ACTION ALERT: WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOR JUNE 12, CALL HERSHEY CHOC CORP

ACTION ALERT::

This Saturday is World Day against Child Labor.  Advocates around the world are taking action to call for an end to the exploitation of our youth.

While major chocolate companies have made many promises over the past decade to track the cocoa they use and ensure that their products are made without labor rights abuses, child labor, trafficking and forced labor continue in the production of cocoa in West Africa.  Some companies have started to take more responsibility on this issue, but one iconic US chocolate brand continues to drag its feet: Hershey.

Will you give Hershey a call TODAY and ask them to do more to track their cocoa and protect worker rights?  CLICK HERE to report your call!

Unlike other chocolate companies, Hershey has not agreed to participate in any certification programs to track its global supply chain and institute labor standards for its cocoa suppliers.  Additionally, the company has been restructuring its global manufacturing leading to fewer jobs for unionized workers.  http://www.laborrights.org/stop-child-forced-labor/cocoa-campaign/why-target-hershey-for-labor-rights-abuses to find out more about why we are targeting Hershey.  

It is time for Hershey to take responsibility for worker rights from bean to bar!  Join activists across the country in calling Hershey NOW!
CALL INSTRUCTIONS
CALL HERSHEY AT 1-800-468-1714 (Dial "0" to reach an operator - if you have any trouble, try 717-534-4200)

Call-In Script:
Hi, my name is ___ and I'm calling from ____.  This Saturday is World Day against Child Labor.  As a Hershey consumer, I'm very concerned about the continued use of child labor, forced labor and trafficking in West Africa's cocoa industry as well as the way Hershey's factory workers are treated globally.  I want to know that all the workers who had a hand in making my chocolate - from bean to bar - were treated fairly.  Will Hershey take this opportunity to be more transparent about your supply chain and do more to protect worker rights?

Then CLICK HERE to report that you made the call!    [SEE BELOW]


http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4058/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=249This email is brought to you by the International Labor Rights Forum.

Cotton, It Killed my Nana, Lorena Gurganus, South Carolina

I never connected this before today, why I became interested in the fighting cotton trafficking [slavery], the two didn't connect,

until today.

I knew she died of brown lung disease, that is what they called it, I knew she had her lungs scraped once [what they did then], I knew her alcoholism was a huge part of the disease because the doctors told my mother her lungs were so eaten up...that the alcohol dulled the pain.

But I never linked it to why I would this past year, begin to lobby on ethical consumption, it never occurred to me, that these children were risking lung disease [not risk, guaranteed], in Uzbekistan and elsewhere.

You know you just don't put these things together, for me personally I had always been interested in my Nana's cotton years where issues of race were concerned...her life was a mystery to us...she was somewhat private. I knew she had been raped at the age of 12 by an uncle or someone who worked with her, when she was working the cotton fields, that was something we didn't' talk about,

it would explain a lot though...what had passed down, through generations. It would explain, a lot but then it wouldn't, always gaps...

I had a dream today, another one, I have many, always of children's homes [lived in one at age of 14], what it means I don't know...but today, I had one [was up all night doing laundry so my daughter would have her uniform ready at 5 this morning, she didn't get off until 11 last night so I pulled an all nighter and slept this morning for a few] but anyway, had a dream about my Nana, again,

her last name. You see what is even more odd, is that there is a study being done right now [has been for years] about the Mystery of that name, Gurganus, they are even doing DNA tests, to find the Origin of that name. Eastern Europe, is what they sort of think--which, odd my Nana, taught me a lot of embroidery that was more of the Eastern Europe--she had those tastes,

but I thought that might be attributed to the Italian side of family [Nano was full blood Italian].

But what is more difficult, in following family line there is that she had been married prior to him, we know nothing there and well, the family other than brother and me and a lot of Italian cousins whom I do not know anything except they live in CA and I know the last name...well,

the family I could have gotten info from, are all dead. My mother kept us from knowing them---long story,

anyway, so there are these like, Weird and I do mean Weird gaps, that I've been seeing, like my father's mother having a Jewish name, that I saw, on his birth certificate, only three docs of him, I have [that I got after he died, I didn't know him, we left him when I was six years of age and I would never see him again].

