Gaia-Movement Living Earth Green World Action USA, Gaia Movement USA, or simply Gaia,[1] is a charitable organization based in Chicago, Illinois which collects used clothing for resale ("recycling") in the United States and developing countries.
The group describes their mission as educational and environmentally-focused; however, charity watchdog groups have challenged the organization's charitable claims, citing a lack of spending on environmental or other programs.
Gaia Movement USA has come under scrutiny for apparent ties to the Teachers Group/Tvind, a Danish organization linked to a number of clothing-collection charities; investigators say that Tvind misuses charity funds for the personal benefit of its top members, especially founder Mogens Amdi Petersen, who has been in hiding since the late 1970s. As of August 2016[update], Petersen and four other members of the Teachers Group are wanted by Interpol in connection with charges of tax evasion and embezzlement.