Schools May Ban Leather Shoes.

After being approached by PETA India, the Indian government is considering a proposal to ban leather shoes from schools as a form of protest against the environmental destruction the leather industry has caused in the country.

The Marharashta Pollution Control Board has addressed the issue saying “the leather industries in India produce over 80,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily. The waste produced from the tanneries is then discharged in water bodies without any treatment, thus resulting in pollution to the water and damage to the environment.”

Leather tanning produces extremely toxic waste.  Over 90% of tannery workers suffer from serious illnesses related to the tanning chemicals.  As the pollution control board indicated, the waste is then released into the water supply where it poisons everyone in the community.

School children living in the poorer parts of India are especially at risk from leather toxins. They wash their clothes, bathe, and play in the waters that are contaminated by leather chemicals.

The ban on leather shoes in schools would be a profound gesture that would send the message that the Indian government cared about the health of its youngest citizens.

Now we need to get something like this passed in the US.  Why should we allow Indians to suffer for our poor fashion choices?