Global Guardians - 3 Chocolate Crimes

LOL, the automatic report system picks up certain words... Not phrases, so they are all out of context.  The report system isn't perfect, that is why it requires 25 votes either way to accept or reject a report ; ) 

Hey Fi, the votes count for nothing, the fact that it is being read, is what counts, each low vote is one less person who can claim ignorance when they partake of products created at the expense of others.  I don't like what it is about either, however it is high time it was addressed.  Perhaps they would care if it was their children - who really knows?

I will check out the bicardi situation, as I do like my daquiris, but I can give them up if needs be.  (Does it apply to dark rum too?)  I think people aren't entirely uncaring, just complacent... They are like, 'oh, it doesn't affect me', or 'what can I do about it?'  If they want to, they can do a lot, change their consumer habits, demand that big companies operate in an ethical manner.  I am guessing in Aussie that most sugar comes from here, but again, you raise a very good point.  Thanks heaps for your comment Marg - YOU ROCK! xox

It is important to be a conscientious consumer, otherwise we are just condoning the slavery of children... While it can be difficult to discern what is truly fairtrade and what isn't, we can all make a difference - if we choose to.  I do love ya babe xox

Awareness is a start, don't go throwing out all your things LOL.  There are a lot of alternative products and sources, however often they aren't as economical, though I am sure that you will be able to find a happy medium, and we can all keep putting pressure on the BIG companies to do the right thing and make sure their suppliers do too.

Hi Amanda

Thank you for being disgusted, sounds somewhat weird, but seriously THANK YOU!  Here is a link to Fighting slavery as a consumer, and free the slaves.  It is a good guide to things we can do to effect change as individuals, and as a group of consumers.

LOL, don't go without choccies, the farmers wouldn't feed their slaves if the big companies didn't buy their chocolate.  I have had some replies, and to say the truth, they are a total tripe.  They think they can write a whole pile of word that mean nothing and cover their butts... I will post some tomorrow in the Fair Trade Families group to show you guys and see what you all think.  (Like perhaps I am being too harsh - though I doubt it!). 

Yes Helen, scary that they have got away with it for so long, and scary that it continues in this day and age.

Hi there... Well, I don't think anyone is going to say hey, we use products sourced via child labour etc .  However, I have written a very basic email asking them to guarantee that they don't.  It is a pretty boring, standard email, hopefully that will decrease the chance of long winded replies that say nothing, (though it doesn's seem like it so far).

Here's the email if anyone wants get an idea or send it out yourself (using your own name of course), and substituting the appropriate product. (I mixed up a coffee one and asked about their cocoa... Luckily many companies have both products. LOL

To Whom It May Concern

I am currently a consumer of your products and as such, I would like to verify whether or not your cocoa products are supplied by ethical sources.

Are you able to guarantee that none of the labourers working on the cocoa plantations / farms that your products come from are victims of human trafficking, child labour, bonded or forced labour?

Regards

Luisa Foliaki
Consumer and Mother

I am going to send that to some companies in the UK and see if I get a response.

No way matey, thanks to you for giving me more info on Oxfam, and for the info in the Free Trade Families group.

Oops, FAIR trade, you know what I mean LOL x

So far I have had a couple of long winded lame replies that skirt the issue and don't answer with a simple yes or no... I felt they deserved another chance, so I explained that I was a member of a parenting website and a group of us were eagerly awaiting their replies.

What'd you think of Tony Chocolonely... I reckon he is a pretty cool dude.  Maybe I should get my own video camera and go around door knocking or chat on speaker phone.b

Haha, the expose man... He had to do a lot of research and film exciting things (oooh wouldn't that be fun).  This is really basic stuff, that we can all relate to at a personal level.  No major study required, it's all out there on the net, and I get the feeling it will be getting a lot more media coverage than it has been.

How about Tony Chocolonely?  Like his style - cool accent too...  Must see what else he has been up to.

I watched when it was noisy here and had a little trouble hearing it...or is it just my age?  But yeah, looks rather interesting.  It is basic stuff but from little things big things grow.  You know, the funniest thing was when Mike Moore took his Carolers to the cigarette companies and stood outside their building singing.....except they all had had throat cancer and sung through holes in their necks.  Like i know, it's not funny but it was, they were up for it!

It is actually the trailer to his documentary movie that will be released later this year... It is pretty good, and there is a clearer video of it on his actual website (see bookmarks). 

It is funny, not in a ha ha way, but sort of in an ironic way, and I am sure they saw the humour in it or they wouldn't have done it.

I was walking through the mini mart, (a place which I visit under duress anyway), with MicroMe today looking at all those Easter chocolate displays and they made me feel nauseated and cranky.