Introduction
The article under analysis is titled “Coalition Brings Pressure to End Forced Uighur Labor.” It was published on July 23, 2020, in The New York Times. It is centered on an ethnic conflict within China that led to restrictions of freedom and other human rights violations. The conflict in question involves the Uighur people living in the Xinjiang region of China. The Uighur consists of Muslim minorities of Turkish and Kazakh descent. According to the article, these people are being exploited, most notably by the fashion industry (Paton & Ramzy, 2020). The facts surrounding forced labor are hard to uncover because of the high secrecy level in China. Recent investigations show that the Xinjiang region supplies many world-famous fashion brands with cotton products. Besides, the ethnic minorities live in harsh conditions and are made to obey the Communist Party against their will. A coalition called “End Uyghur Forced Labor” is currently urging brands such as Adidas and Lacoste to cut all connections with Xinjiang. The article says that the discovery of the truth about forced labor will make the fashion industry rethink the way it functions and raise awareness about ethnic discrimination in the modern world.
Importance to the Global Community
The issue discussed in the article is important to the global community for many reasons. Because of the growing concern about human rights, countries around the world are taking measures to prevent discrimination against ethnic minorities at the governmental level (European Parliament, 2020). At the same time, civilians hold protests against racism and other forms of intolerance. Millions of activists are trying to change the situation for the better. All of this demonstrates that ethnic conflicts and human rights violations are among the most crucial problems of the modern world. The Uighur case is especially shocking because it involves not only ethnic discrimination but also a violation of human rights, including the freedoms of thought and religion (Maizland, 2020). According to the article, fashion brands will now be forced to trace their supply chains to ensure that it does not involve unethical practices at any stage (Paton & Ramzy, 2020). Until it is done, buyers will continue supporting forced labor by purchasing clothes from popular brands.
The help of Outside Influences
Other countries can help change this issue by boycotting Uighur-made products. It is also reasonable to grant asylum to people fleeing the Xinjiang region and do what is possible to further investigate the issue. It is known that China officials deny accusations and explain the mass detention of Muslim minorities as measures against terrorism (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2020). Therefore, it is difficult to determine the true extent of forced labor or to interview people who live in the region. Pressing Beijing to allow investigations may take a long time. Similarly, ensuring that fashion retailers track their supply chains is too expensive at the moment. Besides, some brands may refuse to stop profiting from cheap forced labor. While all the measures mentioned above are possible to carry out over an extended period, the most immediate thing that people can do is to raise awareness and quit buying products from brands associated with Uighur. This way, the demand for these products will drop, making them less profitable, and thus forcing the factories to change their methods.
Article Analysis
The article is taken from a reliable source and is written objectively, as it does not express a specific point of view and instead lists the facts surrounding the issue in question. The authors of the text, Elizabeth Paton and Austin Ramzy, are fashion specialists and Hong Kong reporters, respectively. Their qualification allows them to discuss both sides of the problem, namely the political conflict and its influence on the fashion industry. The article is relevant, and it was published immediately after the information described in it became known. The New York Times is a reputable news source respected by the US public. The text is written in a way that does not require prior knowledge of the Uighur conflict. It briefly mentions all the key facts and includes numerous hyperlinks for the readers to follow in order to learn more about the subject. The authors’ credibility is also demonstrated by their use of numerous quotes that corroborate the information in the article. While the problem discussed in the text is highly controversial and requires further research, the authors only report the known facts without making any additional claims or persuading the readers to act in a particular way. The audience is allowed to make their own conclusions and find out more about the issue by following the source links provided in the text.
Conclusion
Forced labor in China is a controversial issue that affects the entire world. It is a case of serious ethnic discrimination and abuse of human rights. Other countries might help change this situation by educating the public and avoiding brands associated with ethnic minorities’ exploitation. The New York Times article “Coalition Brings Pressure to End Forced Uighur Labor” objectively presents information on this topic, mentioning all the key facts and supporting them with evidence.
References
European Parliament. (2020). The Anti-Racism Protests Following the Death of George Floyd.
Maizland, L. (2020). China’s Repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang. Council on Foreign Relations.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. (2020). What’s False and What’s True on China-related Human Rights Matters. Web.
Paton, E., & Ramzy, A. (2020). Coalition Brings Pressure to End Forced Uyghur Labor. The New York Times.