Thursday, March 27, 2008

China Factory --> U.S.A --> Mexican Landfill

Help me? Some time ago, I heard a story on NPR that I tend to *eventually tell everyone* about - I mean heck - it's even come up two times in the last month alone! It was such a great, well-crafted, well researched story! As I *remember* it...

The NPR reporter follows Mardi Gras beads from the factory that they are made in China (by exploited child workers in cinderblock dorms) to actual Mardi Gras in New Orleans (where they are happilessly tossed around by drunk Americans) to the landfill they end up in Mexico (where the poor towns folk feel a lack of options but to accept the trash originating the United States). I recall the stats being over one ton of beads that were shipped via barge to the landfill.

However, searching today. I cannot find the story anywhere...

I did find online that it seems these Mardi Gras beads may be toxic!

And there was a film "Mardi Gras: Made in China" that was at Sundance a few years ago... I wonder if the NPR story was based off that movie in some way?

I told the story to my co-worker and she pointed me to this interesting Flash movie and blog that was at SXSW this year called "The Story of Stuff" and while this has very good qualities and talks through some similar issues... I still wish I could find that original NPR story!

I also remember a few "This American Life" shows about trash from NYC being relocated to North Carolina - also of which I cannot find! But, I can find a TAL story about people who live in dumps in Mexico.

I'm wondering now if it was *really* was an NPR story! Or if I've over the course of time, have I manufactured the story by blending several things together? I'm worried by this (on many levels). Very worried.