I was all set to post an entirely different picture today. But something happened on my way to 365. I learned about the tragedy of human trafficking. The statistics on this atrocity are astounding. And if you let them overwhelm you, you will think that one person could never make a difference in the fight against it. It is a world-wide problem that is fueled by consumerism and evil. But, one person can make a difference by starting with the way they shop. I bought this little bunny a few years ago to decorate my front stoop. I brought him with me to the meeting to decorate the snack table. And although he was a cute table decoration, there was nothing cute about workers being paid substandard rates and working in substandard conditions so that corporations get rich and consumers pay less at the expense of human dignity. While we learned about the disheartening side of human trafficking, we also learned about a website (betterworldshopper.org) that rates companies on how they have responded to this issue. With this information, consumers can support companies who deal in fair trade and deal fairly with the laborers they hire. I was saddened to learn that Hershey's Chocolate (which is known here in Pennsylvania for its family oriented theme park) has a low rating. This means that in the harvesting of the cocoa beans they use for their chocolate they are remiss in making sure their laborers are getting fair wages and decent working conditions. Some of you may be planning to fill a basket with Easter candy this year. If so, may I suggest you check out this website and become a better global consumer by finding out what companies DO treat their laborers with equity and human dignity? That is the way that one person CAN make a difference in a very significant way. And if you're planning on any gift-giving in the future, here's another handy site: shoptostopslavery.com.
So many companies excuse themselves by saying they are giving these people a job that they otherwise wouldnt have. It certainly would help the local economy if they got paid a fair wage! The product price would rise, though!
@httpgeffed Thanks Colleen- Hershey's received a "C"- a sad commentary on a company that says it's all for family values. @maggiemae Thank you Maggie. Consumerism is only part of what drives this beast. Another part is greed. And lastly devaluing human life. I don't mind paying fair trade prices because it's the right thing to do. @sgiesman You're welcome Sarah- glad they were useful to you. I'd taken the little guy in a few positions but I liked the way the expression on this view worked with the message.
Oh wow... I love my Hershey's chocolate... And I have been to that theme park you mention. I even went on the tour of the chocolate factory. I love that the street lights are shaped like Hershey's Kisses. I have a friend who lived there (and who's family still lives there so she goes back from time to time) and when she got married I had the pleasure of visiting the town. I had no idea they treated their employees like that. I think that we should write Hershey as it is a family run company and maybe if they get letters or emails, they may change their practices. Thank you for such an informative write up... and the photo is a great one. It makes me think of the Cadbury Easter Bunny.
has a nice face.. the squirrel.. looks like startled in themiddle of something .. maybe he heard aout the atrocities that mankind is able to perform.. and the dellies he was eating aren^t tasting as good as they used to..
@cimes1 When you are on the home page you'll see a list of links to the left, click on "the rankings" and that will take you to a list of products such as chocolate, coffee, etc. Click on the item you are interested in and a report card will come up. They are not extensive and don't always have local products listed (such as the generic brand of your supermarket if you use them) but they do have most of the top international companies for each item so that you can be a better educated consumer.
@prttblues Hershey's earned a C. That's not great but it's not as bad as it could be. Cadbury earned a D which is bad, but Dove and Swiss Miss earned a D- (a lot worse) and Nestle and Toblerone failed. I have to say I did not recognize any of the company names in the A+ category but my guess is that they are sold in health food stores which tend to be more sensitive to fair trade products and making them available to their customers. I don't think a letter to the company is a bad idea- but it seems to me the best course of action is to let them know you are switching to another product because of what you've learned. I'm sure their stateside practices are fine but these ratings are based on how they treat their laborers in the field. The other thing is to share what you've learned with more people. Major corporations don't always respond to people until it hits their pockets. The way our presenters put it the other night was not to "boycott", instead "BUYcott". Buy products that support and improve the human condition to make an impact on the companies that don't.
@edie Thanks Edie- I wanted to give it some tension- "ooooh so cute!" but then reveal what goes on before the bunny hits the basket.
