randy sent me an email asking if i wanted to go to a viewing of a documentary: the dark side of chocolate...
most people know how much i love chocolate, especially dark chocolate! little did i know that there really is a dark side to it. after viewing the film, we learned how often child labor and inhumane labor practices are used in the production of cocoa from the harvesting of beans to the production of cocoa powder & butter. children are lied to, manipulated away from their families, promised money, and then never given a chance to return home. they are forced to work, being denied privileges of healthcare and education.
of course, both of our hearts dropped when we realized how severe the issues are and how closely we come to the situation by continuing to buy products that come from companies who turn a blind eye to these unethical practices at the bottom of the production chain of events. so we made a decision: through education, we will make changes. small things really do add up and can make a difference! we can seek to learn about the way businesses make their profit and allow our buying power and voices speak!
some practical things we can do:
*stop buying chocolate if it is not a "fair trade" product (or equivalent -- we will post a list of groups that certify fair trade principles globally)
*start buying fair trade products (you can research approved brands to find local stores that sell them)
*check out our local fair trade groups, for example: fairtradela.com (or fairtradepasadena.com for those of us in this area)
*think before you buy and when possible, buy products from reputable companies (that practice fair labor principles)
just click on the image of the document to enlarge it enough to read :)
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