After Katy’s sermon on Sunday I had a look at the Stop the Traffik website.

Sadly oaktree is not yet a member of the coalition…. (should I speak to someone on the ACC about this? ) however perhaps individiuals (if you can forgive their spelling) might want to sign up or have a look.

http://www.stopthetraffik.org/default.aspx

The Jubilee 2000 campaign was going for ages before some churches got involved - I hope this gathers the same sort of momentum.

Well done for finding that Queen Vic - have just signed the declaration.
Yes let’s suggest Oak Tree gets involved too….

Although the internet makes it easier to particpate some companies do still listen to them - if M&S get more than 20 contacts on a particular issue then it gets raised at their board!

So nice one woof woof. And enjoy the taste of justice with your (admittedly more expensive) chocolate….

I couldn’t bring myself to pay 90p for a tiny bar of Green & Blacks, so I ended up buying a (non-chocolate) tracker bar!

I thought I would post in full the response from Cadburys. I suppose the cynical response would be “they would say that, wouldn’t they?”. However I can understand their point about children helping out on family farms. I’ve sent the Cadburys email to the “Stop the traffik” people to see what they say.

——————————————————————————————-

“Thanks for your email regarding allegations of forced child labour within the cocoa farming industry in Cote d’Iviore.

Cadbury Schweppes has a long standing reputation for behaving with the highest possible standards within its operating business and we take this issue very seriously.

Despite independent surveys, there have been no substantiated evidence of enforced child labour, however Cadbury Schweppes, working with the cocoa and chocolate industry is determined to end any abusive or unsafe labour by children in the cocoa farms of West Africa. That is why we have been working in partnership with other industry members, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), West African Governments and international organisations to respond to these issues and develop long term solutions.

Cadbury Schweppes is an ethical company and has a long and honourable tradition of working with cocoa producers to improve cocoa cultivation and marketing, and strong human rights and ethical trading principles, particularly in Ghana where most of our cocoa is sourced.

We aim to act in a socially responsible manner at all times, and our International Human Rights and Ethical Trading Policy endorses this. The core labour rights set out in the policy are as follows:

· Preclude the use of forced labour

· Respect the rights of employees to join legally recognised labour unions

· Ensure that children are employed only under circumstances that protect them
from physical risks and do not disrupt their education

In terms of cocoa growing, there are around a million and a half farms in the Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana alone. Each farm produces an average of only one tonne of beans per year. These smallholdings are mainly family owned and it is common practice in this and other parts of the world for children of the families to work during harvest time. This is seen as a legitimate part of their contribution to their families livelihood.

We, along with other industry members have funded a number of surveys into labour conditions on cocoa farms in West Africa. These comprised a series of independent surveys conducted by expert bodies including the International Labour Organisation (ILO). “