Comments RNorth has made

  • correction re: Green & Blacks & Fair Trade

    re: JuliaBOW's comment

    Neither of the Green & Black bars mentioned by Julia (the Cherry & the 85%) use Fair Trade Certified cocoa.

    In fact, Green & Black only has one Fair Trade bar, the Maya Gold.

    And in the book "Bitter Chocolate" by Carole Off, the Green & Black representive who works with the Fair Trade farmers in Belize trashed the concept of Fair Trade. That would be consistent with Green & Black's policy of not using Fair Trade cocoa in their other 15 bars, which is a shame.On A review of six eco-chocolate brands, for your Valentine's pleasure posted 1 year, 9 months ago 9 Responses

  • background & actions re: child labor

    Tom,
    Thanks for getting the word out on this.  At Equal Exchange we've been trying to raise these issues, but it's a pretty uphill struggle. It might help readers to see our summary of the forced-child-labor issue and how it's unfolded over the last SEVEN years. Yes, the industry has seven years to deal with this matter. They missed the first deadline (July 2005) by a mile, and we don't think they'll met their extended deadline (July 2008) either even tho' in the meantime the goalposts have been dramatically lowered.

    For this reason we're working with a small group of like-minded organizations (Global Exchange, International Labor Rights Forum, Cocoa Camino, etc., Sweet Earth Organics, Co-op America) to publicize a more demanding, "high bar"
    Commitment to Ethical Cocoa Sourcing. We, and about 60 other organizations and businesses have already signed on, and it is written such that any organization can participate - not just those directly involved in the cocoa trade such as ourselves.  (At this time it is not intended for individual endorsements.)

    This is because we all have a role to play. Cocoa/chocolate manufacturers need to do the right thing. Retailers need to stock the products of those manufacturers. The public needs to re-direct its purchases towards more responsible products/brands. And organizations, be they schools, ngo's, faith-based groups, or other businesses need to express their dissatisfaction with the large corporations and that they expect more to be done.

    Organizations interested in signing on may contact tim.newman@ilrf.org at the International Labor Rights Forum.
    On Fortune mag: widespread poverty and child labor in the cocoa-producing world posted 1 year, 9 months ago 5 Responses