@bkbinthecity Thanks Brian! You will also see links on those sites to other sites which help support victims of human trafficking too by training them in careers and self-employed business opportunities. I hope to do my Christmas shopping through many of them this year.
@salza Thank you Sally. This is only half the story. Other human trafficking through prostitution and sexual kidnapping is even worse because it not only effects women, but children too- it's horrific.
@inertie Yes, probably true Pinar. I know that this information has certainly tainted some of my love for chocolate. But chocolate is only the tip of the iceberg. Coffee, tea, beauty products, fresh produce, electronics and much more are all a part of the substandard working conditions the poor are forced to seek out a meager existence through. But even worse is the human trafficking produced by prostitution and sexual perversion. It is an international problem on both fronts.
@salza No Sally, I don't think they do. I know I was slightly aware of it, in the sense that I do try to buy local- but I was originally acting out of the feeling I should support local business owners. Now I know that that is good, but what is even better is that I am not supporting companies that treat their laborers inhumanely this way as well.
@bruni Thank you Bruni! Yes, it is an unpleasant thought, but what I am encouraged by is that just by the products I buy I can make a difference. So I am becoming a more discerning shopper and making choices to benefit humankind, not harm it.
I missed this when originally posted and, as you'd hoped, was initially drawn to the photo, then read the story. A true 'gut-punch' reaction when juxtaposed against the photo and its innocence. I've learned a lot over the past two years about trafficking through one of our doctoral students who is doing a dissertation on unaccompanied youth refugees. It's disheartening to have learned of such a large and largely unheard of population, here through no fault of their own and facing inordinate odds stacked against their ultimate ability to succeed. Raising awareness is so important -- thanks for sharing the information you did.
@maggiemae Thank you Maggie. Consumerism is only part of what drives this beast. Another part is greed. And lastly devaluing human life. I don't mind paying fair trade prices because it's the right thing to do.
@sgiesman You're welcome Sarah- glad they were useful to you. I'd taken the little guy in a few positions but I liked the way the expression on this view worked with the message.
@prttblues Hershey's earned a C. That's not great but it's not as bad as it could be. Cadbury earned a D which is bad, but Dove and Swiss Miss earned a D- (a lot worse) and Nestle and Toblerone failed. I have to say I did not recognize any of the company names in the A+ category but my guess is that they are sold in health food stores which tend to be more sensitive to fair trade products and making them available to their customers. I don't think a letter to the company is a bad idea- but it seems to me the best course of action is to let them know you are switching to another product because of what you've learned. I'm sure their stateside practices are fine but these ratings are based on how they treat their laborers in the field. The other thing is to share what you've learned with more people. Major corporations don't always respond to people until it hits their pockets. The way our presenters put it the other night was not to "boycott", instead "BUYcott". Buy products that support and improve the human condition to make an impact on the companies that don't.
@edie Thanks Edie- I wanted to give it some tension- "ooooh so cute!" but then reveal what goes on before the bunny hits the basket.
@bkbinthecity Thanks Brian! You will also see links on those sites to other sites which help support victims of human trafficking too by training them in careers and self-employed business opportunities. I hope to do my Christmas shopping through many of them this year.
@salza Thank you Sally. This is only half the story. Other human trafficking through prostitution and sexual kidnapping is even worse because it not only effects women, but children too- it's horrific.
@inertie Yes, probably true Pinar. I know that this information has certainly tainted some of my love for chocolate. But chocolate is only the tip of the iceberg. Coffee, tea, beauty products, fresh produce, electronics and much more are all a part of the substandard working conditions the poor are forced to seek out a meager existence through. But even worse is the human trafficking produced by prostitution and sexual perversion. It is an international problem on both fronts.
@salza No Sally, I don't think they do. I know I was slightly aware of it, in the sense that I do try to buy local- but I was originally acting out of the feeling I should support local business owners. Now I know that that is good, but what is even better is that I am not supporting companies that treat their laborers inhumanely this way as well.
@la_photographic Thank you Laura! Spread the word!!
@sangwann Thank you Dione! Share this info with your friends and family too!