He was staunch Catholic [so was my mother, my Nana was not but rest of family was] and his family, all from D.C. area...Irish, he was also a shriner ? [thought maybe Mason but think it was that branch that is Catholic, not mason but something else...like the Mason's though],

all I know there--some strange findings there too, because all that side, works in Politics. Government...

my Nano's Italian side, history of crime [Mafia--what rung I do not know, but I will never forget finding a court doc online, with my granddad {Nano} whom, due to that one case, numerous criminal cases would be thrown out of court--due to, technicalities, he was a bookie, I knew that, that wasn't a secret in family, I do know, my uncle would tell us, there is only ONE way out of that life, the HORIZONTAL WAY, it may have a lot to do with Why my mother kept that part of family secret, though I did meet many of my cousins in CA when I was seven and eight years old--and my uncles, aunts, my great Nano, whom I now have a photo of, from the Old Country they would say, she spoke Italian, wore the black that widows wore--and the picture of her, she is doing needlework...if you can believe that, though I was cut out of that photo, along with all the other photos but one--again, long story, related to the abuse, but a couple of my uncles on that side served years in prison, so, yea, who knows...but strange, one side crime another politics, would explain why I was drawn to some of the loser men, LOL],

yea, like weird, my Nana--cotton farmer/poor, and from her, Nothing, on her side that is, other than an old aunt whom I'm sure is dead..South Carolina.

But the one thing, I had, to go on, doing some search because occasionally, because it was Her, who was the only Mother connection on an emotional level I had, growing up...now and then I'll look over on the Gurganus Family Tree investigative site [it's a huge project] to see what they have found...

it's the only Identity I have, that has meaning...and I remembered her having the lung operation, she talked about it a lot. So I looked it up and why I never noticed the connection before, I don't know,

but then, I did, and thought of all the cotton slavery today, and then I sort of knew, that maybe God is restoring, maybe, or there is work for justice, for what killed my Nana.

I don't know, but weird, you know...

so, I am doing some research on this brown lung disease, and sure enough, many workers in Cotton farming/textiles were killed, with this disease from South and North Carolina.

see: http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/byssinosis-the-brown-lung-disease-on-textile-workers/

I am seeing these Weird connections in my life/family line, from the Venus that terrified me as child [abuse, long story] to the obsession my mother had with the Holocaust History [and I would learn before age of 10, the gory details there] and one of my daughters Native American Indian [genocide in her ethnic history] and the Italian side [Columbus day protests ring a ironic twist for me] and the Irish side and my marriage to a Brit whose family was very prejudice towards Irish and the look/slam from his mother when she learned of my father's last name...

just weird...and my passion for human rights.

Coincidence?

I think not.

And then, this blog--Needle Worker's And Sewers Union...you know I wasn't even aware of the cotton slavery, when I began this blog, Sweatshops yes, that I knew about,s

but not the cotton slavery and well,

weird. But weird in a Good way, because its like these threads, I don't know, where they will lead,

but remember that Quilt, I mentioned in earlier post?

and the dreams....the one this morning,

I just wish, I could fill these gaps and unanswered questions, the disconnects...why so many gaps? It's like my brother and I came from a family but there is no family to find...so much secrecy and disconnecting,

with only bits here and there. Then the children's home, what that means, I am no sure, but it has something to do with my always wanting to run, not ever feeling at home anywhere, inability to connect and commit,

including with God. Hard to explain but something there...and its like God is showing me, the pieces, what they mean,

I don't know. I really don't, but the fragments, are most definitely, fragments, and they go way, way back, before I was born. This may not be as odd as it appears, remember,

Tree of Knowledge, Tree of Life--we all, come from that Tree of Knowledge.

