Bir İşçinin Mücadelesi Dünyayı Nasıl Değiştirdi? | Abdülhalim Bego Demir | TEDxIstanbul

Industry Problem & Solution - The textile industry in Turkey caused silicosis among workers due to sandblasting denim, a disease previously known from tunnel construction in America in 1932 where 400 out of 700 workers died [1][2] - The speaker initiated the establishment of the Sandblasting Workers Solidarity Committee in 2008 to fight against silicosis [1] - In 2009, sandblasting was banned in Turkey, marking the first success of the struggle, and in 2010, silicosis was included in the occupational disease list, making treatment free [4][5] - In 2011, silicosis patients were granted retirement rights through amendments to the law [7] - The speaker started the Clean Clothes Campaign in Turkey in 2013 and founded the clean fashion movement, producing Bego Jeans to demonstrate chemical-free production [16][19] Global Expansion & Consumer Power - After the ban in Turkey, the practice of sandblasting moved to other countries like Bangladesh and Egypt, prompting the speaker to initiate a global fight [9][10] - The speaker visited fashion schools in England in 2011 to raise awareness about the consequences of fashion choices [10] - Campaigns like "Killer Jeans" and "Deadly Denim" led over 100 brands worldwide to declare they would not use sandblasting in their supply chains [12] - The speaker emphasizes the power of consumers in driving change, advocating for organizing consumers to exert pressure on brands [20] Chemical Alternatives & Continued Fight - After sandblasting was banned, bleaching techniques using potassium permanganate, a hazardous chemical affecting fertility, became prevalent in the textile industry [17] - The fight continues as bleaching techniques with dangerous chemicals are still used in textile production [17]