It’s just not fair. Cocoa farmers work tirelessly only to be paid pennies on the dollar for their crops. That savings is passed onto you in the form of crazy cheap Halloween candy, but what about the guys and gals who made that chocolatey goodness? Uh, I’ll take one bag of Snickers, plus a hefty side of guilt please.
Never fear, Tonic readers. It’s easy to obtain fairly traded chocolate in the Fair Trade Month of October. All you have to do is click here and order a box of 15 chocolates and cards educating your neighbors about fair trade practices. Oh, and did we mention it’ll only cost you $5.50? You can either hand them out at your door, or send your children down the block to give them away.
You and your kids know child slavery is wrong, but did you know that some of the foods they consume were farmed by kids like them, and without pay? In August 2009, Interpol rescued 54 child slaves from Cote d’Ivoire cocoa fields. That’s why it’s so important to educate your family and neighbors about fairly traded goods.
“Kids have a well-developed sense of fairness. I regularly hear stories of US schoolchildren who are really outraged to learn that mainstream chocolate companies are making them complicit in the enslavement of their peers,” said Adrienne Fitch-Frankel, director of Global Exchange’s fair trade campaign. “Kids are eager to show solidarity and make it possible for their peers to do go to school and go out and play. That is why so many kids are thrilled to participate in Reverse Trick-or-Treating and make a difference. Now, it’s up to the chocolate companies to listen to their important message.”
Watch last year’s video below and order your fair trade Halloween candy today. Supplies run out Oct. 8, 2010!
Photo courtesy of Global Exchange.