WEBBTIDE 2001-2002 @ SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Volume 37 No.17 Jun. 07 - Jun. 19, 2002 [ ARCHIVE ] [ FEEDBACK ] [ HELP ]
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Not all chocolate is sweet

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      On May 30, 2002 the French Club at Shoreline Community College sponsored a speaker to address students in the PUB building. Deborah James from Global Exchange, a Fair Trade advocacy group, discussed the issue of Fair Trade practices for cocoa farmers from francophone countries in Africa and around the globe.
      The foundation of James' speech was about consumers advocating the use of certified Fair Trade cocoa products.
      M&M/Mars company is promoting their M&M's chocolate candy with a "Global Color Vote" advertising blitz. James and the French Club endorsed a write in vote for "Fair Trade Certified" above the choices such as purple, pink, and aqua as the new M&M color.
      According to James, the Fair Trade cocoa campaign has targeted M&M/Mars company because it is the largest cocoa purchaser in the United States.
      The goal of the campaign is to use consumer activism as a tool encouraging M&M/Mars to include Fair Trade certified cocoa and increase this consumption over time. With M&M/Mars on board, the campaign hopes other chocolate manufacturers will follow.
      James discussed the Kuapa KoKoo cocoa cooperative in Ghana. Meaning "Good Cocoa Farmers Company" this democratic cooperative sells directly to the Government Cocoa Buying Board, thus ensuring a fair market price for their product.
      The development of cocoa cooperatives is a means for farmers to escape the declining dividends of their crops. The cooperatives use collective bargaining to secure a fair market price for their cocoa.
      The French Club's flyer says, "Despite the fact that retail prices have climbed over the years, many cocoa farmers are still receiving prices that do not allow them to meet even their basic needs.
      "Even worse," the flyer continues, "the U.S. State Department, UNICEF and the International Labor Organization have uncovered a resurgence of child slavery in the cocoa fields of the Ivory Coast."
      The Ivory Coast is the origin of 43 percent of the worlds chocolate.
      During a Q&A after her speech, James reiterated the need for consumer activism.
      "We have no problem with trade, buying and selling, or commerce," James says, "but consumers are unknowingly exploiting these farmers by purchasing chocolate made from uncertified cocoa."
      James continues, "Consumers have no idea of the power their actions, by which I mean decisions, carry. A socially responsible individual extending ethical behavior into their consumer behavior has a powerful platform."
      A similar campaign was successful with the coffee industry. In 1999, from the efforts of advocates, a national chain of coffee roasters now consumes ten million pounds of free trade certified coffee. The campaign, lead by James, pressed for Fair Trade coffee in 2500 stores.
      Currently, no U.S. companies have become certified carriers of Fair Trade chocolate. The flyer concludes, "The Fair Trade system guarantees a minimum price for small farmers' harvest, prohibits abusive child labor and forced labor, and encourages organic, sustainable cultivation methods that are safer for communities."
      M&M/Mars has recently signed an agreement to end child slavery and forced labor on cocoa farms. However, the agreement does not address the issue of market prices and wages for cocoa growers.
      In addition to market price, Global Exchange is promoting world-banking organizations to extend credit to cooperatives such as the Kuapa KoKoo in Ghana.
      Global Exchange's literature indicates the dependency on once-a-year allotments from their harvest inhibiting the purchase or replacement of equipment, the hiring of farmhands, or in extreme cases meeting basic needs.
      The extension of credit to cocoa growers will empower them to be more competitive in the world market, and improve human rights and labor conditions.
      The "Global Color Vote" campaign ended in May, but students can participate in Fair Trade cocoa advocacy by contacting Global Exchange-Fair Trade Certified Chocolate Campaign on the web at www.globalexchange.org/cocoa, by phone at (415) 255-7296.
      One can write Global Exchange at 2017 Mission Street, Room 303, San Francisco, CA 94110.

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by Ty Garfield

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Not all chocolate is sweet
.	On May 30, 2002 the French Club at Shoreline Community College sponsored a speaker to address students in the PUB building. Deborah James from Global Exchange, a Fair Trade advocacy group, discussed the issue of Fair Trade practices for cocoa farmers from francophone countries in Africa and around the globe. The foundation of James' speech was about consumers advocating the use of certified Fair Trade cocoa products. M&M/Mars company is promoting their M&M's chocolate candy with a "Global Color Vote" advertising blitz. James and the French Club endorsed a write in vote for "Fair Trade Certified" above the choices such as purple, pink, and aqua as the new M&M color. According to James, the Fair Trade cocoa campaign has targeted M&M/Mars company because it is the largest cocoa purchaser in the United States. The goal of the campaign is to use consumer activism as a tool encouraging M&M/Mars to include Fair Trade certified cocoa and increase this consumption over time. With M&M/Mars on board, the campaign hopes other chocolate manufacturers will follow. James discussed the Kuapa KoKoo cocoa cooperative in Ghana. Meaning "Good Cocoa Farmers Company" this democratic cooperative sells directly to the Government Cocoa Buying Board, thus ensuring a fair market price for their product. The development of cocoa cooperatives is a means for farmers to escape the declining dividends of their crops. The cooperatives use collective bargaining to secure a fair market price for their cocoa. The French Club's flyer says, "Despite the fact that retail prices have climbed over the years, many cocoa farmers are still receiving prices that do not allow them to meet even their basic needs. "Even worse," the flyer continues, "the U.S. State Department, UNICEF and the International Labor Organization have uncovered a resurgence of child slavery in the cocoa fields of the Ivory Coast." The Ivory Coast is the origin of 43 percent of the worlds chocolate. During a Q&A after her speech, James reiterated the need for consumer activism. "We have no problem with trade, buying and selling, or commerce," James says, "but consumers are unknowingly exploiting these farmers by purchasing chocolate made from uncertified cocoa." James continues, "Consumers have no idea of the power their actions, by which I mean decisions, carry. A socially responsible individual extending ethical behavior into their consumer behavior has a powerful platform." A similar campaign was successful with the coffee industry. In 1999, from the efforts of advocates, a national chain of coffee roasters now consumes ten million pounds of free trade certified coffee. The campaign, lead by James, pressed for Fair Trade coffee in 2500 stores. Currently, no U.S. companies have become certified carriers of Fair Trade chocolate. The flyer concludes, "The Fair Trade system guarantees a minimum price for small farmers' harvest, prohibits abusive child labor and forced labor, and encourages organic, sustainable cultivation methods that are safer for communities." M&M/Mars has recently signed an agreement to end child slavery and forced labor on cocoa farms. However, the agreement does not address the issue of market prices and wages for cocoa growers. In addition to market price, Global Exchange is promoting world-banking organizations to extend credit to cooperatives such as the Kuapa KoKoo in Ghana. Global Exchange's literature indicates the dependency on once-a-year allotments from their harvest inhibiting the purchase or replacement of equipment, the hiring of farmhands, or in extreme cases meeting basic needs. The extension of credit to cocoa growers will empower them to be more competitive in the world market, and improve human rights and labor conditions. The "Global Color Vote" campaign ended in May, but students can participate in Fair Trade cocoa advocacy by contacting Global Exchange-Fair Trade Certified Chocolate Campaign on the web at www.globalexchange.org/cocoa, by phone at (415) 255-7296. One can write Global Exchange at 2017 Mission Street, Room 303, San Francisco, CA 94110.	.
by Ty Garfield