PUMA SHOT DOWN

A labour dispute outside a Cambodian factory that supplies Puma turned violent this week, with three demonstrators being shot.

More than 6,000 workers were protesting outside the Kaoway Sports factory, demanding better working conditions and pay including a ‘50 cents’ subsidy for lunch.

Three women were shot, aged 18, 21 and 23.

One was hit in the chest and seriously injured; Puma is paying for her medical expenses. The local press are reporting that police opened fire on the demonstrators.

Next time you buy a Puma golf shirt or shoe, think about the low pay and poor conditions of their young female 'out of sight' workers. Who now live in fear of being shot when they protest.

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CAN YOU STOMACH IT?

The University of Plymouth carried out a number of experiments to see what fibres were contained in the water discharge from washing machines.

Nearly 2,000 polyester fibres can shake loose from a single piece of sports clothing in a single wash.

These results suggest a large proportion of the synthetic ‘plastic’ fibres; polyester, acrylic, nylon, found in the environment is a direct consequence of washing clothes.

The problem is these microplastic particles from washing our sports apparel are being mistaken for food in the world’s oceans and being eaten by plankton eaters, who are then eaten by bigger fish, and it all ends up in our stomachs.
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WHAT DO ECO GOLF RULES MEAN?

For golf courses and clubhouses:
Reducing water and pesticide usage.
Encouraging habitats for native species.
Using compost toilets.
Recycling rain water.

For apparel brands:
Paying textile workers a living wage.
Using natural fibres.
Using wind and solar energy to power factories.
Reducing product carbon footprint.

You may think these measures are just for the future, but you would be mistaken. This year the UK will suffer a major drought.
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DEBUTANTE

Last year Ladies European Tour players were lucky to escape from New Zealand after earthquakes.

This year could debutante Sharmila Nicollet cause a few aftershocks?

In years to come are we going to remember Miss Nicollet with other female sporting beauties such as Kournikova, celebrated more for their looks rather than the size of their trophy cabinets?

Golf legend Laura Davies said “from my experience Sharmila has all the potential to be a great player”.

New Zealand Women’s Open kicks off this Friday.
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WHO DO YOU SUPPORT?

When you look at golf apparel take a quick peak at the label. After all when you make a purchase you are not only representing the brand and star golfers who wear it, but you are also supporting the industries behind the materials and processes used to make the garments.


Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that are friendly for the environment. This means that the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers are restricted. Organic farming uses beneficial insects to control pests and weeds are removed by human hand not by chemicals.

Golf Refugees use Soil Association certified organic cotton making sure that your golf apparel is natural and ethically made.

If you see polyester and made in China on your golf apparel label it will use one of these; a chemical factory.

This is the Fujia-Dahua paraxylene plant.

Paraxylene (PX) is a common chemical used to produce terephthalic acid for the manufacture of polyester. Although PX is toxic and combustible, the benzene and hydrogen sulfide used in the production process of paraxylene are even more toxic.

In 2011 high tides destroyed the plant’s flood banks and swept away containers of dangerous chemicals.

Would you rather live next to an organic cotton farm or a chemical factory? Would you rather wear organic cotton or polyester next to your skin when playing golf?

We all need to play a part in preserving the environment for the future of golf.
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MOAN OVER LONG SOCKS

Shin Ae Ahn by Newsis

I used to moan over having to wear long socks in the summer to play golf, but these look great.
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WOULD YOU EAT YOUR OWN GOLF SHIRT?

Here’s what actually happens.

You walk into your golf shop and buy a polyester shirt, similar to the ones worn by your favourite star golfer.

It’s made by young women who are paid less than a local ‘living wage’ but all this happens far away from western eyes.

Polyester is a plastic another name for polyester is PET, polyethylene terephthalate, derived from petroleum.

Anyway, you wear your plastic polo shirt to play golf and it gets a bit sweaty and smelly. So you put it in the washing machine to make it all nice and clean. During washing microplastic particles are lost from your shirt and the residue water eventually finds its way into our rivers and oceans. This process does not occur with natural fibres such as organic cotton.

Once the plastic pollution has been eaten by marine life, who get their food from the oceans, it is transferred from their stomachs to their circulation systems and accumulates in their cells.

After a hard day on the golf course you settle down to a nice plate of fish and chips.

So you end up eating your own plastic golf shirt.
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