct consequence of the economic
policies enforced upon them. What has been frustrating all my life is to
witness not only how this affects people all over Africa, but how little
we Americans know (or want to know) about the role our government and
corporations play in this disparity.
Most people think, if only subconciously, that Africa is poor and chaotic
due to the ignorance of its people. This film helps to refute this fairy
tale. Thank you. When it is available I will make it a part of my library
and give it an honored place on the shelf next to other important films in
the genre such as "Life and Debt" about the dismantling of the Jamaican
agricultural economy by the World Bank.
Again, thank you.
4/2/04
Amar Bahadoorsingh
Vancouver, BC Canada
This was one of the most eye-opening documentaries I have ever seen. I
cannot believe an entire nation on the brink of collapse. Even more
shocking was to see that our discarded clothing supported a subsistance
economy. Acccountability in the developing countries regarding the
disposal of our "waste" is paramount to economic globalization.
Is there any way to contact the "entrepeneurs" featured in the program?
They are all intelligent humans who deserve more than sorting through our
old t-shirts. Even if that is merely an acknowledgement of their hard work.
3/31/04
Dianne L Ryan
pensacola, FL
I just wanted to sign in and say that I was very moved by this
documentary.I have read all of the emails posted on your site and with the
exception of just one, I don't know that I can say it any better. I have
printed out a copy of the suggestions from Shantha Bloemen on what can be
done to offer more direct assistance and be actively involved. I intend to
do just that!
Thank you, thank you for fine viewing!
3/29/04
Andrew
Cobourg, Ontario, Canada
I just spent the last year living in Mporokoso, Northern Province of Zambia and I found this documentary to be a very good look into what the average family Zambian faces. Having spent the last year living in a Zambian village while working in a Congolese refugee camp, I found the presence of Canadian clothing to be a refreshing reminder of home. One Zambian girl happened to own a cap from the university where I got my Masters Degree. Many refugees had Canadian beer shirts. Someone in North America really overproduced the Titanic shirts because there were thousands of those. Probably most amusing was an elder male refugee who very much enjoyed wearing his Minnie Mouse Nightgown. It is good weight for the hot days.
My personal culture shock battles aside, what the documentary really is discussing is how the wealthy countries keep Zambia structurally poor with equal trade policies (note the amount to which the world's largest proponent of free trade subsidizes its own farmers) while dumping off its extra waste in the form of charity. Besides clothes, many other things which have lost their value in the Wealthy World are "donated" to Zambia. Who is in the market for obsolete birth control pills?
May people argue that rich countries providing international development assistance to these countries while at the same time structurally screwing them over is the equivalent of giving someone a Tylenol to make yourself feel better about your jumping up and down on their head.
Besides the economics discussed in the documentary, the presence of so much American hand-me-downs has a strong negative effect on the average Zambians self-esteem. The vast majority of a nation wearing clothes and using products that have been discarded by another nation carries with it a severe psychological price. I imagine it is similar to the defeated feeling North American people who are dependant on Welfare must feel after a while. Why bother?
And trust me, there are some strong Anti-American feelings in the country due to both jealously and the Zambians' understanding that the international situation is biased against them. Besides the familiar American T-shirts I was also shocked by the number of Pro Osama Bin Laden T-Shirts.
With regards to charities selling the clothes you donate, if you are afraid of this, try to donate your clothes to a charity that gives the clothes to the refugee camps. The UNHCR tries to provide clothes to those refugees that are the most vulnerable in the refugee camps. There still are Salulas in the camps but your clothes should go to the poorest of the poor. Besides you will not be undercutting any local industry as the refugees that can afford it will continue buying tailor made clothes from material imported from India.
The Zambian government can not afford to provide its people with adequate medical treatment and/or prevention for malaria, measles, and in some regions polio which can be treated. Treatable diseases, in conjunction with HIV/AIDS, are the primary causes of death in Zambia. In the United States the leading cause of preventable death is soon to be obesity.
Otherwise noteworthy is that the IMF in Lusaka shares its office space with the Canadian Embassy.
