Cocoa Pickers

[Chocolate Annie]

I was watching the news this week.  Subject matter was about young African boys aged around 12 who farm cocoa beans 24/7. 

They do not have an education as they have to work.  One child has not seen his mother for, I believe 7 years.  Please correct me if the number of years are incorrect.

 

They showed the wounds and scares caused by the cutting tools they use.  Some of the open wounds were infested with flies.

 

And for all of the above these children earn 200 a year.  Whilst  the big chocolate manufactures earn BILLIONS in sales from us and many more like us who everyday enjoy the pleasure of chocolate in one way or another.

 

I wonder if any of those children have tasted a chocolate bar, chocolate biscuit or even drank hot chocolate.  May be that is a silly question.  I'll let you figure that one out.   

[oldspice]

Here's one good reason to buy Fairtrade chocolate. I am going to try hard to do only that in future.

[Cherry_Ripe]

I heard all Co-op own-brand chocolate is all Fairtrade.

[Chocolate Annie]

Thanks for your replies Oldspice and Cherry Ripe.  It shows that there are people who care by doing something constructive.

 

I wonder how many cocoa beans were picked to produce the those chocolate easter eggs still sitting on the store shelves.  Prices start from say 1.00 upto 30-40 each, but are reduce as Easter is now over. 

 

REMEMBER EACH CHILD EARNS APPROXIMATELY 200 A YEAR.

 

[oldspice]

It's worth remembering too that it is not only the chocolate trade that employs child labour. The rag trade (cloth/clothes) is also notorious for employing small children and sadly, some of the garments they make end up on British shop shelves. Our government should impose restrictions on goods imported from companies that are known to employ child labour.