Wednesday January 18, 2012, 4:00 pm
OOh this just makes me sick, I had no idea and feel like such an idiot because I didn't! ..I love chocolate but never will I have it again .. ! Thanks Cal for opening my eyes ..

Wednesday January 18, 2012, 4:12 pm
Good to know. Thanks for sharing.

Wednesday January 18, 2012, 4:15 pm
You'd think everyone knows this by now? BUY FAIR TRADE OR BUY NOT!!!

Wednesday January 18, 2012, 5:21 pm
it's so sad! I love chocolate, when I buy I always look for the Fair trade mark somewhere on the wrapper or I don't buy.

Wednesday January 18, 2012, 6:02 pm
noted, thank you Cal. Always see where things come from and who made before I purchase. Too much of this stuff going on today. Bless all the children who have to endure this.

Wednesday January 18, 2012, 9:01 pm
It breaks my heart that some children are born to suffer. And Newt thinks that Child Labor Laws are stupid... I know that what goes on in third-world countries is extreme, but Newt's stand on this issue is outrageous.

I hope something can be done to protect children from slave labor.

Wednesday January 18, 2012, 9:08 pm
WELL, THE CHOCOLATE ISN'T WORTH THE COST OF THESE POOR CHILDREN BEING SLAVES....WHO ARE THE MAIN CULPRITS...HERSHEY'S...?

Wednesday January 18, 2012, 11:49 pm
isheartbroken

Thursday January 19, 2012, 12:38 am
Sad news, thank you.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 1:00 am
I've seen a special report on this. It's horrific. And now, with all the hype about dark chocolate being good for your health, I'm afraid the situation will get worse before it gets better.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 1:32 am
Saw a documentary about this last year. Hard not to buy chocolate but I picture those poor children and it's easier to resist the temptation. It's always the way in countries where the poor need every cent they can make to survive and putting the children to work rather than in school is the norm in many places. We can't blame the families, but we can blame the rich plantation/factory owners and buyers who think only of making their own selves financially richer. Money is more important to them than human beings.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 3:00 am
knowledge is not power its empowering lets be empowered to change
life has value beyond measure
Peace and Love

Thursday January 19, 2012, 3:23 am
using children (and adults) as slaves of any type is inhumane but it humans can make it possible. Look what happens in human trafficking, prostitution, some textile industries, just for a examples. Chocolate and Textile industry has potential but need major overhauls. The sex industry, obviously a d very different story.
Education, Education Education....Compassion, Compassion, Compassion

Thursday January 19, 2012, 4:17 am
Ten years on since this news broke. For shame on the exploiters!

Thursday January 19, 2012, 5:11 am
noted, thank you Cal

Thursday January 19, 2012, 6:32 am
Noted, thank-you for the article. ...buying fair trade seems to be one positive contribution to a complex issue that we can make

Thursday January 19, 2012, 6:57 am
Was going to say everyone knows this, but from the comments I can see I was wrong. Thanks for informing.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 8:16 am
Noted. Thank you, Cal.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 8:25 am
I love Chocolate but I think it's time to boy cote.... say like around Valentines day. Hit them where it hurts.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 8:37 am
I try to buy fair trade when I get chocolate, but I begin to wonder if that is really produced without child labor? There is all kinds of cheap chocolate out there and it is tempting ( as a diabetic I limit my chocolate intake anyway), but knowing how many children are abused for it makes it taste far less appealing. Boy, all it seems I read about is the greed, cruelty, and selfishness of people. It makes me feel dirty to be a member of the human (not humane) species. When I was young, I actually thought we'd make it to Star Trek days where money, starvation and poverty didn't exist anymore. I see now sadly we never will.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 9:01 am
I like chocolate but not at the cost of children. What can we do to stop this?
Thank you for an eye-opening article.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 12:27 pm
this old sin cursed world is a never ending story of INJUSTICE. from the murder of human unborn children, children held in brothels by demand of men, forced to ungodly acts,the slaughter of animals world wide, poaching for animals bodies and fur for profiteering and greed, the heartless souls of man who delight in the torture and death of the innocent lives of children and animals. it has become worse than the days of Noah.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 12:37 pm
Anybody who thinks slavery has disappeared needs to think again. Sounds like this Cocoa Protocol needs to be enforced much more strictly.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 2:43 pm
Noted and shared thank you Cal.
People would be very surprised to know the amount of items made by slaves.

check out the video on Utube : Do you own stuff made by Salves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RER95ghO1uQ&feature=player_embedded

Worst forms of child labour

Agriculture
Prostitution
Clothing and textile manufacturing
Silk production
The leather industry
Match-making
Glass blowing
Gemstone polishing
Salt production
Cigarette rolling
Soccer ball stitching
The firework industry
The hand-knotted carpet-making industry.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 2:45 pm
Please buy only fair trade chocolate!

Thursday January 19, 2012, 8:03 pm
Canadian journalist Carol Off wrote an excellent book on the cocoa trade called Bitter Chocolate. Yet another argument to buy fair trade and as ethically as one can.

Thursday January 19, 2012, 10:46 pm
Thanks for the article. I personally don't buy or consume it and will continue doing without now that I know how these poor children are treated. Thanks Cal

Friday January 20, 2012, 4:15 am
Horrible! We need it labeled on the products so people can make a choice and be enlighted! Thanks, Cal!

Friday January 20, 2012, 4:25 am
heartbreaking

Friday January 20, 2012, 4:40 am
could be worth remembering that the reason why some at any rate some of this goes on is because we westerners have been looting in the area for some time and not only for slaves -rare earth even rubber seem to have been on our agenda along that coast


The children at least stay alive that way-what else are they supposed to do?

Friday January 20, 2012, 6:00 am
noted, thanks Cal

Friday January 20, 2012, 7:07 am
How shameful that people that do know that this is going on don't care about the welfare of these children!!

Companies like Hershey's and others know that this is happening but they continue to sell the chocolate, Shame on you!!!

Friday January 20, 2012, 12:41 pm
When chocolate has the official Fair Trade certified logo..it means the cocoa production has been independently monitored..giving you the assurance the manufacturer's claim is true..Personally..anything else should not be bought otherwise...

Fair trade also encourages sustainable farming..so when you purchase any fair trade products you're also helping the environment..

Thanks Cal..
Noted..

Thursday January 26, 2012, 2:03 am
so tired of this...boycott Hershey, Nestle, and anything not fair trade as Dee says. Buying organic AND fair trade helps the organic industry as well.