"In order to ensure the profits that they wish, the companies are prepared to either accept or turn a blind eye to the use of child slaves or child laborers to do this work. If we are going to consume the chocolate, then it is incumbent upon us to understand and address the conditions of labor that bring it about.”

- Bill Fletcher, President of the TransAfrica Forum

pleasure without murder

By Antonella Gambotto-Burke

Children and adults are literally being kept like animals, beaten and killed so we can eat M&M's and drink Nescafe. The production of cocoa in particular depends on slavery and murder (chocolate may be manufactured here or in the States or in Switzerland, but the cocoa comes from Africa). We do not have to tolerate this obscenity. Insist on Fair Trade products from the Grocery Manager of your local supermarket (in Australia, certain Coles supermarkets carry Fair Trade), become aware of all the items you purchase that depend on child slavery - oriental rugs, coffee, chocolate (in everything from Milo to cakes and cookies), diamonds - and make changes in the way you shop. My family prefers Cocolo, available here.

For further reading:

- John Robbins of Baskin & Robbins fame

- Illustrated, in-depth information

N.B. Those who work in offices may want to change the brand of coffee and cocoa to Green & Black's, available here in Australia. Other retailers, both local and international, below.

how to avoid eating a bar of human flesh

by Gina Callocchia

“When people eat chocolate they are eating my flesh.” This quote was said by a young boy named Drissa who was forced to work as a slave in Cote d'Ivoire on a cocoa plantation. Hundreds and thousands of children are being stolen from their families and shipped to various countries and plantations and sold into slavery to work on cocoa plants. These child slaves are treated with utmost disrespect and earn absolutely no money for their work. If they try to escape they are beaten and abused and they never have a decent meal and will most likely never see their families again. Almost half of the world's production of chocolate starts in the Ivory Coast.

The Ivory Coast is located on the southern coast of West Africa and has 600,000 different cocoa farms. It is by far the world's largest cocoa bean supplier and accounts for one-third of the nation's entire economy. The children that are shipped to this area to work as slaves usually come from countries such as Togo, Burkina Faso, and Mali and in certain circumstances some families even sell their children, hoping that they will find decent work and send home a portion of their earnings, but this is not the case. Instead, these 12 to 14 year-olds (sometimes even younger) are pushed to do 80 to 100 hours of pure manual labor a week. Of these children, it was reported that around 12,000 child cocoa workers that had participated in the study were likely to have arrived in their situation as a result of child trafficking.

“The beatings were a part of my life,” Aly Diabate told reporters. He is freed slave and he claimed that whenever anyone would fall while carrying bags filled with cocoa beans that they would be severely beaten until you picked up the bags and continued on your way. This is no way for a child to be treated and the majority of the world believe that child slave labor is becoming less popular, but that is not the truth. It is just as bad, but its form has changed. It is illegal to “own” another person in the Ivory Coast, as well as any other country, so instead of owning a slave, there are only slaveholders. The slaves are still forced to work by the threat of violence and are not free to leave and can be killed without significant legal consequence.

The irony of these child slaves working on cocoa plants is that when Americans think of chocolate they think of sweetness and comfort, when actually it is coming from children that are slaves and it is anything but sweet. But in 2001 US Congress attempted to change our role in buying chocolate from companies that use child slaves.

On June 28th, the House of Representatives voted 291-115 to start a labeling system so the consumers of all this chocolate could be assured that no slaves were used in the production. But, the United States chocolate industry and its allies were appalled with this decision and began an intense effort to fight off this sort of legislation. But unable to turn the verdict, the legislation to address child slavery in West Africa was passed in the House and was certain to pass in the Senate. Abiding by the law that was just passed, the chocolate industry then announced a four year plan to eventually terminate the use of child slave labor in cocoa-producing nations (mostly West Africa). This was called the Harkin-Engel Protocol and if the plan was successful there would no longer be chocolate and cocoa produced by child slavery by 2005. In addition to this effort, the chocolate industry agreed to help fund an international foundation to eliminate some of the worst forms of child labor in the own industry. This agreement includes a commitment to find positive development alternatives for the children that have been affected by the harsh conditions of slavery.

Even with these advances with slave-free production of chocolate, it will take many years to reach the desired goal of the government. It is a shame that the two companies that dominate the $13 billion dollar industry, Hershey's and M&M Mars, use large amounts of Ivory Coast cocoa and are almost definitely using cocoa that is produced by slavery. Hershey Food Corporations says that it is embarrassed that its products are being produced this way and that it is deeply concerned that they are associated with this type of involvement with children slaves. But these companies are not alone in these actions.

Companies such as Ben & Jerry's, Fowler's Chocolate, and Godiva all claim that they fully condemn slavery and they express a great deal of moral outrage and concern that it actually exists in their industry.

Contradicting these statements, they all admitted to using Ivory Coast cocoa, so they have no proof to ensure their consumers that their products are free of child slavery.

These companies claim that they have no control over what their suppliers do and where their products come from but there are smaller, lesser known companies that manage to solve this problem and not use the Ivory Coast or any type of child-produced cocoa or chocolate. This just proved that the larger companies are completely capable of finding other ways to produce their goods, and not by using the exploitation of children to become successful.