3/29/04
WOW, I had no idea that this went on! The companies who sell second hand clothing to third world countries, such as Zambia should be ashamed of thier actions, and the motivating factor- GREED! This truly should open ALL our eyes to change. Also, I think the people of Zambia are a very beautiful people! As Americans we take so much for granted and buy into consumerism- so much so that we are called Consumers! The Zambia people are anything but that. They are very giving, unselfish and thankful. Although they may be suffering from material poverty from people like us who have so much and give so little- they own something we perhaps lack as Consumers, mainly Joy in their hearts and lovely smiles and great thankfulness and love for what they do have. What beautiful Souls! May their example of living teach us and may we Consumers become Givers.
3/29/04
Salem, NH
This documentary presents a ludicrous point of view that is unimaginatively faithful to leftist orthodoxy. It is nonsense to blame Zambia's poverty on free trade and globalization. Would people in Zambia or any other country be better off if they are unfree and isolated? To imply that Zambia garment industry failed because of import of second-hand clothes is to imply that such an industry is only allowed to serve the domestic market. The filmmakers failed to mention some of the most salient reasons for a country's poverty: an intrusive, corrupt government, and an unskilled, uneducated population. The people in government are also those who have agreed to the damaging terms of IMF loans. I was impressed by the young man who is the main subject of the documentary. A responsible, hard-working, driven person like him would have no problem succeeding in a country like America or even Hong Kong -- countries where people did not become wealthy by closing themselves off to free trade and globalization.
3/26/04
sia Kofuma
New york, NY
It would be very nice if the wealthier countries could help the improverished country but we all know that it wont happen. so then what should the poor do to help themselves. I think that the government of that country should do something like create education or anything that wold help its own people. I also do not think that organizations should sell donated clothing to the poor because it is given to them for the poor to have.
3/26/04
Fortuna,California
I really think your document was inspiring. I really wish I could do something but am only 13. I'm happy to know that all that clothes goes to a good use but am sad to learn about the lose of work and all the debt and trouble it causes. When I get older I would really like to help maybe study to become a teacher to teach in Zambia for free for all the children.
3/26/04
Don Meyer
Pasadena, CA
As a DV documentary writer/producer I was especially appreciative of your production. This is exactly the type of subject matter that new technologies will encourage. How ironic that it will be the advancements in digital technology that will lead the way to the democratization of affordable productions and their distribution to mass audiences in order to reveal enormous human inequalities in the global village. Kudos on a job more than well done. Heartful, and therefore thoughtful. Thank you and good luck with your future productions.
D.J. Meyer
LightEchoes Productions
3/26/04
David Madigan
Kohler, WI
This film has enlightened me to the problems of Africa, specifically to those of Zambia and to Luka and his family.
As to whether charitable organizations should be selling donated clothing, I suppose that would depend on what they do with the profits from those sales. Certainly it was clear that the "middle men" were profiting from this trade. What's not clear is whether the low cost secondhand clothing helps or hurts Zambia's economy and it's people for the short and long term.
3/26/04
Eugene Oregon
The message this film contains should be seen by the entire US, (and other countries). But it only played once in my area at 11:00PM when everyone was asleep. I came to see if there was a DataStream online or if I could possibly buy a DVD of it for a reasonable price. I was insulted to find you are only selling it to Education Institutions for ~$400.
I guess you also are unable to reconcile your capitalist impulses with your global responsibilities.
3/26/04
U. P.
Union, Mississippi
My husband and I sat speechless for the hour that the program was on. It presents the issues of development so clearly and personally. We were both Peace Corps Volunteers in South America and wish we had seen this film before we worked in our villages. Although, we might have lost all motivation to work knowing that even our most successful efforts did nothing to protect the people we worked with from the larger, more powerful forces impacting their lives.
3/26/04
R. L
Clinton, NJ
I found this story fascinating, especially since my church has helped to establish a mission in Zambia. "Oasis Village" is a haven for widows and orphans, and was begun in response to a plea from a Zambian minister. The Evangelical Church in America is involved in a campaign called, "Stand with Africa." The effects of use clothing imports was not one of the contributing factors to Zambian poverty that I was aware of. In fact this investigative piece seemed to place it high on the list of contributing factors. I would like to learn more about this angle.
3/26/04
john taylor
boise, Idaho
Earlier in the day, before watching this film, I was up on my roof with a contractor discussing what needed to be done in order to re-surface our old roof, which is in a rather sorry state.
Now, we are not wealthy, so this will be a major expenditure for us. I was sort of stressed out later that afternoon, trying to figure out how we would get the money together for this project.
