Do you know and do you care that the cocoa for the chocolate you eat was grown by child slave labor in Africa? These exploited children are not sent to school and are forced to work from sun up to sun down in Ivory Coast and Ghana, swinging machetes clearing brush; planting and harvesting cocoa beans. Nestle, Mars, Hershey all promised years ago to stop buying cocoa beans grown by child slave labor, but to date, they continue to reap profits from the pain of these children. That’s why I’m so glad that 8 freed children who were enslaved on Ivory Coast cocoa farms have filed a lawsuit in the United States against Nestle, Mars and Hershey. It’s important for us to support their efforts to abolish slavery by BOYCOTTING cocoa and chocolate products.
Like abolitionists during American slavery who boycotted sugar because they knew tortured enslaved African Americans grew and harvested the sugar cane, we must show solidarity and boycott cocoa and chocolate. When I observed that some white people care more about animals than they do about black people, many called me unspeakable names. Even white vegans criticized me. However, it’s very telling that vegans who talk about not eating meat because of the cruelty to animals, will wolf down chocolates without giving a second thought to the cruelty to children.
I wrote and sang “Voice of the Voiceless” and this blog asking you to boycott cocoa and chocolate to help end child slavery. Capitalists care about money and profits. If Nestle, Mars, and Hershey lose money, they will refuse to purchase cocoa beans from farmers who use child slave labor. If they pay a fair price to moral African farmers who do not use child slave labor, then the hideous practice will end.
One Love…
Aria
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