Another strange thing, my Nana's name, is very common name, among Latina women, not white women. And I always identified and felt more in my skin among Latina women, always have...I attributed that to the Italian culture,

but maybe there is more to it. IF I had the money I'd get a DNA test, I'd like to know...is it important? Maybe not really, but this is one of those things that has always bugged me, like tugging at me, maybe,

that is what those dreams of my walking the halls of children's homes means...lived in one for a year, orphanage, my mother one day, I came home, barely 14, a minute late...she said, Ha, I don't have to worry about you anymore, you're going away tomorrow. She had told the juvenile officer [jerk] I was dealing drugs [didn't even use drugs] and that I was a Whore...so all the way [three hour drive] to this orphanage [Catholic run by Nuns] all he asked me was who I slept with,

I was barely 14, and a VIRGIN. [well other than the abuse] but, you know, like Wonderful...

he was a perv misogynist, she, well, had issues that I won't go into here, and the orphanage, 100+ kids, no teen boys, they weren't allowed, once they hit twelve they were sent to boy's ranches. I remember the Nuns, the forced morning visits to the Mass and Thursday evening and chores [institution like place] and reading Cosmo with another girl in Mass [6 in morning, lol] in the back, until we were caught by a Sister, my alone visits in the upper room where I would play the organ [it was this small prayer room, no one used of course including Nuns and Priests] and it was my hiding place, I would read Harlequins and other trashy novels then, LOL, like good grief...had a job at library though--loved that, of course I loved books--another hiding place,

funny now I look back and I can see where God, was trying to reach me then, trying to save me, but I was too wounded and angry to understand then--but I did, call the Sisters, one in particular who tough, from Austria, would try to reach me until I just got too out of hand and they could not deal with me, I would call this orphanage in the nineties, talk to this one Siser, I'll never forget, I told her I found God, she told me, that she did Love me, I cried...I have her so much hell, I really did. They couldn't have reached me no matter what, it wasn't their love I wanted you see, it was my Mother's, and I would never, have that...it just wasn't going to be, and it never did come to be. I'm glad I did call them though, the orphanage closed down, shortly after that--it's no more and there isn't many of them left. Why mother didn't sign me off as Ward of State I will never know--if she had of, I would have been better off, IF I would have stayed in that home--I may have gone to college, at an earlier time, they tended to give scholarships to the girls there--but I just couldn't shake off the anger/rage nor my first boyfriend whom I was madly in love with [mother separated us too] and well, he would tire of my virginity and would find a girl whom, wasn't hung up on virginity...that was one thing, I at that time--promised God. Of course, my first husband, at 16, one month before turning 17, I ran away you see and he was there, to rescue my dumb ass, he was cute, I thought, five years older-- repaid that kindness with his fists..[a marriage that lasted a year, till I ran away from him and his fists and the death threat that I knew, he'd probably carry out] so much for that ole Virginity garbage, LOL. IT was downhilll from there...not even 18, already scarred...my first experience with a boy, whom I liked, was an attempted rape--yea, funny, his Christian aunt rescued my ass that time--I was twelve I think? Funny how I remember these things,


Anyway, my restlessness, after a year, too much for them to handle--back to Mommy I went--she was NOT happy, and I would pay like hell for the next two years until I moved out...but not until she would try to dump me somewhere else, including reform school for violent kids, except I had not broken any laws nor was I violent. [I was straight A student, in choir, but she would do all to END that...I would not be allowed to succeed there, her life was hell and by golly mine would be too, it was my fault, after all, that her life, her sacrifice, my fault, her marriage to my father, I do wonder about what more was behind that, I do not know, all I know, she was pregnant with me before marrying him and that he was still in Marines, not even discharged yet]. My Nana, whom my mother had removed us from her, when I was 12 [long story, history of abuse there, horrid, in fact, Nana was kind to me but horrible to her and my uncle, really towards boys, violently horrible, alcoholism, I wouldn't see the manipulations there until this past year--was I loved or a pawn? Maybe both, don't know, but not all that I thought, was as it appeared to be, a lot of FEAR esp when she was drinking, but anyway in teen years Nana was sick, she passed away, when I was 18? There are a lot of memory gaps too--many of them, months of gaps, black holes that I miss, maybe due to repression, not sure, age? Old age? who knows]