After dinner, I sat down and turned the tv on, flipped to PBS & happened to watch "t-shirt travels".
I was stunned by the urgency of Luka's needs, and the monumental difficulties that he had to deal with, just to get through a single day in Zambia, supporting his entire extended family. Eventually, there was a part about him saving money to add to their own roof, which was mainly made of reeds or some sort of scrap wood, having one small section of tin roofing. At this point, I realized how insignificant my own 'problems' were compared to other people out there in the world.
Today at work, I cannot get the imagery out of my head. I am still trying to reconcile how this situation came to be, why these powerful international organizations continue to dehumanize entire populations and most importantly, what has to be done in order to make things right again.
3/26/04
D. Reeve
Brooklyn, NY
Thank you very much for T-Shirt Travels, it has made a profound impression on me. I regularly donate used clothing to a charity in Brooklyn. I have spent the greater part of today thinking about how I can put my practice of donating used clothing to good work. After reading your response to some of the emails submitted to TALKBACK I am planning to sell my used clothing and other wares from now on to consignment shops and then to donate the money to people like Luka. I plan on contacting you via email directly about this. Thank you so very much for giving me another reason to be grateful for what I have and the need to give to others. I have wanted to do this for a long time but just didn't know where to start.
Peace
3/26/04
norman harman
Harpers Ferry, WV
The re-sale of donated clothes may have been the central focus of your piece but the most important aspect was the light it shed on the gloabalization process. As the Director of East Africa UNICEF said, globalization has spread poverty in nearly every LDC it has gone into. The new world economic order, somtimes called globalization, sometimes "the liberal peace" and from critics, neo-imperialism, is essentially a system designed to degrade LDC economies and create a huge, global, cheap-labor pool(whether intentional or not is difficult to discern). As professor Sachs pointed out, between the pressures of the liberal peace, and the insistence on privatization by the IMF and World Bank, most LDCs find themselves in a place where they have to adhere to structural adjustment schemes that open their already fragile economies to an onslaught by giant sans-national corporations that come in and overwhelm indigenous industries (by undercutting their price structures), ultimately creating higher levels of unemployment, reducing governemnt spending, and generally spreading poverty. Part of the structural adjustment process requires eliminating many government services through privatization, making many necessities of daily life, such as clean water, electricity and health services, to name just a few, no longer available to large segments (often the majority)of the population - leading to the degradation of people's health in addition their economic conditions.
This faith in the market is leading to an increase not only of poverty but also the general breakdown of LDC staes themselves. Reliance on the "magical market forces" is creating a whole series of "shadow economies" throughout the developing (it might be more appropriate to call it the non-developing world), within which the trans-border trade in semi-legitimate products is mixed with illegitimate goods such as drugs, fake medical supplies, and most unnerving, guns and other military supplies. These "shadow economies" serve to finance and supply many of the debilitating conflicts that plague Africa, and many other LDCs today. The combination of structural adjustment in the service of globalization, "shadow economies," and the conflicts they fuel, the rise of rogue armies and the spread of disease such as AIDS, is the leading cause of "failed states," and the spread of terrorism.
Globalization as it is practiced today is probably the single most destructive force in the world. In Professor of International Relations at Leeds University, Mark Duffield's brilliant analysis of globalization, "Global Governance and the New Wars," he cites a number of studies that suggest we are entering a future in which a neo-fuedalist world order will be the norm. From my own studies of globalization over the last 10 years or so, I'm inclined to agree with him.
It is rare to see an honest view of globalization on any American TV, your show was a breath of fresh air, thank you.
3/26/04
tonya wilcox
washington wva
what a wonderful documentary. i will never forget Luka and his hard efforts to keep integrity and honor to his family. i say send clothes over there, our thrift shops and other shelters we donate to are over flowing i wish i could do something, BUT HOW? To think he will have to work hard and miss out on things he should be doing to save for a whole year to buy a sheet of tin for his roof. we have got to do more!
3/24/04
New York, NY
Wealthier countries do indeed have a moral obligation to help poor countries escape the "debt trap." This is is not only just and fair, but makes perfect economic sense.
Take agriculture, for instance. A recent report in The Wall Street Journal highlighted the impact of U.S. agricultural donations on Ethiopia's economy. On the supply side, the donations were contributing to an exess of supply or surplus, which eliminates the incetives for domestic producers to improve their production methods and increase output. The profitability of Ehiopian farmers, the viability of the country's agricultural sector, and the state's ability to improve its revenue collection - and thus, improve the provision of social services, such as health care, infrastructure, and education - is undermined by the influx of U.S. donations.