Another part of the industry that is using a morally correct way to run their company is the production of organic cocoa beans. At this time, there are no organic cocoa beans coming from the Ivory Coast so this means that this type of chocolate is not being handled by these unfortunate children. Newman's Own Organics is a perfect example of such a company and has become one of the largest of the slavery-free companies. Its cocoa beans come from Costa Rica were the farms are not run by slaveholders.

The Ivory Coast has a historical and continuing dependence on the cocoa bean trade market. It is reliant on its exports, also including coffee and timber. Cocoa first appeared there in 1880 and in the beginning only the Europeans owned cocoa plantations up until World War I and as the price of cocoa kept increasing the Africans began to grow cocas themselves. But at this point in time, coffee was the leading export for the Ivory Coast until there was a cocoa boom and the government began encouraging the cultivation of more and more cocoa and the farmers became very dependant on cocoa production and sold it to create a living for themselves.

The continuing demand for cocoa production is what caused the beginning of a horrible way to treat children. These huge companies do not even think about the way these kids are being treated and how inhumane it is to have them slaving over cocoa beans all because they want to be rich and sell the most chocolate to Americans and Europeans. Being sold into slavery obviously creates physical scars on these children from the beatings and the ridiculous living conditions, but they also suffer from emotional and psychological scarring. “Being a slave is often a process of systematic destruction of a person's mind, body, and spirit.”

These children are permanently separated from their parents and other family members just to be beaten and degraded by strangers. They become extremely emotionally isolated from everyone around them and even after their time being a slave, they are less confident of themselves and feel inferior to the world around them. The fear that they grew up in stays with them their whole life and is always an issue they have to deal with. And even if they are reintroduced to their families, the children have a lot of trouble readjusting to them. These scars take a long time to heal and these children should not have to deal with them. Being forced into slavery is something that no child should have to endure, but these children did and they lived a life they never should have been forced to.

The price of cocoa has now plunged from $4.89 per pound (which was in 1977) to around 51 cents per pound today. The reason for this varies but according to the Ivory Coast Prime Minister Pascal Affi N'Guessan it is due to the encouraging multinational chocolate manufacturers that are demanding the developing nations to grow more and more cocoa. Thus making the price decline and forcing the cocoa farmers to take desperate measures to save their land and make a living for themselves. The Prime Minister told these chocolate manufacturers that they would now have to pay about ten times the amount for cocoa then they currently do if they really want to end the use of forced labor in cocoa production.

In conclusion, the leaders of the Ivory Coast claim that they have no other solution than to have child slave labor to produce what they need to enhance their economy. They do not care about the lives of all the children that they continue to ruin and how much damage they are doing to their population. Their main concern is money and success and the trade of their products. They will do whatever it takes to have America and the European countries buying their goods and keeping the country running. This is so morally wrong that it will take years to fix this problem and it may never be fixed. Child slavery has been an issue in many countries for many years and will continue to be a worldwide issue until there are major changes in these countries and the way they are being guided.

* * * * * * *

international retailers

FOR THOSE IN THE STATES: http://www.transfairusa.org/

FOR THOSE IN THE UK: http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/products.htm

FOR THOSE IN ITALY: http://www.equo.it/

FOR THOSE IN SWEDEN: http://www.rattvisemarkt.se/

AND FOR THOSE IN AUSTRALIA ...

cocolo fair trade chocolate

NSW, ACT, SA + NT

Organic Trader Pty Limited

+61 (02) 8399 0122

VICTORIA + TASMANIA

+61 (03) 8812 2950 or

mobile: 0432 689 167

Emmy Marketing

+61 (03) 9872 4777

QUEENSLAND

Unique Health Products

07-5442-3555

Black Pearl Epicure

+61 (07) 3257 2144

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Centra Fine Foods

+61 (08) 9350 6766

NEW ZEALAND

North & South Island

Ceres Organics

+64 (09) 574 3359

FOR CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & OTHER FAIR TRADE GOODS

STATES OUTSIDE NSW: http://www.fairtrade.com.au/locator

Alfalfa House:Ask Alfalfa House for Fairtrade Cocolo Chocolate and Tobys Estate Fairtrade Coffee. 113 Enmore Road, Enmore.

All Souls Fair: Trade Fair open Saturday 9.30am to noon. We stock a huge range of products supplied by Tribes & Nations. All Souls Anglican Church, cnr Norton & Marion Sts, (Saturday mornings 9.30 - 12.00), Leichhardt.

Allpress Espresso Australia Ltd: Offers roasted and ground Fairtrade coffee to its retail and wholesale customers. 58 Epsom Road, Rosebery.

Bayside Natural Health: Ask Bayside Natural Health for Fairtrade Cocolo Chocolate and Tobys Estate Fairtrade Coffee. 30 Bay Street, Double Bay.

Caesars Coffee and Fine Food: Caesars Coffee currently offers a Fairtrade coffee from Colombia. 222 The Entrance Road, Erina.

