# Transcript

NARRATOR:

The central Asian republic of Uzbekistan is the second largest exporter of cotton in the world. One third of the population are forced to work for the government’s billion dollar cotton industry. Water and chemicals used to grow Uzbekistan’s white gold are causing an environmental catastrophe.

NARRATOR:

Cotton production has all but eradicated the Aral Sea. The Aral fishing fleet used to land over 40,000 tonnes of fish annually. Now it lies stranded on the former sea bed contaminated with salt and pesticide residues. Wind storms spread this toxic dust causing alarmingly high rates of tuberculosis and cancer.

MARAT TOREMURATOV:

Nearly every day dust storms, you know. Dust storms every day. And the consequence of it is it is spreading of lung disease.