I don't pretend to understand the global market place, but if I have even a slight inkling as to how it works, I would say we are in trouble. People complain about gas prices, drilling for oil and policing countries to ensure energy supplies, yet they rarely realize the shirt on their own back contributes to the problem. United States cotton and wool producers have struggled for how long in this country? Prices and demand are not what they should be and it is a perfect example of how the disconnect between consumers and producers is hurting U.S. farmers.

China has 20 percent of a $400 billion world textile market. U.S. imports of textiles and clothing from China shot up 40 percent in January after decades-old trade limits were lifted on January 1 of this year. UPS was just granted authority to increase the number of non-stop flights from China to the United States by six each week, bringing its weekly total to 18. U.S. imports of Chinese textiles and clothing spiked 63 percent in the first quarter. For some products, goods received from China in the first three months have already exceeded total 2004 shipments. In January, Chinese clothing exports to the United States jumped to $1.2 billion, a 75 percent increase from the previous year.

Why? Because they do it cheaper. Chinese manufacturers reportedly pay an average of 30 cents an hour in factories where clothes are made. The cost of environmental regulation is nil compared to here in the good, ole USA. So while the self-proclaimed "environmentalists" parade around the country spouting off about pollution and wearing clothing produced in China, look to what they have contributed.

Pollution is running amuck in China. The Yangtze River has an estimated 25.6 billion tons of waste dumped into it every year. Only 10 percent of its polluted water is treated. Rural residents, who have no alternative but to rely on the river for their water needs, are forced to use the polluted water.

According to official sources, one-third of China's rural population, about 360 million people, lack access to safe drinking water and more than 70 percent of China's rivers and lakes are heavily polluted. A survey in January found that only 47 percent of the water in major rivers is potable and therefore more than 100 cities have inadequate water supplies. Studies indicate that arsenic-laced drinking water causes cancer, so 35 percent of ground water has become undrinkable and would be deadly if consumed.

Chinese researchers reported that, since 1961, the amount of sunshine hitting the earth in China is significantly lower due to soot and other air pollutants. As a result, the Chinese government invested $17 to $23 billion on improving air quality not for the benefit of its people but because the 2008 Olympics are scheduled for Beijing.

I am not attempting to convince you that all of China's pollution problems are caused by American consumers buying clothing made in China, although that must greatly contribute. I simply want to point out the hypocrisy of some people in this country. "Out of sight, out of mind" certainly comes into play with this subject matter. The Bush administration and Congress are already discussing reinstating trade limits. Why does the answer always lie with the lawmakers? Why can't we educate American consumers about how their purchase decisions are affecting the world? I would venture to say that if you walk the streets asking consumers what their clothing was made from and where it was manufactured, they would have no clue. Furthermore, would any of them know that many of the man-made fibers like polyester are petroleum products?

Natural fibers are renewable. They have less of a negative impact on the environment. It is easy to justify the need to save a few bucks on that shirt but is it right to expect all the other shoppers to pay more in order to protect our future? What could be more patriotic than to have a barrage of consumers walk into retail outlets and demand products produced in the USA? Think about it from an environmental standpoint. If we all increase the amount of American cotton in our clothing, everybody could "breathe" a little better.

Trent Loos is a 6th generation United States farmer, host of daily radio show Loos Tales and founder of Faces of Agriculture, non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.FacesOfAg.com or e-mail Trent at trent@loostales.com.

Date: 4/21/05