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Topic: Here, let me ruin Halloween for you

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CrunchyMom
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 8:14am \| IP Logged

Chocolate linked to child slavery.

This is a powerful article showing just how intrinsically all the major chocolate producers use chocolate from sources dependent upon child slavery.

I'm not trying to start a debate over whether we are morally required to give up "cheap" chocolate. I did think that many ladies here who weren't aware would want to be.

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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 8:20am \| IP Logged

I don't know the whole picture, but I would toss in some unanswered questions. Are we applying the American idea that children cannot work alongside their parents in family farms? Many rural places children work early. Sometimes in applying a different scale -- I don't think it's always in the best interest to apply American standards worldwide.

Now child slavery is another thing, and removal from parents is not good. But I'm just putting in a word for families working together, and a child working (not super hard labor) is not always "BAD".

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Chris V
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 9:11am \| IP Logged

JennGM wrote:

Jenn, in this particular situation in Ivory Coast and Ghana, childern at taken from their parents, and trafficked to traders who sell them to workers specifically to be used in the harvesting of cocoa from cocoa trees. They are not working alongside their parents. Parents cannot go and "retrieve" their children because they don't even know where they are. It is slavery.

I've been buying Fair Trade chocolate for quite some time, however never at Halloween - only because of the amount of chocolate I end up buying. This year will be different.

Thanks for posting this, Lindsay. I read this article yesterday and it is really powerful. I recommend watching the video series as well.

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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 9:20am \| IP Logged

I'm not saying it isn't true. I'm just offering a little different perspective that having a child work isn't always so clearly black and white. I don't buy cheap chocolate anyway because of allergies and they make terrible dark chocolate.

I just finished reading an excellent book Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal: War Stories From the Local Food Front by Joel Salatin, and he makes some nice points about the "child labor laws" in America.

I get frustrated because there is bias and extremes on both sides. The industrial farming, the big corporations think of the bottom line, the almighty dollar, and don't think of the human person. But the environmentalists and animal welfare and other greenies are thinking of how to factor out the human completely. They won't be satisfied...

Really not out to argue, because I like to choose Fair Trade. Just discussing....

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cathhomeschool
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 9:22am \| IP Logged

I agree with Jenn on the working along with parents and standards being different in other countries. I think many kids here have it too easy here (including my own).

I had never heard of the chocolate issue and this just makes me want to cry. I'm so glad Lindsay posted and I am sooo glad that I haven't bought any candy yet!! I think I'll be buying lots of Skittles and Gobstoppers, or does that equate to the same thing because it's giving money to companies like Hershey's that make the chocolate?

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Michaela
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 9:35am \| IP Logged

cathhomeschool wrote:

or does that equate to the same thing because it's giving money to companies like Hershey's that make the chocolate?

EXACTLY! Why stop just at their chocolate bars?
Time to find something other than drinking Hershey's cocoa. Can't use the cocoa in Christmas cookie baking.

Not to change the subject from chocolate, but I (finally) gave up Pepsi once I read what they do with aborted fetal cells. My son has made a point of making sure we get NOTHING from Pepsico -- The usual munchies for Friday family fun night...out. It's not just the one product, but everything the company makes.

It's overwhelming to keep up.

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SeaStar
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 9:40am \| IP Logged

ACK! I hate to read this. I have already bought a good chocolate supply for Halloween

I agree with Jenn that it is so hard to keep up with what to buy, who to support, etc. The thought of children being stolen and sold like that makes me ill.

(And Halloween has already been ruined for me because apparently Reese's Sticks are no longer being sold by the bag

)

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CrunchyMom
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 10:25am \| IP Logged

JennGM wrote:

I ABSOLUTELY agree with you on "child labor laws." Jen. I have no issues with children working alongside their families on farms, and historically, children have worked alongside their families doing other things as well for the benefit of the entire family without being abused. It is not a black and white issue.

But, as Chris said, chocolate farms in Africa are run on *slavery*, not family farms. Children are being bought and sold. This makes it more of a black and white issue for me. It is definitely something I want to know in order to make informed choices.

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CrunchyMom
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 10:30am \| IP Logged

cathhomeschool wrote:

Well, the number one rule of boycotting is to write letters. Its more effective to buy a product and then write a letter saying that you don't (not condoning lying, here, lol) than to stop buying the product without the letter.

I would say that you don't have to boycott an entire company in this case to make a difference. They are looking to sell chocolate, too. So, if you told them you would no longer be buying their chocolate, that could have a positive impact.

I do think that there can be a number of ways to address this, and not buying the chocolate while buying other things is not insignificant. Of course, some may choose a total boycott of the company, and that is good, too.

