By: Julie Fahnestock Part 2 of a multi-series post The majority of consumers who consider themselves “ethical shoppers” are most likely to be familiar with the term, “fair trade.” An ethical consumer is also likely to know about the history of exploitation of small farmers behind the coffee, bananas, sugar and tea industries. The average, ethical consumer, however, is unlikely [...]
In 1999 the US Department of Labor issued Executive Order 13126. “Prohibition of Acquisition of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor,” was signed on June 12, 1999. The EO is intended to ensure that federal agencies enforce laws relating to forced or indentured child labor in the procurement process. It requires the Department of Labor, in consultation with the Departments [...]
By: Robin Rossmanith Having a fair trade Christmas is one of the most significant things a concerned consumer can do when it comes to respecting the earth and all its people. Fair trade is a certification given to goods and products that have been produced without doing harm to the environment or to people. Your choosing to have a fair [...]
Continued from Part One Photo Credit, Arvind Balaraman Looking at two highly traded commodities, coffee and cocoa, we can see how the profit-only mindset can cause a crisis in the lives of the raw material producers and the countries they live in. Coffee is one of the world’s most traded commodities, and has been since the 1800’s. Entire communities in [...]
by Stephanie Love I once watched a DVD about two men taken out of slavery in cocoa farms in West Africa. These men, who had welts all over their bodies, told the journalists interviewing them that they hate anyone who has ever eaten chocolate, because when they are eating chocolate “they are eating my flesh.” Knowing that slaves were – [...]
Unwrapping your Chocolate by Darcie Nolan The day of February 14th has been a recognized holiday for celebration since 500 AD, though not always as a romantic occasion. St. Valentine’s Day was originally a feast day for remembrance of Catholic priests that had been martyred. Over time, folklore and romance were added. Today we celebrate love. We give gifts and [...]
