Imagine this: You are standing in front of the chocolate sector in the supermarket – what are you thinking? You probably won`t be thinking about the origin of this chocolate bar you are holding, but I´m going to tell you why you should.
My English class recently saw a presentation given by a guest speaker, who works at the chocolate company “TonysChocolonely”. She talked about the issues of modern slavery and child labour in the industry and described in what way her company is trying a different approach. At this exact moment, over 30.000 people are victims of modern slavery in Africa, the continent that produces most of the cocoain the world. This is the result of big companies, who violate human rights by paying low wages and exploiting their workers (including children).
Nonetheless, buying chocolate from a brand with a fair trade approach can be a way to stop those inhumane conditions from happening. Due to the fact that the brand has close contact with their farmers, they can bring transparency into their supply-chain with which they can ensure fair wages that remain the same, despite the changing cocoa prices. Unlike their competitors, brands like “TonysChocolonely” try to portray the African community positively in the media in order to change the perception of Africans in Europe.
Having said that, it gets clear that every individual can make a difference by making a more informed decision about the chocolate they buy and support brands that stick with ethical standards. I want to point out that the decision of every student and young adult plays an important role in stopping modern slavery and child labour, which was the most important lesson of the presentation in my opinion.
Lucy Stock, S2
Der Text stammt aus dem Englisch-Unterricht von Frau Rowinski.