Calendar
Over 43% of the world’s chocolate comes from the Ivory Coast, where they are still using child slave labor. A 2001 report by the U.S. State Dept. revealed that up to 15,000 children aged 9-12 had been sold as workers to cocoa, cotton, and coffee plantations in the north of the country. Forced to work instead of going to school, most of these kids do not even know what chocolate tastes like!
-The workers who do get paid receive wages that are so low that they are living in poverty and starvation. In recent years, the price of cocoa has been as little as $.40/pound. It takes 400 cocoa pods to make just one pound of chocolate, and a typical cocoa farmer in West Africa gets less than a penny for every 60˘ candy bar.
-Just two companies – Hershey’s and M&M/Mars - control two thirds of the $13 billion per year industry. For years these U.S.-based chocolate giants have been denying any responsibility for African labor abuses. After the State Dept. released its report, the cocoa industry promised to adopt industry-wide standards (the Harkin-Engel Protocol), but nothing has been done since to implement this program. They could easily demand fair trade cocoa from their African suppliers.
-Fair Trade Cocoa would guarantee a price of at least $.80 per pound, which would allow African workers to live much better. Since exchanging chocolate is supposed to be a sign of human affection, why not make sure it’s free of child labor abuse?
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is an alternative form of equitable exchange between communities. Fair trade offers many benefits for farmers, workers, consumers, and the environment including:
training, advancement, and dignity for workers
equal opportunity for all peoples and communities
environmentally sustainable production practices
long-term mutually-beneficial economic relationships
healthy and safe workplace conditions
socially responsible options for consumers
Tell U.S. companies You Want Fair Trade Chocolate!
M&M/Mars:
Pres. Paul Michaels,
6885 Elm St., Mc Lean?, VA 22101
tel. #800-627-7852
Hershey’s:
Pres. Richard Lenny,
100 Crystal A Dr., Hershey, PA 17033
tel. #800-468-1714
Get involved in the international fair trade movement!
www.globalexchange.org
www.fairtraderesource.org
www.fairtradefederation.org
www.serrv.org
Insist that Fair Trade Chocolate be Sold in Your Local Stores and Schools!
Fair Trade chocolate can be found In Madison at these fine locations:
Catacombs Coffeeshop, 731 State St. #608-257-3025
Community Pharmacy, 341 State St. #608-251-3242
Jennifer St. Market, 2038 Jenifer St. #608-244-6646
Global Express, 646 W. Washington, #608-255-5506
Greater Gift, 122 State St. #608-251-0430
Greater Gift, 2701 Monroe St. #608-233-4438
Magic Mill, 2862 University Ave, #608-238-2603
Michaelangelo’s Coffeehouse, 114 State St. #608-251-5299
Mifflin St. Co-op, 32 N Basset St. #608-251-5899
Mother Fools Coffeehouse, 1101 Williamson #608-259-1301
Regent St. Market Co-op, 2136 Regent St. #608-233-4329
Two Degrees Coffeeshop, 307 W. Johnson, #608-257-7888
Willy St. Co-op, 1221 Williamson St. #608-251-6776
SERRV Int., 122 State St. #608-255-0440
