1000 Flowers for the Planet - #581 Rethink Cashmere
Cashmere is a beautiful soft fibre that comes from
goats, and is very expensive in the final product such as coats and cardigans.
Cashmere goats are bred in various places, but this Flower suggestion is to
make you think about the exact source of any cashmere product you may consider
purchasing. Much of the cashmere industry begins near the Gobi Desert in the
north of China. With cashmere becoming more popular, the breeding of cashmere
goats has increased substantially. This has led to a string of events: the
goats take more land for grazing along the edge of the Gobi Desert, where they
then eat all the vegetation, creating more desert area. The size of the Gobi
thus increases and larger dust storms are the result. These dust storms even
reach Beijing where they can cause health problems, such as respiratory disorders.
This means there is an imbalance in the environment, which can only be worsened
by an increase in demand for cashmere from this area. It can be improved by a
decrease in demand. The outcome for this area depends on the choices we make,
so rethink cashmere, ask about its origins, check for animal welfare rights and
ensure you’re not adding to any environmental issues.
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