Jean Factory Toxic Waste Plagues Lesotho

(CBS)  There's a disturbing report today of dangerous waste being dumped by a plant in Africa which manufactures blue jeans for American consumers.

Both Gap and Levi Strauss are investigating the alleged dumping at the plant in Lesotho in southern Africa, as CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar reports.

On the outskirts of Maseru, dozens of children - the poorest of the poor - scavenge at a huge municipal dump for anything useful - anything they can sell.

A months-long investigation by the London Sunday Times found tons of illegally dumped waste from garment manufacturers including suppliers of major denim manufacturers Levi Strauss and Gap.

Among the scraps of denim and discarded clothing tags are hidden dangers.

"We found razors, sharps and needles that are traditionally used in textile machinery. So there's a lot of hazardous waste," said Dan McDougall, Africa correspondent for the London Sunday Times.

The dump is constantly burning. Acrid smoke fills the air. Most of the children have chest infections. People complain of skin irritations.

One woman told CBS News that her hands and arms were covered in sores after she touched chemicals sometimes found there. "I couldn't stop the itching," she said.

The garment industry and international contracts with Gap and Levi have brought thousands of desperately needed jobs to Lesotho. In exchange for those contacts, manufacturers are supposed to adhere to strict codes of social and environmental responsibility.

The textile mill supplying the companies has installed a water purification facility, but the Sunday Times found that untreated wastewater, dyed deep blue and polluted with chemicals, is leaking into the water table and a local river.

"When you stand up on the ridge, and look down it is bright blue. It is unnaturally blue. And you can see right along the banks of the river there are strips of cotton material, slime, the mud is actually stained blue," McDougall said.

And just outside the plant, one of the pipes carrying wastewater was broken. Residents say it's been that way for years.

"The water smells terrible," a woman said. "And it makes us feel ill."

"It's polluting our land, it's polluting our air, it's polluting our water," said John Buaska, an environmental activist. "And on the other hand they say they are helping Africa."

Gap, which takes pride in its reputation for social responsibility, moved quickly.

"In just the few days since we found out about these troubling allegations," said Gap Senior Vice President Dan Henkle, Sr., "we have done the following: We have conducted an on the ground investigation of our own; We've commissioned an independent monitoring organization to conduct their own investigation; And we have put one of the factories involved on immediate notice until all issues are adequately resolved."

Levi Strauss has also promised action over conditions at the dump, saying in a statement, "We are committed to working closely with suppliers and government leaders to help protect the community."

People might feel differently about their favorite pair of jeans if they knew the hidden costs of what was happening half a world away.

[910isgangs]

lol i cant believe people are ACTUALLY doing work hha

[910isgangs]

neriah i owe you chips but i ate mine but i left crumbs hha

[910isgangs]

910 is so qanqs!!hha x

[odbu812]

I will give them ample opportunity to resolve/rectify the situation, I just won't give either of them a dime more till it is resolved, and guess what Levi's and Gap, It's back to school season too, Guess you better get this fixed fast and make sure nothing like this happens again!

[rsmik]

My jeans are made by little children working 12 hours a day in China, so I can't relate.

[dragontat2]

One of the main reasons Levi&Co, etc, moved their factories out of the US - taking my career along with them- was to avoid having to be bothered by such things as pollution and worker's rights. The quality of their fabrics have significantly declined, as well.
I haven't bought anything made by Levi&Co (including Koret) or anything at The Gap since they moved American jobs out of the country for reasons involving corporate greed.

[fgLesotho]

Foreign company?s manufacturing in Lesotho is the only reason why most of the people in Lesotho are not dying of hunger. Yes what is happening is incorrect, and is the governments responsibility?s to assist these companies with providing means of disposal of these waste as these company?s keep the economy going. At this moment they are too concerned about their own interests than to worry about their people.
The Basotho?s culture is a culture of waste. There are no waste management. All waste gets burned. Where ever you go you will see trash all over the streets, tyres burning, and cars serviced and oil just dumped on the ground.
Lack of education is the main problem. If government invest in the people and improving county?s infrastructure, you would not have these problems.
Take the factories away and see people Die of Hunger.

[mimcdo]

Gap and Levi Strauss are saving millions of dollars manufacturing jeans in an African city where local government and local families have the responsiblity to clean up the dumps and keep their children after from the toxins. CBS should direct their comments to the local government, media and families; not the U.S. people. If these groups cannot control waste; then, send the jobs back to Americans who lost their jobs and know how to handle industrial waste. Parents should control their children; not blame the Americans who lost their earnings.

[erasmus111]

Is there a reason why you felt the need to post this 3 times? Afraid someone might miss it?

[mimcdo]

Gap and Levi Strauss are saving millions of dollars manufacturing jeans in an African city where local government and local families have the responsiblity to clean up the dumps and keep their children after from the toxins. CBS should direct their comments to the local government, media and families; not the U.S. people. If these groups cannot control waste; then, send the jobs back to Americans who lost their jobs and know how to handle industrial waste. Parents should control their children; not blame the Americans who lost their earnings.

[mimcdo]

Gap and Levi Strauss are saving millions of dollars by outsourcing their production. This should be the problems of the local government where these plants are located in Africa. The outsourcing of many American manuafacturing plants will continue to cause problems that prepared for the problems associated with the production of goods. If this manufacturing were recalled to the U.S. their would be no problem in Africa and Americans would still have their jobs.