On the demand side, although demand for food is quite large, there are chronic shortages caused by profiteering and hoarding.
Similar to Zambia's textile industry, Ethiopia's agricultural sector suffers the negative impact of an excess supply of imports.
In both cases, one can argue that the export of surpluses from the rich countries are undermining the very same structures and industries that they demand that the poor countries must foment and develop.
As in the case of Zambia, the solution can be quite simple. Instead of shipping tons of donated grains, why not provide Ethiopian farmers with low interest loans and finance to facilitate the purchase of necessary inputs (i.e., fertilizer, seeds, and machines) to improve the productivity of the agricultural sector?
In the case of Zambia, why not provide low interest loans and financing to domestic textile manufacturers to allow them to gain a competitive advantage vis-a-vis imported second hand clothing?
Rather than force poor countries to forcibly adopt structural adjustment policies and socially devastating austerity measures, the international organizations, such as the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), should promote the gradual implementation of market-oriented reforms, on a case by case basis.
Finally, it is to advantage of the developed world to ensure that poor countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, embark on feasible, and socially-concious, structural re-adjustment processes, rather than the mostly detrimental policies prescribed by the "Washington Consensus." Globalization, and the stability of the international world economy, requires the successful integration of these countries into the world economy.
However, unless the policy imperatives of the IMF and the World Bank are radically refocused to pay more attention to people, rather than statistical economic indicators, this goal will remain elusive, and the international community will undoubtedly have to deal with its dire consequences.
3/24/04
Rupert Fike
Atlanta, Ga.
When I visited my Peace Corps daughter's remote village in Burkina Faso, West Africa, I brought 30 or so Goodwill t-shirts with logos or english words on them (5k Fun Run, I Brake for Redheads, Avi's Bar Mitzvah,etc.) Almost immediately grateful receipients began offering me Fantas and live chickens in thanks. I had to accept them, of course, but it was sad, how little a t-shirt had cost me versus one of their few scrawny but tasty chickens.
Worse yet, an anthropolgist from the Sorbonne who was studying the village, became understandably livid with me when she saw the change in the dress of the villageois. Oh well . . . great film!
3/24/04
Nikki
Milwaukee, WI USA
First of all, thank you for such a beautiful, sensitive, yet unsettling film about Zambia's paradox. It is remarkable that these members of our world community suffer so much, while we enjoy an overabundnce of prosperity...and somehow people like Luka retain their dignity, strength, and commitment to family.
It is absolutely crucial that wealthy nations share their resources with more challenged nations. It is an investment in the health and well-being of our global conmmunity. Say a family is rich and thriving, but a child develops a life-threatening illness... it may not affect the ability of the parents to earn income or maintain their way of life, but it will in fact affect the overall well-being and stability of the family. It threatens the future prosperity of that unit and may prevent them from realizing their full potential because resources must be diverted to care for that child.
That translates to our global family. Yes, the richer countries can continue to operate as usual, but think of how much more prosperous they could be if everyone on the planet was healthy and contributing to the wealth of the world as a whole. Perhaps the scientific insight that will cure AIDS lies in the mind of one of those children, but we will never benefit from it if that child dies of malnutrition or drops out of school because it's too expensive. It is our duty and unspoken mission to share our wealth and resources so that every single soul in the world reaches their potential, and in doing so, is allowed to give back to the world community by sharing their gifts.
We cannot just rely on donated money and secondhand clothing to rescue these countries. That is like pumping blood into a body whose heart is dying. We must restore the heart to these people. We must revive their industries, such as textile production. Our corporations should be encouraged, through financial incentives perhaps, to create work for disadvantaged nations. Why can't The Gap develop an internationally flavored apparel collection and commission the Zambians to create the cloth for it? Why can'y Pottery Barn supply them with ceramic supplies and teachers to create home decorating items? It can only enhance their corporate image if they reach out and help rescue these nations. Surely there are hundreds of ideas like this that are worth trying, and we know that corporations here have the wealth to do it, reaped from convenient tax write-offs and loopholes and just plain greed.
