Fair Trade Helps

Courtesy of Transfair & Fairtrade Foundation © 2003

While many Americans realize that people in other countries lack the freedoms we have, most of us are hardly aware on how our actions can directly contribute to freedom for others. For as hard as it is to believe, human bondage and slavery exist today – even on cocoa plantations in Africa, where it is turned into chocolate for sale in your town. Yes, that delicious chocolate comes partly from an estimated 284,000 child laborers, according to a 2002 survey by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

 Use your freedom to bring change. As long as farmers can abuse their workers and still sell their goods, why would they stop short of a few lightning bolts? Start taking action by refusing to buy chocolate that might come from child labor. It’s easy. Fair trade certified chocolate comes only from cocoa farms with third party inspections to ensure slave-free labor and workers rights. See Transfair USA for a list of retailers near you, and look for the certified fair trade logo on the chocolate you buy. Some of our favorites are  Divine Chocolate , Ithaca Chocolate ,  Equal Exchange and Green & Black Maya Gold.

Photo Courtesy of TransFair USA

Every fair trade dollar you spend helps the growers and sends a strong message to conventional chocolate companies that consumers demand ethical and fair chocolates. The U.S. government has been supporting efforts by the International Labour Organization to document and improve working conditions. But in the end, consumers like you have the power to decide what chocolate makers should sell. If there is no market for chocolate from forced and child labor, chocolate buyers will change their sources to farmers that treat their workers well. Your dollars count!

You can do more too. Put pressure on Hershey’s to stop buying cocoa grown with forced labor. Read and sign the petition today. And remember, ask for fair trade chocolate at your store. It goes well at any Red, White and Blue celebration. Yes it costs a bit more, but ask any soldier if freedom is free.