I feel the need to implore my friends here, from the bottom of my heart and soul, to purchase Fair Trade labeled chocolate for their loved ones this year.

It is bitterly ironic that a product which brings most of us joy is the product of such agony and abuse.  I found out about this a little over a month ago and have been struggling to purchase only fair trade chocolate.  I don't eat as much chocolate, it's true, but I feel nothing but sickness and sadness in my heart when I consider purchasing chocolate that is not certified Fair Trade.

"There is a surprising association between chocolate and child labor in the Cote d'Ivoire. Young boys whose ages range from 12 to 16 have been sold into slave labor and are forced to work in cocoa farms in order to harvest the beans, from which chocolate is made, under inhumane conditions and extreme abuse. This West African country is the leading exporter of cocoa beans to the world market. Thus, the existence of slave labor is relevant to the entire international economic community."

You can read more at the link below.  PLEASE, my friends, make sure that when you are purchasing chocolate, you are not supporting child slave labor.

thanks for the post.... appropriate! it is.

Thankyou butterfly for giving me a chance to make a little change..I will use my eyes instead of my sweet tooth the next time I go shopping.
   Kisses Haley

Luckily, I don't eat chocolate too much anymore, but I will keep my eyes open toward labels.

Thank you, butterflydust!

Hugs,
Ciara

...but larger chains usually carry at least some of it, and usually in the Organic/Natural aisle (at least at my grocery store).  The options are pretty limited, but ANYthing is better than supporting the slave trade. :/ If you can't find any at even the large chain supermarkets, if you have any Farmer's Markets nearby with any organic-minded stands, they will oftentimes carry Fair Trade chocolate as well as fair trade tea, coffee, and other goods.

*hugs* I hope that as more and more people learn about this evil, more and more people will make their purchases with justice and humanity in mind - and perhaps, more and more companies will stop endorsing these terrible practices!

...I said I'd think about it, but that under no circumstances would I EVER accept a diamond that was mined by the blood and sweat of slaves.

Although I love chocolate, I am strongly against slavery of any kind.  I will look at the labels closely when I shop.