As the day dawns on love, millions of couples are exchanging gifts which symbolize their love and affection for each other. While the commercialization of this day of love has left many emptying their pockets, while others are left entangled in the brutal world of modern slavery.
Much of our chocolaty symbol of love comes from the Ivory Coast, which according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) produces 43% of the worlds cocoa. According to the ILO, over 132 million children, aged 5-14 years old, work in agriculture around the world, they are just a segment of an the estimated 246 million child laborers around the globe. These children are placed in hazardous working conditions in order to ensure that we have our sweet treats, it is truly a bittersweet story.
While it is true that being a conscious consumer sometimes requires more effort, and can often be near impossible in some cases, other cases like purchasing Fair-Trade certified products like coffee and chocolate are much more simple, and a consumers impact is substantial. As mentioned in my Valentines Day post last year on Fair Trade and chocolate for Valentines Day, “The estimated cost to end human trafficking globally is $14 billion. In 2008, Americans alone spent $17 billion on Valentine’s Day – an average of $120 per consumer (Global Fast).” Many of these purchases include chocolate candies for which children have been enslaved for the purpose of picking the cocoa pods to be made into that chocolate that we so love.
While the effort to have a slave free valentines day is one to warm hearts the world over, it is a long battle that can begin with you. UNICEF estimates that some 200,000 children are victims of trafficking each year in West and Central Africa alone, for the purpose of working in the supply chain for products such as; cocoa and coffee. Global March Against Child Labor estimates that one in every eight children from 5 to 17 years old, some 179 million, work in the worst forms of child labor.
So spend your day with those you love and ensure that your gifts are not tainted
Additional Resources and Information:
This year make a real difference from the heart and “Fall in Love with Fair Trade” and sign the Fair Trade Valentines Day Pledge, were you can also learn not only were to buy your swearheart, or yourself, chocolate, but Fair Trade wines and flowers as well. Please also take a moment to listen to stories from the children who work in the cocoa fields from the International Cocoa Initiative, here.
Please also see previous posts on Child Trafficking, Child Labor and fair trade such as; Fair Trade Trick-or-Treating and don’t forget to check out the following resource pages:
