Slaves to chocolate

Will · 05-30-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

The filmmaker's first act of protest was personal. One day he ate 19 chocolate bars and then turned himself into police for knowingly buying a product made with slave labor, something he says is criminal under Dutch law. "At first, I just called the police and said I did a terrible thing. They said, 'Don't worry, we all eat chocolate, good-bye.' Then I hired a lawyer."

.... In the meantime, he took his TV show to Burkina Faso to find some of the children forced to work on the cocoa plantations — kids, he says, who had never tasted chocolate until he gave them some. (They liked it.) Van de Keuken says recruiters from the Ivory Coast cross the border into the destitute country and lure children over with promises of money or even bicycles. Once they get there, he says, "they're forced to work, not paid, and not allowed to leave — the U.N. definition of slavery."

I wonder if I have ever bought a chocolate bar made from child labor.

Sarah Winfrey · 05-30-2007, 10:59 AM

GAAK! That's awful! Given the amount of chocolate I eat, I'm sure I've eaten one of these. I should go be arrested in the Netherlands.

Will · 05-30-2007, 07:56 PM

I'm a bit depressed thinking about this. And ironically, I usually think of eating chocolate when I'm depressed. It's an ugly cycle.

Sarah Winfrey · 05-31-2007, 07:14 AM

Don't do it, Will! Free the children!

Andrea Dickson · 05-31-2007, 01:26 PM

Goodness.

Will, you can always turn to my favorite depression substance: booze. I don't think any booze that I buy is made in Africa, or even Asia.

Will · 06-01-2007, 01:01 PM

I've always been partial to Scotch. But I really like Scotch with chocolate, though.

Jessica Okon · 06-03-2007, 08:25 PM

Bourbon here. Chocolate covered bourbon cherries.

I think all of us have eaten or worn something made by 3 year old children

Will · 06-04-2007, 05:39 AM

My dad started training me to make him PJ sandwiches when I was four. By six, I learned how to cut off the crust (they didn't trust me with the plastic butter knife before I turned six).

I love how you keep refreshing your profile pictures Jessica! This is a especially cute picture, you look SO happy!

You should use it for your public profile.

Ljay23bling · 12-18-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will

And ironically, I usually think of eating chocolate when I'm depressed. It's an ugly cycle.

I don't know why that is so, but I do the same thing. Not a great habit, as I've gotten quite a few cavities in the process.

Webministrator · 12-20-2007, 08:29 PM

I wonder if I've ever purchased chocolate made from child laborors as well.
I would feel really bad but I don't think I'd turn myself in.
If I'm going to jail I want it to be for a bigger, badder reason.
I don't want to have to tell other inmates I'm in jail for a chocolate related incident.

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05-30-2007, 10:59 AM	#2
Sarah Winfrey Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 11 Reputation: (20)	GAAK! That's awful! Given the amount of chocolate I eat, I'm sure I've eaten one of these. I should go be arrested in the Netherlands.

05-30-2007, 07:56 PM	#3
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 343 Reputation: (19)	I'm a bit depressed thinking about this. And ironically, I usually think of eating chocolate when I'm depressed. It's an ugly cycle.

05-31-2007, 07:14 AM	#4
Sarah Winfrey Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 11 Reputation: (20)	Don't do it, Will! Free the children!

05-31-2007, 01:26 PM	#5
Andrea Dickson Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 20 Reputation: (21)	Goodness. Will, you can always turn to my favorite depression substance: booze. I don't think any booze that I buy is made in Africa, or even Asia.

06-01-2007, 01:01 PM	#6
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 343 Reputation: (19)	I've always been partial to Scotch. But I really like Scotch with chocolate, though.

06-03-2007, 08:25 PM	#7
Jessica Okon Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3 Reputation: (10)	Bourbon here. Chocolate covered bourbon cherries. I think all of us have eaten or worn something made by 3 year old children

06-04-2007, 05:39 AM	#8
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 343 Reputation: (19)	My dad started training me to make him PJ sandwiches when I was four. By six, I learned how to cut off the crust (they didn't trust me with the plastic butter knife before I turned six). I love how you keep refreshing your profile pictures Jessica! This is a especially cute picture, you look SO happy! You should use it for your public profile.

12-20-2007, 08:29 PM	#10
Webministrator Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 19 Reputation: (10)	I wonder if I've ever purchased chocolate made from child laborors as well. I would feel really bad but I don't think I'd turn myself in. If I'm going to jail I want it to be for a bigger, badder reason. I don't want to have to tell other inmates I'm in jail for a chocolate related incident.