How many people think about where the cocoa in the chocolate comes from? In many countries, there are awareness campaigns running attempting to educate people about this.
According to a study in 2002 by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, more than a quarter of a million African children are behind the West Africa cocoa industry, which sources 43% of the world’s cocoa. The study found that children as young as six not only harvest crops with dangerous machetes, but that they are also involved in the spraying of pesticides with absolutely no protective gear whatsoever. Further, the study goes on to document the enslavery of the children to the cocoa farmers, with many of them being sold for the equivalent of $140. The children typically work 12 hour days and barely exist on the minimal wages.
In 2000, a report by the US State Department concluded that in recent years approximately 15,000 children aged 9 to 12 have been sold into forced labor on cotton, coffee and cocoa plantations in one African country.
A June 15, 2001 document (PDF 850kb) released by the Geneva, Switzerland-based International Labor Organization (ILO) reported that trafficking in children is widespread in West Africa. The IITA noted that 66% of child cocoa workers in the Ivory Coast did not attend school with about 64% of the children on these farms under the age of 14.
Almost none of these children have ever tasted the end product of their toils – chocolate, as their incomes do not support basic life needs such as clean water and housing.
There is a way for every person to have a positive impact on this system. Fair Trade is an international monitoring/certification system that:
– Guarantees a minimum price regardless of world market fluctuations, allowing the farmers the necessities of life.
– Prohibits abusive child labour and forced labour, allowing more school aged children to attend classes.
– Promotes environmental sensitivity.
– Monitors the farms on a yearly basis to ensure all conditions are met.
Fair trade cocoa and chocolate products are marked with the “Fair Trade Certified” and Fair Trade Federation labels. Understanding where your food comes from is becoming something that consumers want to know more about, and there are many groups around the world trying to educate consumers.
This year in Canada, several different groups sponsored a “Reverse Trick-or-Treat”campaign over Halloween. Children were encouraged to give out fair trade chocolate as they went door-to-door last week, spreading the message about where much of the world’s cocoa is sourced. The program was a great success, with the kits being sold out weeks before.
What can you do to help?
Every person purchasing cocoa and chocolate can make a simple choice and purchase “Fair Trade Certified” products
Spread the word by participating in campaigns such as the “Reverse Trick or Treat”
Get involved with the groups that are trying to affect change – they are always looking for volunteers.
By Shawn McCormick
For more details see:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20020801/cocoa_…
http://www.iita.org/cms/details/news_details.aspx?articleid=310&;…
http://allafrica.com/stories/200211220106.html
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/
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For the past three years, I’ve refused to let my daughter sell Cadbury chocolates for the school fundraiser.
The first year, I just returned the box.
Last year, I was vocal as to why (“It is not right for kids to say they want to fundraise for school when what they’re selling is from kids who can not go to school”).
This year, I asked my daughter to return the box and request fair trade chocolate. She’s only in Grade 2 and she forgot the term but now that I read this (how timely), I talk to the principal about it.
Hope that counts for a trickle!
Back so soon? Yup, with a bit of quick research, Cadbury states that it’s against child slavery due to the cocoa trade. In fact, they partnered with UNICEF last year…
http://www.cadburyunicef.ca/press.htm
That said, they made an interesting statement a few years ago about the trade in Ghana…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1282774.stm
…that is delusional, at best. My partner is from the northern regions Ghana and there have been several documentaries (one from Canada’s CBC Radio) since 2001 that talk about the involvement of children in the various parts of the slave trade…chocolate included.
So, more research needed for me about my Cadbury-specific ban but I’ll certainly continue to tout fair trade as the first option.
I find it interesting that something so obvious in our everyday life can have such horrible beginnings. And we are none the wiser.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention! Drip, trickle, flood!!!
This is exactly how drips amount to floods over time.
Great to hear that your children are involved too.