The Dark Side of Chocolate

Monday, the FREE Project hosted a screening of the film The Dark Side of Chocolate, sponsored by George Washington University (GWU) Elliott School Institute for Global and International Studies. 

The film reveals the hidden practices of the chocolate industry, including the use of child slaves on cocoa farms in Ivory Coast. Afterward, there was a question and answer session with Sean Rudolph, Campaigns Director of the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF). 

The ILRF is campaigning against two organizations, Hershey's and Whole Foods. Why these two companies? Well, Hershey's owns Dagoba chocolate, an organic high-quality brand of chocolate that makes up a very small percentage of the chocolate products sold by Hershey's and is sold in the Whole Foods markets. Unfortunately, Hershey's has been known to be a participant in child labor and the non-fair trade market through their supply chains. Many other food cooperatives have refused to support Dagoba chocolate until Hershey's proves that it is willing to commit to ending child slave labor in West Africa where much of its chocolate comes from. 

Rudolph mentioned that some of the governments of these African countries are trying to find solutions to the child slave labor problem with cocoa companies. Child labor is a significant issue in West Africa, especially in countries such as the Ivory Coast. An estimated 1.8 million children in West Africa are in the cocoa industry. The First Lady of the Ivory Coast is trying to hold cocoa companies accountable by making it so that these companies have her approval before continuing their work. In Ghana, the government, buys all cocoa products and sets prices. Still, part of the problem is the inequality of the supply chains. The governments of these African countries have some control, but they do not necessarily have as much power over multinational companies as one may think they do. The campaign, called Raise the Bar, Hershey!, seeks to gather support in urging the Hershey Company to commit to ethically sourced, Fair Trade cocoa.

Although I love Hershey's candy, I do not approve of their use of child labor. I've joined the Raise the Bar, Hershey! campaign and have committed myself to not purchasing Hershey's products until the Hershey Company commits to ending this problem.

Support the raise the Bar, Hershey! campaign. Also, support the Bridge to Freedom Foundation by registering or donating to our team for the 2012 DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk!!! Go to sms.kintera.org/btff.

Modern Slavery News Round-Up

Nestlé advances child labor battle plan
After the chocolate producer's cocao supply chain was found with numerous child labor violations, Nestlé has allowed the Fair Labor Association to perform a study in order to start eradicating child labor within its production cycle.  The investigation has uncovered numerous grievances including 72 injuries due to machetes and unpaid workers.  Jose Lopez, the vice-president of operations, has promised that they desire to make an impact. "We will work with the World Cocoa Foundation and be in schools, we will work with International Cocoa Initiative and gather the cooperatives and put people there ... to give training on the farmers."  Nestlé can now be held accountable for sustainable changes that can help bring about code-compliant cocoa.

Thailand remains major center for trafficking
According to their ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand is still a soucre, transit and destination of modern slavery.  Provinces in the north are starting points for domestic trades, but victims also arrive from Laos, Myanmar and China.  One district, Songkhla Sadao, hosts 120 sex-offering establishments alone.  According to many sources, the victims are entered into the trade at the age of 11 to 15.  The anti-human trafficking unit rescued 36 underage girls from Myanmar last year alone.  Human trafficking has also come to include boys and men who are forced to work on fishing trawlers.

Gov't drive against trafficking obtains budgetary support
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT)announced on the first that its proposed $100 million for 2013, which is double the current budget.  IACAT head and Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente B. Salazar says the budget is consistent with the recommendations made by the newly released Global Annual Trafficking in Persons Report.  The funding will mainly go to address key issues such as advocacy, rehabilitation, prosecution and partnership.  Although the plan has yet to be finalized, the next step is to send the proposal through to Congress after is resumes on July 23rd.