In America we are proud to fight for our guiding principles, that all human beings are created equal and deserve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We cannot hold true to these beliefs however if we just halt that fight at our borders. Those principles would be hollow and meaningless. We must work to restore a vibrant heart to disadvantaged people around the world. We must revive and strengthen their productivity, intellect and creativity, so that the can thrive with us, as one community to the benefit of all. I look forward to the day that I can sing and dance with people like Luka and know that our hearts beat together in health, harmony and happiness.
Thank you again for your soul-stirring work. It is very-much needed, and you must be encouraged to continue. Anything we can do to bring HOPE (Health, Opportunity, Parity and Education) to all people is worth the struggle and commitment. I wish you the best! Peace and blessings to you!
3/24/04
Steve Hawthorne
Portland Oregon USA
I went to this website to commend the filmmaker for an excellent, powerful and informative film. I found it more informative and revealing than the award-winning documentary which examined Jamaica from a similar viewpoint. Congratulations.
However, I am dismayed by the comments I have read on this forum. In fact, I am literally speechless -- I do not know where to begin with people who can only respond to this story as if it were an expose on a corrupt charity.
Nonetheless, I feel compelled to type a quick reply to some fellow POV viewers & forum participants.
First, the used-clothing trade is NOT a charity. Second, the people and countries of Africa are NOT naturally "charity cases". Africans are NOT naturally needy. As the film explained, colonialism brought Africans their first widespread famines. And now, the "free market" -- controlled by neo-colonial institutions like the US-based World Bank -- is impoverishing and killing the people of Africa.
As a result, Zambia no longer has its own textile industry, or a publicly-funded education system, or other public services and utilities that we in North America take for granted. After all, any money the government of Zambia collects must go overseas to pay banks in America and Europe for *interest* on past loans.
This debt has left Zambia (& other nations in Africa) at the mercy of bankers and big-business interests. Zambia no longer has any control over its own economy. For example, the Zambian government is *not* free to discourage the importation of used clothing & encourage the redevelopment of its own clothing industry. The World Bank simply would not permit such action. Remember, countries like the U.S. are free to, say, ban the importation of Canadian-made pharmaceuticals to protect American drug companies from the competition.) because the US drug companies
Without such freedom, African countries like Zambia live completely at the mercy of importers, who charge the people of Africa as much as possible for the trashy discards of middle-class consumers in North America and Europe. That's their economy: buying our discards and trading it amongst themselves. Such "business" does not generate wealth or economic growth: it just concentrates money in the hands importers -- and the system would not change if the importers were all Africans.
The importing of used clothing is not the same as importing raw materials -- even recycled materials -- to be used for manufacturing something new of value, which could then be sold throughout the world market as well as the African market. No, the used-clothing business is a dead-end. And it is a destructive dead-end. Remember, Zambians used to make and sell their own clothes before the used-clothing importers (encouraged by the World Bank's "free trade" mandates) flooded Zambia's markets, putting the entire Zambian textile industry out of business.
Hence, the t-shirt trade serves as both a metaphor and an actual example of the type of system that has trapped the people and governments of Africa.
It is up to the people in the United States and other powerful nations to demand that the system be changed. And we have a responsibility to do so. For, as the film bravely emphasized, the wealth of Europe and North America is not due to the hard work of the Europeans and North Americans as much as it is due to the hard work of Africans, and the natural resources of Africa, Latin America and Asia. Now it is time that we gave back, but NOT through charity. Instead, we must demand structural changes in the global capitalist system -- changes that move away from the "free trade" espoused by President George W Bush & friends, changes that truly enable and empower Africans to rebuild their economies, their governments, and their countries.
3/24/04
Michael Gridley
San Francisco, CA
Fantastic documentary. Terrific insight into the current economic development crisis in Zambia. Love how the second hand t-shirts are a microcosm of the countries numerous economic hurdles that are exacerbated through Structural Adjustment Loans. In a very similar vein to "Life and Debt" which is tells a similar sad tale of the downward spiral imposed by IMF and World Bank in Jamaica. Would add to the reading list on this site - Joseph Stiglitz "Globalization and its Discontents" - which coming from the former chief economist of the World Bank and Nobe Laureate provides stinging criticism of structural adjustment loadns by the IMF.
