<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Fortune mag: widespread poverty and child labor in the cocoa-producing world]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by bookerly http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/ Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:20:21 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/1 Bravo!!


   Thanks Tom!!  And good for Christian Parenti!!

   Alas, it is not clear that many people care (i am a veteran of the shoe wars!) in general, or even many environmentalists.

   We (me too!) have failed to make a convincing argument (in most people's eyes) of the connection between social justice and the environment.  Generally people working internationally get it, but not those working domestically (in the US).

   What would it take to convince people?  Or why don't they buy the arguments?  I don't know, frankly.

patrick in Beijing

]]> Bravo!!


   Thanks Tom!!  And good for Christian Parenti!!

   Alas, it is not clear that many people care (i am a veteran of the shoe wars!) in general, or even many environmentalists.

   We (me too!) have failed to make a convincing argument (in most people's eyes) of the connection between social justice and the environment.  Generally people working internationally get it, but not those working domestically (in the US).

   What would it take to convince people?  Or why don't they buy the arguments?  I don't know, frankly.

patrick in Beijing

]]> Comment #2 by RNorth http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/ Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:38:22 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/2 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 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) //= 0; i=i-1){ if (l[i].substring(0, 1) == ' ') output += "&#"+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+";"; else output += unescape(l[i]); } document.getElementById('eeEncEmail_8gYAOHj0Op').innerHTML = output; //]]> at the International Labor Rights Forum.



]]> 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 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) //= 0; i=i-1){ if (l[i].substring(0, 1) == ' ') output += "&#"+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+";"; else output += unescape(l[i]); } document.getElementById('eeEncEmail_8gYAOHj0Op').innerHTML = output; //]]> at the International Labor Rights Forum.



]]> Comment #3 by stellastar http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/ Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:40:38 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/3 Cadbury gets in on the action

Also relevant and interesting...?

http://blogs.takepart.com/2008/01/30/cadbury-strikes-swee ...

]]> Cadbury gets in on the action

Also relevant and interesting...?

http://blogs.takepart.com/2008/01/30/cadbury-strikes-swee ...

]]> Comment #4 by funniesaru http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/ Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:53:29 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/4 I need a flowchart

The other day I bought a Dagoba chocolate bar to send my sister as a treat to sadly discover later that they are owned by Hershey. I need a flowchart to navigate all the buy outs etc. Anyone know where to get one? (I had the same sad experience with Silk which I find is owned by Dean..)

]]> I need a flowchart

The other day I bought a Dagoba chocolate bar to send my sister as a treat to sadly discover later that they are owned by Hershey. I need a flowchart to navigate all the buy outs etc. Anyone know where to get one? (I had the same sad experience with Silk which I find is owned by Dean..)

]]> Comment #5 by califpoppy http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:52:39 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/blood-and-chocolate/5 A place to start

This 2004 article http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=56& ... addresses the issue.  I haven't searched recently for more current info, but it should be findable.  I have the same problem with trying to keep up with all the mergers and buys.  No more Tom's or Burt's.  It becomes more imperative to buy as much as possible from local vendors one can meet and know.

]]> A place to start

This 2004 article http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=56& ... addresses the issue.  I haven't searched recently for more current info, but it should be findable.  I have the same problem with trying to keep up with all the mergers and buys.  No more Tom's or Burt's.  It becomes more imperative to buy as much as possible from local vendors one can meet and know.

]]>