Lately, in the media, fair trade has been a huge topic. First oil and diamonds and now, chocolate. Just days before the biggest “fake” day of the year for scrumptious goodies, Valentines’ day, the media has jumped onto the next fair trade bandwagon.
Apparently 600,000 children are responsible for the harvesting of cocoa leaves and 200,000 of them are working under the worst forms of child labour.
Governments try to fix it…
In the United States, the Harkin-Engel Cocoa Protocol was passed. With its various amendments over the years, it now states that 50 per cent of all cocoa entering the United States must be free of the worst forms of child labour by 2008. (The Canadian government, at the same time, did nothing, even though we import $100 million worth of cocoa beans from Côte d’Ivoire every year.) – Globe and Mail
David Morley is president and CEO of Save the Children Canada
It’s important, as an individual, to be a “good” citizen. Many people will say “What can I do to help, I am just one person”. Well, that is true, but you are the only one that is entirely responsible for your own actions.
So, what can you do. Well, educate yourself, ask questions, try to shop with an open mind and purchase products that identify their source. But, like all fair trade issues there is no easy answer.
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On February 13, 2007 @ 8:18 am Kara said
My cousin works here: http://www.lasiembra.com/
They import fair-trade chocolate which is available in most Loblaws and Dominions.
There is a guilt-free way of doing everything – but when it comes to chocolate, I don’t think many really want it to be guilt-free.