3/24/04
Joyce Olewe
Houston, TX
There are various ways of looking at this situation. On the one hand, charitable organizations are being philanthropic in the sense that they are sending used clothing to impoverished communities and secondly that an enterprise of sorts is being created for the would-be trader. However, the documentary tonight stated that the increase of the importation of second-hand clothing more ore less crippled the nation's (Zambia) own textile industry. And that is the real problem. Now-a-days, African countries are victims of imperialism. Such misguided acts of good, only serve to impoverish African countries like Zambia all the more. I come from a country which used to export various agricultural goods to the world markets and it is today importing just about everything that it's population uses; even things that could very well be grown or manufactured in the country. It's a waste of foreign currency which of course has devalued our own national currency. It leaves the country playing an eternal game of catch-up. I know for a certainty that people prefer to buy "Made in USA", "Made in China", "Made in Taiwan" than the same products made in their own country. Of recent my government has placed bans on the importation of various goods. And I say it is about time. Africa is known for its numerous raw materials which is of value to foreign nationals. However apart from that it has no "product" of sorts that it can place on a world market. And in it's past history Africa had been known for its creativity and ingenuity.
In the documentary a young man said that they all want to be Americans and as they watched American programs/movies on the television the came out wanting to dress like them, to seem as if they were Americans. That is the true tragedy. The Ads or slogans on the T-shirts represent nothing of Zambian or African culture. American popculture is slowly being infused into their societies. However subtle the act of imperialism may be, it is very present.
Edward Wilmot Blyden once said: "Let me forever be discarded by the Black race, and let me be condemned by the White, if I strive not with all my energies to bring respect and dignity to the African race." If these charitable organizations should instead assisting these countries to develop their own products and marketing them to the world markets in turn. That's called development. I'd prefer that to imperialism any day.
"If you believe people have no history worth mentioning it is easy to believe they have no humanity worth defending"
-William Loren Katz
3/24/04
sacramento, ca.
Incredible but all the politicians tout free trade as the answer to economic woes including jobs, but just who does it help, it hasn't helped Zambia and it certainly does not seem to have helped the US -our jobs are outsourced and huge manufacturing plants (steel,cars,etc.)have been free traded to other countries. Just who has free trade helped?
3/24/04
INKU
Is there anybody out there????!!!!
Why can't all these people who wrote in see the big picture?
Any comments about the role of the IMF and World Bank in all this. I am right smack in the middle of a persoanl problem right now; but, boy! you look at something like this film and your problem becomes microscopic.
This film and others like it want to make you pull out your hair and scream out to the world. Those of you who wrote in concerned about the damned second hand t-shirts, buy the video and show it in your schools, churches and community organizations. Can't you see that this is primarily about black and white and then about power, money and greed. Isn't it ironic that WE ALL came from AFRICA? We are all related. If one goes down, evereybody goes down. Isn't there enough proof of that in your neighborhoods, cities, states, country and further in the rest of the world? YES SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO ERADICATE DEBT FROM POOR COUNTRIES? YES WEALTHY NATIONS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ERADICATE DEBT FROM POOR COUNTRIES. NOT FOR THE SAKE OF BEING MORAL BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PUT IT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. DO THEY WANT TO? NO! BUT LIKE THE FILMAKER SAID SINCE THERE WILL SOON BE NOBODY TO PAY BACK THIS DEBT, THE PROBLEM WILL SURE COME BACK TO BITE THESE WEALTHY NATIONS IN ALL FORMS.
3/24/04
Tammy Gomez
Fort Worth, Texas
I was very moved by the information and experiences depicted in T-Shirt Travels. I was also reminded of my experience as a traveler in Nepal, where I also saw many young people there clamoring for the cast-off fashions of the U.S. While on a trek in the Annapurna region, I talked with a young boy who sported a baseball cap on which he'd scrawled the word NIKE and a swoosh next to it. It was shocking to be reminded of the extent to which U.S. material culture is taking hold in poor, less developed countries like Nepal. The young boy, in answer to my questions, insisted that putting his own name on the cap he wore could never be as cool or interesting as having an American corporate logo on it.
On another note: my friends who travel south of the border often carry extra things w/ them to give away to the people there. My mother drove to El Salvador once, with the back of her car filled with stuffed toy animals to give away to the village children. I myself would never think to make a profit selling cast-offs from my closet to people even poorer than me.
