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beads

Revelers catch Mardi Gras beads during the Krewe of Thoth parade down St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, March 5, 2000.

The destructive life of a Mardi Gras bead

February 27, 2017Business

Each Mardi Gras, 25 million pounds of beads hit the streets of New Orleans. The story of how they got there — from the Middle East, to China, to Bourbon Street — reveals a cycle of environmental degradation, worker exploitation and irreparable health consequences.

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