Chocolate that's not so sweet...

In January, it came to my attention that children, women, and some men are being enslaved- specifically in the cocoa fields (which supplies our chocolate companies). This is not the only area, but definitely one that affects most of us. I've been praying about my part in this and checking out some to see if it was a valid claim. It is a complicated issue, but one I believe there are some clear cut issues on.

What can we do to right this wrong?

(See a video on this topic:)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj9grEe_7uY

Check out the Stop the Traffik website, sign the Declaration which will be handed to the Secretary General of the UN in November 2007, don't eat any chocolate (or eat less) that isn't labeled as fair trade (which means there's a guarantee that no slave labor was involved), and write the major chocolate companies (Hershey, Mars, Nestle) to ask them to put into practice the labeling of chocolates that are not coming from slave labor.

From the little research that I've done, it seems that these companies are interested in making a difference (Hershey's even has a section on their website related to this) because they are all involved in the International Cocoa Initiative, which is working towards a solution to slavery among other abuses in the cocoa industry. But, none seem willing to step out and label their products as free of slavery... possibly because it's hard to track the produce to their company... possibly because they haven't been given a reason good enough to make that step.

We can help give that reason by stopping our eating of chocolates for a short time & letting these companies know why. Both are important. One without the other just won't send an effective message.

Hear me when I say I'm not calling these companies evil and that we should bad talk them. I don't think that is true or effective. I think they need to hear from their customers who see that a difference can be made to take this next step in their making a difference.

(Timely issue to bring up since the release of Amazing Grace was this past month!)