Anyways, V-Day is a big day to give, receive, and purchase for oneself (because it's there) Chocolate.
I love it.
However, I want to encourage you to try out the better chocolate.
Check out the incredible, high quality chocolate products in our "Chocolate and Other Food Section" and also take advantage of discounts offered by shops at Green America's Valentine's Day guide
The truth is, about ten years ago, the truth came out. The truth that little children were being kidnapped and forced into slave labor on cocoa plantations, particularly on Cote D' Ivoire, Africa.
I remember first reading that in 2001 and it broke my heart. One article from 2001
Wonder how I got into this abolitionist movement to end slavery? It was from this news and the stories of the children who told their stories of exploitation of abuse. I remember one little child who said that he had never eaten chocolate, but thought that, at least someone else is enjoying it. The chocolate I loved was being harvested at the expense of these children?
The truth was also made known that all of the major chocolate companies were implicated in this crime by buying chocolate from these plantations. That year, the world called upon the industry to cease purchasing "slave chocolate." There was a U.S. protocol that was signed into action among the chocolate companies, lawmakers, and rights groups called the "Harkin-Engle" protocol with a plan to minimize the amount of the most severe forms of child slavery in the production of the cocoa they purchase. It didn't include the use of adults in slave labor. Even with this step, many of those companies have not met even this goal. Cote D'Ivoire leaders comment that the use of slave labor was exasperated by the chocolate industry's actions to get more and cheaper chocolate.
Some have made great progress. Cadbury England switched to slave free chocolate last year!
So please check out fair trade chocolate companies, such as Divine.
Want to get more involved? A film on the subject called The Dark Side Of Chocolate is being launched, as well as a campaign to have movie screenings between Valentine's day and Halloween, the holidays in which the most chocolate is bought. Click on the link for more info and to purchase the DVD and screening kit for $6.
More good resources are available Here
Want more background and details? Check out This article from ChocolateWork.com This 2008 article from Forbes for more information.
Blessings on you and on every step you take in justice and mercy!
The story about the child who was making the chocolate and not able to enjoy it is so sad! Thank you for all you're doing to raise awareness and make a difference!
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