[Make Poverty History] New wristband scandal

From No Sweat

From Red Pepper:

Following the damaging revelations last month that more than a million of the Make Poverty History wristbands have been sourced from Chinese sweatshops in 'slave labour conditions', a new scandal is about to break that goes right to the top of the star-studded anti-poverty coalition, Red Pepper can exclusively reveal.

Clothing and shoe shops across the UK, owned by the Scottish multi-millionaire business tycoon and philanthropist, Tom Hunter, who is bankrolling the Make Poverty History campaign to the tune of £1million, are selling the coalition's special white anti-poverty wristbands branded with the logos of companies campaigners accuse of having bad records on workers' rights in developing countries.

The wristbands in question, personally endorsed by Bob Geldof and Hunter, have been on sale since Monday 6 June for £2 at every store of Hunter's high- street fashion retail outlet, USC, and his shoe chain, Office. A quotation from Geldof is printed on the perspex display box in which the special edition Live8 wristbands are diplayed.

"When you buy this band you promise me you will do everything you can to get on the road to Edinburgh and join us in changing the world. This rubber band is your solemn word, you are now part of Live8, well done!"

The wristbands feature the standard Make Poverty History logo with the Live8 logo, but are also stamped with the logos of six global fashions brands including the controversial Hilfiger Denim, owned by Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.

According to Stephen Coats, Executive Director of the Chicago-based US/Labor Education in the Americas Project that monitors and supports the basic rights of workers in Latin America, Hilfiger's labour record falls short of minimum standards:

"In our experience, Tommy Hilfiger is at the bottom of the list in demonstrating refusal to accept responsibility for the way workers are treated."

Back in October 2003, the company was accused by labour rights campaigners of cutting and running from its responsibilities to workers when evidence was uncovered of labour abuses at the Tarrant blue jean factory in Ajalpan, Mexico.

The revelations have once again left Make Poverty History campaigners angry at the contamination of their high-profile symbol by its association with anti- labour companies. John Hilary, Director of Campaigns & Policy at UK development NGO, War on Want, a leading member of Make Poverty History told Red Pepper:

"This is a really worrying development for an organisation like War on Want, which campaigns for workers' rights across the world. Unless Tommy Hilfiger's record has improved significantly without our knowing, it's not the sort of company we'd want to be associated with."

Make Poverty History members are still in the dark about how Hunter's special edition Live8 wristband got the go ahead from Comic Relief who control all intellectual property rights associated with the Make Poverty History logo.

Hunter, 43, who made his estimated £678 million fortune by selling his Sports Division sportswear chain for £290 million in 1998, has offered his peronal guarantee that 'all the proceeds of these special edition live8 bands will support this stunning campaign'. He aims to sell one million wristbands before the 2 July Hyde Park extravaganza.

The other fashion brands featured on the special edition wristband are Henry Lloyd, Firetrap, Diesel, G-star and Replay. None of the companies, including Hilfiger Denim, are listed as members of the UK Ethical Trading Initiative, an alliance of companies, NGOs and trade unions cooperating to ensure that the conditions of workers producing for the UK market meet or exceed international labour standards.

This fresh controversy over the Make Poverty History wristband is bound to put the spotlight on the role of Tom Hunter and other corporate figures in the campaign. A prodigious charity giver, last year Hunter gave away a fifth of his fortune to good causes, becoming Britain's biggest charitable donor. In addition to £1 million pledged to the Make Poverty History campaign, he recently gave a further £6 million to a Comic Relief school-building programme in Africa.

Hunter's political views, however, may cause discomfort to some Make Poverty History supporters. His charity, The Hunter Foundation, is an almost evangelical force behind public-private partnerships in Scotland, and since 2001, has helped fund the Scottish Executive's Schools Enterprise Programme in which the private sector helps teach children as young as five how to set up and run their own business.

Red Pepper's Associate Editor, Stuart Hodkinson, said: 'These revelations come as little surprise. For the past six months, some of the UK's leading development and environmental NGOs have been privately expressing their unease about a campaign high on celebrity octane but low on radical politics. Red Pepper will be publishing more revelations in our July special G8 edition.'

For further information, contact Stuart Hodkinson on 07775886617 or stuart@redpepper.org.uk

Notes

In addition to a critical look at the politics and personalities behind the Make Poverty History coalition, Red Pepper's forthcoming July special edition - 'G8: the New Scramble for Africa' - will feature articles by respected Ghanian political economist, Yao Graham, on the G8's neo-colonialist agenda for Africa, Lucy Michaels of Corporate Watch on the disreputable corporations lobbying behind the G8 and Commission for Africa, Melanie Jarman on why the G8 won't be solving climate change, Natasha Grzincic on Red Pepper's guide to the G8 protests, and much, much more.

Red Pepper will soon be launching a live web blog for the G8 protests. Keep watching www.redpepper.org.uk"