3/24/04
Carol Smith
Fond du Lac, WI
Thank you for informing us as to how our practices past and present affect Third World economies. It is a crime the way Zambia has been robbed of it's natural resources. It is a sad irony the way our donated excesses (discarded clothing) have damaged this country's economy.
I do believe that wealthier countries have a moral obligation to seek debt relief for improverished countries. I support organizations such as SERRV International and Ten Thousand Villages which help market handcrafted items made by people in Third World countries - giving a fair price. We need more Fair Trade, not free trade.
3/24/04
Michael Verne
Castanea,PA
A person could sell used clothing on eBay and after paying seller's fees, donate the money to help people in Africa.
3/24/04
Kevin Moss
The alleged connection between poverty and clothing donations does a disservice to the intended thrust of the film. Zambian, as a whole, stands to benefit from clothing donations.
Agricultural policy in the United States is an illustrative analog. If we were to open our markets to agricultural imports by lowering tariff barriers the price of food in the United States would drop dramatically, the primary beneficiary being those who spend a disproportionate amount of their income on food, namely the poor.
By providing Zambian's with a low-cost clothing alternative they can spend a smaller percentage of their income on clothing, allowing them to spend more on food, shelter, and other necessities. Yes, a small percentage of people working in the textile industry lose their jobs, but the benefits to the country as a whole outweigh the costs.
This post is not intended to detract from the pressing need for debt forgiveness and creation of a comprehensive development strategy that places people and not profits at its center.
However, the film's misplaced connection between charitable giving and these important issues fails to forward the debate and undermines reform efforts by focusing resources on counterproductive policy proscriptions.
3/24/04
Robinson Rider
Springfield, Pennsylvania
I found your documentary to be very informative and to the point. Having spent the past 2 summers in Kibera, Kenya (one of the largest slums in Kenya), I have witnessed first hand the "T-Shirt Travels" and found it to be an interesting phenomena.
The need certainly exists for clothing and yet the economic resources are not available to afford such luxuries. As a result the buisness of second hand clothing is a thriving industry.
I am disturbed that many young children have little to cloth themselfs with and as a result are often found in tattered articles of fabric.
What can we do??? I would challenge all to travel abroad and witness this first hand...the suffering, starvation, and absolute poverty that the people of Africa deal with each and every day. Secondly...when you do go pack your bags with 140 lbs of clothing (you are allowed to take two 70lbs bags) and give them to those in need. For the more committed individual I would recommend that you retain the services of a shipping company and send 1800 lbs of clothing for about 1,200.00.
This summer I will be returning to Kenya and have in fact done just that. the amount of clothing and supplies I am able to take will go a long way in helping children to continue their education, prevent them from getting sick, and most importantly retain a sense of self respect and dignity.
Thanks for a great look into the trials and tribulations of the people of Zambia.
Robinson Rider
3/24/04
Edward B. Perry
Laurelton, New York
It has become quite clear that reparations to African Americans for the crimes of slavery are cleary not a part of the United States Agenda. The forty acres and a mule is a myth that will remain so. Has any official organization every sat down and truly calculated the loss and damage suffered by Africa at the hands of European and American slave traders and colonists? Once calculating the actual dollar amount owed, process that into monies that can be used to replace the debt owed by African countries, any surplus money should be used as capital to generate industry, and fund healthcare and education. I realize this is just the trappings of a young African American man wishing to see his original lost ancestral homeland restored to the glories of its great historical pasts, but this is how I feel and what I have to say about it.
3/24/04
Tara
Bloomfield Hills Michigan
This documentary was ubelievebly moving. My name is Tara and I am a Junior at Andover Highschool in Bloomfield Hills Michigan. At my school we have a club called Building with Books. This organization sent me to Mali, West Africa to build a school in a village. I left February 12, 2004 and returned February 28, 2004. seven girls from michigan went on this trek. It was an amazing experience and when i was watching your documentary, I could have sworn you were in Mali. The two countries are extremely alike. I learned so much from your documentary and I am very passionate on this subject matter. I admire and respect your opinions and hope to hear from you soon.
3/24/04
Nashville, Tn.
