In West Africa, many children are suffering from intense poverty, as most cocoa farmers earn less than $2 a day. Many farm families send their children as young as 5 to begin helping support the family by harvesting cocoa pods on plantations. Some of these children are paid (though they are measly wages), but many are sold into slavery.
These children work long hours, often from sunrise to sunset, with dangerous tools such as chainsaws and machetes. Because of the high insect populations in the area, children are often responsible for using insecticide on the growing cocoa pods. This exposes them to dangerous chemicals that further put their lives at risk.
According to foodispower.org, "Approximately 1.8 million children in the Ivory Coast and Ghana may be exposed to the worst forms of child labor on cocoa farms. On cocoa farms, 10% of child laborers in Ghana and 40% in the Ivory Coast do not attend school, which violates the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Child Labour Standards. Depriving these children of an education has many short-term and long-term effects. Without an education, the children of the cocoa farms have little hope of ever breaking the cycle of poverty."
Despite these horrible conditions, of which they are aware, the $60-billion chocolate industry is doing nothing to stop this injustice. Instead, they are benefitting from this cheap or free labor and majorly profiting when we buy their product. In September of 2015, class-action lawsuits were filed against Mars, Hershey, and Nestle. The suits alleged that the companies were violating Californian law by not disclosing on chocolate labels that the cocoa may have come from slave labor in West Africa (confectionerynews). The suits were each dismissed the following year.
So, what can you do to help? You can begin by buying fair trade. According to the World Fair Trade Organization:
"'Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South.
Fair Trade organisations have a clear commitment to Fair Trade as the principal core of their mission. They, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.' They can be recognised by the WFTO logo.
Fair Trade is more than just trading:
It proves that greater justice in world trade is possible.
It highlights the need for change in the rules and practice of conventional trade and shows how a successful business can also put people first.
It is a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty, climate change and economic crisis."
You can learn about buying slave-free chocolate at http://www.slavefreechocolate.org/ethical-chocolat...!
You can also watch the 2010 documentary, The Dark Side of Chocolate to learn more. (http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/dark-side-chocolate...)