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Chris V
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 10:33am \| IP Logged

It is true. It can all be overwhelming when looking at the broad spectrum of social injustices that accompany these issues, and large corporations who are only concerned with the dollar. Many of us are only aware of the tip of the iceberg. However, I do believe that once we become aware of these issues, we have an obligation to do something about it. And what that "something" is, is different for each of us. Some can become involved on a hands on level with nonprofit organizations that work toward the relief of such injustices. But we know that we can't possibly immerse ourselves in every battle to be faught, however we can take real, tangible strides - such as where we spend our money.

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misswallo
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 11:17am \| IP Logged

Where do you buy fair trade chocolate?

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SeaStar
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 11:22am \| IP Logged

misswallo wrote:

Where do you buy fair trade chocolate?

I buy Equal Exchange Fair Trade Cocoa at my local health food coop. It's more expensive than Hershey's, but a little goes a very long way for making things like hot chocolate, plus they do have sales on it periodically.

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Chris V
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 11:23am \| IP Logged

misswallo wrote:

Where do you buy fair trade chocolate?

Many local grocers will carry it in their Natural/Organic section. You can also buy it online through Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade, go to "Products" then to "Chocolate".

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knowloveserve
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 2:08pm \| IP Logged

FYI on the CRS Fair Trade "Divine" brand chocolate... that chocolate mint is the best on the market hands down! I splurge on expensive chocolates occasionally because I have a great local store that stocks various brands and I often get chocolate/mint because it's the best marriage of flavors ever! And the Divine Chocolate Mint is sublime...

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stefoodie
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 2:17pm \| IP Logged

SeaStar wrote:

I buy Equal Exchange Fair Trade Cocoa at my local health food coop.

me too!

about the child slavery stuff -- we can only do so much. we try to educate ourselves and try to support those mfrs that are "clean" but really it's too hard to keep up.

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CrunchyMom
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 3:28pm \| IP Logged

stefoodie wrote:

SeaStar wrote:

I buy Equal Exchange Fair Trade Cocoa at my local health food coop.

me too!

about the child slavery stuff -- we can only do so much. we try to educate ourselves and try to support those mfrs that are "clean" but really it's too hard to keep up.

That's how I feel about most of these things. I make an effort to make informed choices, but I don't fret about things I can't control or that are too much. I go through phases on some things, too, and I think that is okay.

For instance, I used paper plates while trying to sell my house and pregnant and with a newborn, and I don't feel it conflicted with my overall efforts at other times to avoid using paper products. Its not like that time negated all the other times I've avoided paper waste. Not saying that paper waste is equivalent to child slavery or make any other judgments. Just saying our choices don't have to be all or nothing to be thoughtful and informed.

There was a comment on the article above where someone was accusing everyone of being hypocrites if they weren't being mindful of child labor in EVERY area of their life. Baloney. I'll never make perfect choices, but that doesn't mean that my imperfect ones are meaningless.

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Chris V
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 3:38pm \| IP Logged

CrunchyMom wrote:

Just saying our choices don't have to be all or nothing to be thoughtful and informed.

There was a comment on the article above where someone was accusing everyone of being hypocrites if they weren't being mindful of child labor in EVERY area of their life. Baloney. I'll never make perfect choices, but that doesn't mean that my imperfect ones are meaningless.

Very well said.

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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 3:42pm \| IP Logged

Well, there are some people who get a little defensive about their M&Ms and Snickers.

Just don't tell me about my Ritter Sport with Hazelnuts.

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JodieLyn
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 6:04pm \| IP Logged

and speaking of making choices.. one of the comments had a reply that suggested this website free2work

to get ratings on companies without having to only buy from the companies that have gone all the way to the free trade logo etc.

For instance.. it gives hershey's and nestle d+ but Ghirardelli got a c+.. and ghirardelli might be a whole lot more affordable and be that "step in the right direction" without having to give up chocolate altogether or giving up taking any step in that direction.

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Betsy
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Posted: Oct 12 2011 at 6:52pm \| IP Logged

CrunchyMom wrote:

This is exactly what I try to do in my life and home. I try to find the balance of making an informed decision with the greater goal of managing my home and family.

However, I did want to add to this one of my major ah-ah moments with situations like these. Although, I do believe that our small acts of buying or avoiding products is important, the solution to they types of problems in inherently spiritual. The people or countries that does these types of things will not be regulated into doing the right thing. Government regulations can't make someone be holy. The solution is deep conversion to God. When people are converted they think of others, they do what's right because it's right, they aren't controlled only by money or the bottom line.

Therefore, the best thing that we can do is pray our rosary or offer sacrifices for the conversion of the people doing this. This is the best and most important thing that can be done to truly solve and eradicate this and like problems.

Also, since I have changed my way of thinking on this I have been able to let go of the guilt that I use to have from shopping here or buying this or that. I now KNOW that I am doing the best thing possible: PRAYING!!!!

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