Stop the Traffik update
Perhaps some of you remember at the start of july I posted something from www.stopthetraffik.org about chocolate and child slavery.
(It's here: http://prof-irina.livejournal.com/80438.html in case anyone missed it)
Well, here's an update.
STOP PRESS ... CHOCOLATE CAMPAIGN SUCCESS
20% increase in fair-trade chocolate worldwide
This month, one member of the Chocolate Industry took a landmark decision that will result in a 20% increase in fair-trade - Traffik Free - chocolate worldwide.
Royal Verkade, a Dutch household name and subsidiary of United Biscuits, announced that they will be using 100% Fair Trade cocoa and sugar in their products from the autumn onwards. This is the first A-list chocolate producer worldwide to make the transition to Fair Trade production on a large scale and STOP THE TRAFFIK congratulates Royal Verkade for taking this decision.
Though many players were involved, a major turning point occurred during STOP THE TRAFFIK Netherlands and local NGO Fairfood’s ‘naming and shaming’ campaign, linking Verkade with the worst forms of child labour in Ivory Coast. "Within a day we had a phone call from Fair Trade", states Antonie Fountain of STOP THE TRAFFIK Holland, "saying that Verkade had just called them to talk about the possibility of Fair Trade sourcing for their cocoa”.
Some of you wondered how to find out what chocolate is fair trade already. There's a list of some things here:
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/retailers.html
There is also a "good chocolate guide" on the stop the traffik website with info for various countries including the States: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolatecampaign/guide.aspx
In Switzerland fairtrade chocolate is always marked with a special symbol. Max Havelaar and Claro are fair trade, there may be others, you can get them at Migros or from Caritas.
In the UK, Divine of course, and the Maya Gold that Green&Blacks do (mmmmm), I guess you all know others too.
And finally... a new awareness-raising project for y'all: chocolate fondues to take place in November. Sandra, perhaps an idea to do with the church... even just in sunday school (hehehe, parents might complain about all those kids running on chocolate tho!)
I personally like this idea better than the previous one. I'm not the standing on street corners sort of person, especially not where it involves speaking German, but inviting people I know to a private fondue is definitely doable.
STOP THE TRAFFIK PRESENTS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CHOCOLATE FONDUE
On 30th November STOP THE TRAFFIK invites every community, every town, every city to host a chocolate fondue.
This is your chance to:
* invite new people to join STOP THE TRAFFIK and become aware of trafficking and how it affects our world and our lifestyles
* tell them about trafficking and chocolate
* raise financial support for STOP THE TRAFFIK as we reach a critical time in making sure we can continue to equip people all around the world to STOP THE TRAFFIK.
The chocolate fondue party pack will be out in September, full of fun and practical details to help you take part in the world’s biggest chocolate fondue.
(It's here: http://prof-irina.livejournal.com/80438.html in case anyone missed it)
Well, here's an update.
STOP PRESS ... CHOCOLATE CAMPAIGN SUCCESS
20% increase in fair-trade chocolate worldwide
This month, one member of the Chocolate Industry took a landmark decision that will result in a 20% increase in fair-trade - Traffik Free - chocolate worldwide.
Royal Verkade, a Dutch household name and subsidiary of United Biscuits, announced that they will be using 100% Fair Trade cocoa and sugar in their products from the autumn onwards. This is the first A-list chocolate producer worldwide to make the transition to Fair Trade production on a large scale and STOP THE TRAFFIK congratulates Royal Verkade for taking this decision.
Though many players were involved, a major turning point occurred during STOP THE TRAFFIK Netherlands and local NGO Fairfood’s ‘naming and shaming’ campaign, linking Verkade with the worst forms of child labour in Ivory Coast. "Within a day we had a phone call from Fair Trade", states Antonie Fountain of STOP THE TRAFFIK Holland, "saying that Verkade had just called them to talk about the possibility of Fair Trade sourcing for their cocoa”.
Some of you wondered how to find out what chocolate is fair trade already. There's a list of some things here:
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/retailers.html
There is also a "good chocolate guide" on the stop the traffik website with info for various countries including the States: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolatecampaign/guide.aspx
In Switzerland fairtrade chocolate is always marked with a special symbol. Max Havelaar and Claro are fair trade, there may be others, you can get them at Migros or from Caritas.
In the UK, Divine of course, and the Maya Gold that Green&Blacks do (mmmmm), I guess you all know others too.
And finally... a new awareness-raising project for y'all: chocolate fondues to take place in November. Sandra, perhaps an idea to do with the church... even just in sunday school (hehehe, parents might complain about all those kids running on chocolate tho!)
I personally like this idea better than the previous one. I'm not the standing on street corners sort of person, especially not where it involves speaking German, but inviting people I know to a private fondue is definitely doable.
STOP THE TRAFFIK PRESENTS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CHOCOLATE FONDUE
On 30th November STOP THE TRAFFIK invites every community, every town, every city to host a chocolate fondue.
This is your chance to:
* invite new people to join STOP THE TRAFFIK and become aware of trafficking and how it affects our world and our lifestyles
* tell them about trafficking and chocolate
* raise financial support for STOP THE TRAFFIK as we reach a critical time in making sure we can continue to equip people all around the world to STOP THE TRAFFIK.
The chocolate fondue party pack will be out in September, full of fun and practical details to help you take part in the world’s biggest chocolate fondue.