You see, over 40% of the world's Cocoa comes from the Ivory Coast in Africa. The market prices are controlled, in large part by the large chocolate companies. For every $1.00 spent on chocolate these companies get 70 cents and the farmers get a nickel. The farmers then use child labor and children who've been stolen from their homes as slave laborers in order to sustain their operations. This has not been a secret from these corporations making their profits on the backs of these children.
From what I've read, while most large chocolate companies are complicit in this practice, Hershey and M&M/Mars are two of the biggest benefactors of this system. And so when we buy candy, especially chocolate from these companies, we're supporting these business practices with our patronage.
What is especially disturbing to me is that we proclaim Christ rose from the grave to set us free from bondage to sin and death--and filling Easter baskets with these products brings people into and keeps them in literal bondage. We end up working against the very Gospel we proclaim and celebrate.
And so I urge everyone to fill their Easter baskets with Fair Trade Chocolate. Yes, it will be more expensive than what you will find in Walmart, Target, and the grocery store. And that's something we will feel in our pocket, even if it's a small pinch, during tough times for some. However, if we do not change our buying practices, there are children who will live lives of bondage, fear, hopelessness and degradation. We may never meet them, but I personally don't want to be any part of this system.
If you want to go further, write to the VP of Marketing for Hershey and Mars/M&M. They concerned about your dollar and your dollar walking out the door. These companies have handshake agreements to work on changing these practices, but continue to delay putting them into action (the first handshake agreement/protocol in 2001 and continues to be kicked down the road).
As the largest chocolate consuming country in the world, let's celebrate this Easter by proclaiming and living out the freedom Christ offers not only in our churches, but throughout the world by standing up for those who cannot do so for themselves.
For more information see:
No comments:
Post a Comment