London, July 07: Bollywood stars as well as British celebrities are ditching their pants to protest against the use of harmful pesticide in underwear production.British TV presenter Dermot O`Leary and Coco de Mer founder Sam Roddick have joined the ‘Pants To Poverty’ protests, which are taking place in 16 countries around the world.
The celebrities are calling for ban on the use the harmful pesticide endosulfan, used in cotton production, which can cause cancer, birth defects, respiratory problems, and sterility among cotton farmers and their families.
Pants To Poverty, a Fairtrade underwear company, said that cotton pants containing traces of the chemical are being sold on the UK high street.
Its use has also been banned in 62 countries due to its high toxicity, but is still permitted in India and other developing nations.
"Using pants as our metaphor, this campaign explains both the good and the bad about the cotton industry and points towards a brighter future," Sky News quoted Ben Ramsden, the founder of Pants To Poverty, as saying.
"The proof against endosulfan is comprehensive. With this new research, we can finally prove that replacing it not only dramatically improves people`s health, but also enables farmers to earn more money and support their communities,” said Dr Mohan Kumar, the campaign`s doctor.
"The Indian government must stop producing and exporting this dangerous pesticide. It can still make a profit, but this time also for our people and our environment," he added.
ANI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.