As most of you know I'm researching human trafficking. The problem is so enormous and heinous it is tempting to pretend it doesn't exist. I have learned about the selling of children as young as 6 months old for sex, kidnapping kids to be used in militia, the murder of toddlers for organ transplants (it's not an urban myth) and slavery on coca and coffee plantations. Most of these atrocities are far-removed from our everyday life but I've run across some research that we should all be aware of because we can make a difference with little effort.
Ninety percent of West African coca plantations have slaves, meaning 2/5 of the world's coca is derived from slavery. "Some victims wear dog collars and are referred to as "the creature" or "my slave." Locked in sheds at night, they urinate in buckets. If they try to run they are beaten. If they break some minor discipline their clothes are removed, they are thrown on the floor, hands tied, beaten with whips until their body is raw and covered by their tears." Source Free the Slaves
The US is the largest importer of these same beans. In 2001 Congress introduced binding legislation that would have required chocolate companies to label their products "slave free", none of the major chocolate companies could meet this requirement! In response the companies agreed to a volluntary protocol to eliminate child labor on West African farms. The result was the Harkin-Engel Protocol, which establlished a 4 year time table to adhere to standards set by the International Labor Organization. In July 2005 however, the Protocol expired without any system to monitor or enforce it's stipulations against slavery. The coca companies claim they are only willing to reduce child labor by 50% in only 2 of the West African countries by 2008.
Nestle is the largest food corporation in the world so I visited their website. Page 28 of "The Nestle Commitment in Africa" speaks directly to the problem of child slave labor.
"As a measure of our
commitment Nestlé has and will
continue to play a lead role in the
design and implementation of a
certification system, which will
ensure that continuous progress
is made towards eliminating child
labour in cocoa production while
embedding responsible,
sustainable practices in the
supply chain. "
Nestle seems to be committed to reducing the problem. However, one of the dirty facts of the major food corporations that I have learned is this. They do not buy directly from farmers and therefore have no legal duty to make sure the coffee or cocoa is slave free. Here is how it works. Independent coffee growers and cocoa farmers grow the raw material and bring it to market. THe raw material is bought at market by processors this could be a major food corporation or a processor who sells to the food corporation. THe corporation pretty much keeps their hands out of the dirty side and make billions of dollars on their coffee and cocoa production. ( I've been researching the coffee industry also that's a whole new sordid world.)
Below is Nestle's statement on the situation.
While Nestlé does not buy cocoa directly from farmers, nor do we employ any cocoa farmers, we are committed to responsible cocoa growing. In collaboration with governments, labour unions, NOGs and other members of the chocolate and cocoa industry Nestlé is part of the Harkin-Engel Protocol that was developed to support a cocoa farming certification system to ensure continuous progress is made towards responsible, sustainable practices in the supply chain.
So basically what I am saying is this. THe next time you have a chocolate craving think about where it's coming from and decide if you want to support this industry.
Off my soapbox for now.
Mary
