Valentine chocolate has activists' blood boiling

[Zephie]

As chocolatiers plan for one of their biggest sales weeks of the year, human rights activists are stepping up efforts to make consumers think twice before purchasing the traditional box of chocolates for their sweethearts for Valentine's Day on Monday.

One online campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the cocoa trade in Ivory Coast, which is helping to prop up the pariah regime of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, while another focuses on ending the alleged use of child labour by growers in West Africa, which produces about two-thirds of the world's cocoa.

The push to expose the unsavoury side of chocolate follows a tradition of activism to focus attention on the grim consequences of producing foodstuffs and other raw materials, dating back to England's anti-slavery sugar boycotts of the late 18th century.

The latest campaigns bring to mind those against so-called "blood diamonds," once seen as fuelling conflicts in Angola and Sierra Leone, or "sweatshop" factory conditions in China, driven by a hunger for cheap consumer goods.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/09/uk-cocoa-chocolate-labor-idUKTRE7185OK20110209

[wtmusic]

1. Right - so take away their source of income and everything will be fine

Of course "child labor" is involved, just like child labor is involved on American farms. Cocoa harvesting is a family and a community pursuit and brings money into communities which would otherwise have nothing.

Designer activism makes me sick.

[Zephie]

2. This is actually an issue for me

One of my husbands professors is on Hershey's payroll and has had a big hand in the injustices placed on the children on the Ivory Coast. I'm actually not allowed to talk to that professor anymore. I'm definitely not in this for "designer issues".

[wtmusic]

3. What injustices are those?

African cocoa farmers are mostly independent - they work in their own groves and sell cocoa at market value.

[Zephie]

4. Please take a moment and read this article

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/the_bitter_trut.php

Many of these children are sold by their families into slavery on these farms, not family members of grove owners.

Edit: Some highlights of the article incase you cannot read it.

The U.S. chocolate industry has faced multiple deadlines requiring new protocol, and yet little has changed. Under pressure from Congress, in the Harken-Engel Protocol, the U.S. chocolate industry agreed to voluntarily take steps to end child slavery on cocoa farms by July of 2005. This deadline has since passed, and the chocolate industry has failed to comply with the terms of this agreement.

It is estimated that Fair Trade chocolate represents less than 1% of the world's roughly $60 billion chocolate market.

The truth behind chocolate is not-so-sweet. The Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa producer, providing 43% of the world's cocoa. And yet, in 2001 the U.S. State Department reported child slavery on many cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast. A 2002 report from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture about cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast and other African countries estimated there were 284,000 children working on cocoa farms in hazardous conditions. U.S. chocolate manufacturers have claimed they are not responsible for the conditions on cocoa plantations since they don't own them.

[wtmusic]

5. And how do you know that "many" are?

I have no doubt that some are. Does that mean we should cut off the lifeline for all of them?

[Zephie]

6. In a capitalist society we vote with our dollars

I don't support child slavery, and choose to let DU know what's going on. If you chose to buy nonfair trade chocolate that's your business, but I'm glad to share my knowledge. It's a bit unfair to run around accusing people of being designer activists though, as some of us are actually serious about things that you might not place value on.

[wtmusic]

7. I don't doubt your sincerity for a moment

I think you're being misled by people with misplaced priorities.

I would bet that the Ivory Coast has nothing in the way of workplace protections like we do, that the government and cocoa industry are rife with corruption, and that slavery does exist. But cocoa is also millions of people's subsistence there. They don't work in diamond mines where they have to breathe dust, they don't work in "sweatshops" where they breathe glue fumes. The work is mostly outdoors. It involves a wheelbarrow, a machete, and a lot of effort. There are plenty of people to do the work - too many - so the idea that slavery is rampant doesn't make sense.

They are paid what the market will bear, and thanks to increased cocoa demand wages have been going up. Take away that demand, and wages go down. When you don't buy cocoa you don't starve Hershey's, you starve their farmers.

[enlightenment]

8. You are arguing very strongly that there is no

child slavery in the cocoa fields - but not providing anything by way of proof that your assertion is factual. Others have offered some facts; perhaps you could reciprocate with something more than your unsupported opinion, since you are suggesting that the other posters are 'being misled by people with misplaced priorities'.

[wtmusic]

10. First of all, cocoa doesn't grow in "fields".

Second, I'm not arguing that there is no slavery in the cocoa industry.

Read my post again.

[WatsonT]

9. How many

husbands do you have?

[Zephie]

11. LOL, grammar is fun.

My husband has several professors. I was referring to being one of many professors, not one of many husbands. Last I checked I only have one of those. :rofl:

[WatsonT]

17. Grammar is fun

the vagueness of english is what makes it a uniquely entertaining language.

Shakespeare would have been severely limited by a more logical and structured language.

BTW: I knew what you meant, was just having some fun.

[Zephie]

18. You might appreciate this book

Anguished English (http://www.amazon.com/Anguished-English-Anthology-Accidental-Assaults/dp/044020352X) I've had a copy since I was a little girl and it's so hilarious.

[WatsonT]

19. Added to my wishlist

Judging by the description I think I would like it.

Thanks for the advice.

[WillowTree]

12. Not ALLOWED?? Not allowed by whom or what?

[Zephie]

13. My husband! Apparently he's afraid for his degree

I'm a bit vocal and since this guy has an effect on his grade he's afraid of me offending him.

In all fairness, I probably would. :shrug:

[WillowTree]

14. Wow. Just Wow. Not allowed.......How positively 18th century.

[wtmusic]

15. In defense of OP

A figure of speech. Not wishing to hurt spouse's opportunities.

:eyes:

[Zephie]

16. Yeh, that was more what I was implying

Thanks for recognizing it. I've had to do more explaining about my manner of speech in this thread then I've had to defend my position.

[WatsonT]

20. It's a pretty common expression

and I imagine most married couples have certain things that are verboten. Usually dating other people isn't allowed. Or forgetting anniversaries. Or commenting on suspected weight gain.