Coffex Coffee Sydney: Coffex Coffee offers a range of Fairtrade coffees for wholesale and retail. Unit 23, 112 Benaroon Rd, Belmore.

Coles Bondi Junction: Purchase Fairtrade coffee, Alter Eco Fairtrade rice. Eastgate S/C Cnr Spring And Newland Streets, Bondi Junction.

Coles Broadway: Purchase Fairtrade coffee, Cocolo Fairtrade Chocolate and Alter Eco Fairtrade rice. Cnr Broadway & Bay Sts, Glebe.

Coles Neutral Bay: Purchase Cocolo Fairtrade chocolate, Scarborough Fairtrade coffee and Alter Eco rice. Big Bear Shopping Complex, Military & Park Sts, Neutral Bay.

Dr Earth (Go-Vita Bondi Junction): Ask Dr Hearth (Go-Vita Bondi Junction) for Fairtrade Tobys Estate Coffee. 444 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction.

O'Sullivan's Health Foods: Purchase Fairtrade Republica/Toby's Estate coffee as Green and Black's Fairtrade Chocolate. Shop 20 Norton St Plaza, Leichhardt.

Organic Wellness: Purchase Cocolo Fairtrade Chocolate, Toby's Estate Fairtrade Coffee and Alter Eco Fairtrade Rice. 50 Avenue Rd, Mosman.

Oxfam Australia Trading: Oxfam Trading offers a range of Fairtrade certified teas, coffees and chocolates through its chain. Shop C20, Centrepoint, 100 Market St, Sydney.

Oxfam Australia Trading: Oxfam Trading offers a range of Fairtrade certified teas, coffees and chocolates through its chain. 278 Grand Junction Road, Athol Park, SA 5012. * Excellent mail order around Australia: http://www.oxfamshop.org.au/

Oxfam Trading Australia: Oxfam Trading offers a range of Fairtrade certified teas, coffees and chocolates through its chain. 2036C Outside the Kingsway Entrance, Westfield Miranda, The Kingsway, Miranda.

Ozgreens: Ozgreens is a co-op style, non-profit group run by coffee enthusiasts, for coffee enthusiasts. 46a Binalong Rd, Pendle Hill.

People for Fairtrade (PFFT): A voluntary network of people in Australia who are committed to Fairtrade with producers of goods. 30 Wellington Road, Clayton, Vic 3168. * Mail order around Australia: http://www.fairtrade.asn.au/pfft/products.htm

Platform 3: Cafe and restaurant serving Single Origin Roasters Fairtrade coffee. Also has Cocolo Fairtrade chocolate. 419 George Street South, Windsor.

Republica Coffee Pty Ltd: Republica roasts 100% Fairtrade organic coffee beans from around the world. Alexandria.

Single Origin Roasters: Single Origin Coffee roasts and grinds a range of Fairtrade coffees for sale to retail outlets, cafe. 60-64 Reservoir St, Surry Hills.

Something Out Of The Box: Ask Something Out Of The Box for Fairtrade Cocolo Chocolate and Tobys Estate Coffee. 392 Bobbin Head Road, North Turramurra.

Soprano Coffee: Soprano Coffee currently sells a Fairtrade blend. Factory D18, 1 Campbell Parade, Manly Vale.

St Ives Health Foods: Purchase Voodoo Fairtrade coffee and Cocolo Fairtrade Chocolate. Village Shopping Centre Shop 42, St Ives.

The Fair Trade Coffee Company: The Fair Trade Coffee Company operates as a cafe and a retail outlet. We serve and retail Fairtrade.
33 Glebe Point Road, Glebe.

The Goods Organic: Stocks Fairtrade Single Origin Roasters coffee ground fresh to order. 253 Crown St, Darlinghurst.

The Health Emporium: Stocks Fairtrade Single Origin Roasters coffee ground fresh to order. 263-265 Bondi Road, Bondi.

The Organic Food Network: Ask The Organic Food Network for Fairtrade Tobys Estate Coffee. 14/84 Old Pittwater Road, Brookvale.

The Organic Trading Company: We sell Toby's Estate/Sacred Ground Fairtrade certified coffee, Hampstead Fairtrade teas. 584 Darling Street, Rozelle.

Toby's Estate Coffee: Roasts and grinds a range of Fairtrade coffees for sale through their own retail/cafe outlets. 129 Cathedral St, Woolloomooloo.

Tribes and Nations: We sell Tribes and Nations Fairtrade ground coffee from Ethiopia etc. Unit 2, 14 Livingstone Street, Lawson.

Trillium Health Company: Ask Trillium Health Company for Fairtrade Cocolo Chocolate and Tobys Estate Coffee. Shop 9, 203-233 New South Head Road, Edgecliff.

Veggies Organics: Ask Veggies Organics for Fairtrade Tobys Estate Coffee. 40 East Esplanade, Manly.

Voodoo Coffee Company Pty Ltd: Offers roasted and ground Fairtrade coffee to retail and wholesale customers. 130 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale.

Wholefoods House: Stocks freshly roasted Single Origin Roasters Fairtrade coffee, ground fresh to order. 109A Queen Street, Woollahra.