Today I was greatly encouraged to stumble across CNN International's Freedom Project. One of the stories they covered this year was child slavery in the Ivory Coast cocoa fields. Synopsis: The bad news is that child slavery remains largely entrenched ten years after most major chocolate companies signed an initiative pledging to end "chocolate slavery" by 2005. The good news is that over the past ten years thousands more consumers, including you and me, have learned the truth about our chocolate supply and can make an educated decision with our purchases.
In perusing the blog posts and videos posted by CNN, I was especially struck by this particular story, which briefly describes how easy it was for the reporters to find trafficked children in the cocoa fields. Although all of the research they had read in preparation for their journey described trafficking as being remote, the CNN staff quickly found child slaves on their first day in the country. Moreover, the farms did not try to hide the children, as forced labor is "normal" in the region.
Most of us understand that people around the world will never enjoy equal standards of living and that some will always be fated to suffer more than others. Still, there is a fundamental difference between being impoverished and being enslaved, and I do not want a discount on my luxury cuisine at the expense of a ten-year-old boy. Thankfully, several reputable organizations continue to perform the legwork of investigating and certifing ethical producers so that I can be sure my ambrosia moments are slave free. Look for the labels below when purchasing or for any advertising telling you the source of their cocoa beans. When stuck, choose "organic" as the stricter requirements for growth and production tend to curtail slave labor practices.
Thank you for supporting fair trade!
In perusing the blog posts and videos posted by CNN, I was especially struck by this particular story, which briefly describes how easy it was for the reporters to find trafficked children in the cocoa fields. Although all of the research they had read in preparation for their journey described trafficking as being remote, the CNN staff quickly found child slaves on their first day in the country. Moreover, the farms did not try to hide the children, as forced labor is "normal" in the region.
Most of us understand that people around the world will never enjoy equal standards of living and that some will always be fated to suffer more than others. Still, there is a fundamental difference between being impoverished and being enslaved, and I do not want a discount on my luxury cuisine at the expense of a ten-year-old boy. Thankfully, several reputable organizations continue to perform the legwork of investigating and certifing ethical producers so that I can be sure my ambrosia moments are slave free. Look for the labels below when purchasing or for any advertising telling you the source of their cocoa beans. When stuck, choose "organic" as the stricter requirements for growth and production tend to curtail slave labor practices.
Thank you for supporting fair trade!
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