Charitable organizations wash the clothing and pay to ship it there. They should have a right to collect some kind of return so that they can send more clothes over there. They are not forcing the marketplace there to buy it from them. It is the merchant/buyer who decides to buy and resell. We should blame them merchant at the marketplace for the country being poor then, in that scenario. And we know that it just isn't because of any one factor. Just because someone wears some groovy old Tee from a charitable organization, that does not make them poor. Maybe they are thrifty and rich with other resources. And if they were poor,and naked why would they not appreciate a shirt cheap or free from the marketplace. I don't think we can conclude that we are making them poor by getting merchandise to their marketplace. In fact the tee shirts at the marketplace could teach them something about debt redcuction. Free enterprise works...merchant makes money and pays a tax on his income to the government then the country gets rid of debt. Just an idea.
3/24/04
I don't get it. 3rd world debt is one thing, donated (and resold) clothing is another. What alternative are you suggesting to donated clothing? Despite the critical tone, if I donate clothing, it ends up on a poor persons back, and it costs them less than it would if I didn't donate my clothes, that's what I intended when I made the donation. So why the negative spin?
3/24/04
alexander parish
If you are for a protectionist ecconomy, then advocate it. Charity is not what has ravaged Africa's developement. Corruption, lack of infrastructure, and yes, staggering debt (which, incidently, rarely if ever gets paid) all have played a part. But to suggest t-shirts given away in the U.S. have broken the back of Zambia'a clothing production is typical liberal think.
3/24/04
Clyde Dinkins
Irvington, NJ
Good, informative story, "T-Shirt Travels." A litttle input regarding the two questions.
1. The charitable organizations have the right to sell the clothing to poorer countries. This is the first undeniable fact opponents of such refuse to "truly" admit and accept. Also, I believe said clothing should be sold or given to the poorest Americans first.
2. Basically-realistically, nothing can be done to eradicate Third World debt. Because, said countries are incompetent, corrupt, poor managers, cognitive-ability deficient, etc. Wealthier nations, based on the preceding and more, don't have a moral obligation to help said debt relief.
There is a new emerging philosophy (nanoscule at present) even among a few American blacks regarding such and Africa. Briefly: 1) Basically, stop all such aid, especially to those countries who are in default of current loans; 2) Stop supporting said countries that are dictatorships, corrupt, don't support us in the UN, etc; 3) Leave such countries to "sink or swim;" 4) America and Americans first.
I conclude saying and as the story-film show-doing good (donating clothing) can have negative, worse effects and results, be counter-productive, etc. Facts the "do-gooders" fail to see, heed, accept, etc. "Sic transit gloria Africanus."
3/22/04
bobbe quinlan
Mesa, Az.
So what is different than charitable organizations selling donated clothes thru their thrift shops in the USA? Many low-income families shop these thrift stores on a daily basis. These are people who prefer to pay for their clothing and cannot afford mall or dept. store prices. Aren't the people of Africa getting exactly the same opportunity to buy good second hand clothing as the people in USA?
3/22/04
prescott,az
why is it a bad thing that a donated t-shirt ends up in africa and that an impovrished african makes money by selling them?
3/22/04
Maria Misola
Toronto,Ontario Canada
Its not right for charitable organizations to sell donated clothings to poor countries.People here in drop off their used clothes to thrifty stores who sell second hand clothes and other items.If I am a charitable organization I would send the clothes straight to the church organizations where its destined to be distributed.If the problem with shipping these clothes has to be done with a lot of expenses,then just have our charitable organizations build a store from home and sell them,and make these into money and a trusted representative goes to the third world country and give the donated money to the rightful person who knows how this will be done.In the case of Luka,he wanted to help his family cope with life and hes doing a good deed than people I see just like him who does nothing but stay out of school and mess up their lives.
It may be true that we are our brothers keeper, we help as much as we can so does wealthier countries.The only problem is like tracking this T-shirt business,items have to go from one hand to another as well a charity.Charity goes from person A to person B where he hands it to person C and on and on and on till it reaches person Z.Skip all those unnecessary people who only have personal interest on the matter. Go straight from person A to Person Z and no one else in the middle,shorten the process of handling charity.
3/22/04
Christine Mather
Nashville, TN
A solution for used children's clothing in good shape is the consignment sale. They are very popular in Nashville, but some places don't have them. There's a website that lists them by state and discusses how to start one.
Several charities collect used career wear for low income women entering the job market. Do they sell on what they cannot use?
I would like to know what to do with other clothing-consignment stores accept very little. Women's shelters? Agencies that help the homeless? I hate to put good clothing in a landfill or rip it up for rags. Actually, I hate to throw any clothing.
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