Well, anyway, gaps...lots of gaps,

but would have never thought--they would also be intertwined, the threads, in the advocacy I do, not like I am seeing now. Where it's going,

have No earthly idea...OH, an all so much of the attempted rapes and abuse and joke of marriage---all nicely wrapped up in the protection and seclusion of a nice little Bible Belt Christian Taliban town...all snug and sweet and so pious too. Poor white trash girls were easy prey you see, for fathers and uncles and judges and cops and the rich football boys club...all easy prey--black girls knew not to venture far from home [and they were run out of town] and Latina girls clung together in the protection of family, church [Catholic] and as a clan--no matter what economic class they were protected, by one another-from the onslaughts and violence of the white Religious KKK types,

not so with us poor white trash--we were defective, ugly, especially those of us who looked dark, not blonde, not petite, not tiny noses and blue eyes...not Southern Belle type, like Tori Amos sings, little fascist panties, LOL, That they were, That they were...we were marked,

not just by the boys either--the girls, women, were FAR WORSE. I know, why the black and brown women hate them so--so do I, if I am honest, so do I.

well, ok enough splattering the ugly bits here--but they are bits, I identify with,

In solidarity,

Jane

LETS GET THIS BALL A ROLLING FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!

I'm talking about,

my finding Where to buy SLAVE FREE CHOCOLATE. OK, well, I will be scouting the Whole Foods stores in my area, to find out what they have, and also, I got this in email today, by the Not For Sale Campaign, NOT only is this organization monitoring 'chocolate' but Other products and rating them, for their ethics, whether they are slave labor or not.

free2work org, monitors and educates consumers so WE know, what type of Labor is going into our products. On their website, an excerpt: Welcome! This newly-updated site helps consumers identify companies which do not have forced or child labor in their production. Featured companies are graded on the steps they take to actively prevent exploitation from occurring. Numerous industries are at risk for forced and child labor, such as apparel, electronics and toys, to name a few. We are linked to workers around the world by international supply chains, but no longer do consumers need to support companies that engage in high-risk sourcing practices.

read the rest here, and hit the enter, and lets see, what they have found...

http://www.free2work.org/

like the scroll bar at bottom, lets see, I'm on food, now lets see about Chocolate,

Hey! Hersheys got a D+, where some others got a D-, maybe those Letters are doing some Good eh? I'll have to scroll through my archives, and pull up WHERE to send those letters, I Still need to do this,

but you know, that's actually good because they used to get an F from all reports I read, so if they are up to D+, that means, they are, listening--with more public DEMAND FOR SLAVE FREE, we COULD CHANGE THE MARKET PLACE, and THAT is a Good thing. OK lets see what else they list, as far as That goes, but don't get too excited, D is still a bad rating, means very limited to little labor standards, so yea, come on Hershey, you can do Better than that, Get Creative...maybe some time for some Cartoon-Media pressure marketing for a kid's chocolate better World campaign, we buy chocolate, proceeds go to schools for these children and better conditions [water, jobs, sanitation] for the communities where cocoa is harvested-Something, make slave free an Attractive solution for All and there could be some changes in attitudes and customs IN those regions [because the poverty/overpopulation/and deplorable status of women in those nations has a LOT to do, with why slavery exists and why there is apathy, that and greed],

ok well now Lindt, got an C+, which surprised me, maybe, what WE need to do, is Support these companies with a flood of Postcards thanking them for taking steps to stop blood chocolate/child slavery, That helps too, and to make effort to buy from them [letting them know] that IF they continue to improve, we will support and buy. You know, Reward good behavior, that kind of thing...C+ is better than D, almost a B,

I was a little surprised to at the rating of Endangered Species, a D-!!! What is up with That? You know that is Why you can't always Trust labels,

one thing I did learn, is that, with Fair Trade Certified, it will Have a Fair Trade Certified logo on the front of package, a circle with two hands...some of the Organic things I have found, may have the Organic Certification but not the Fair Trade, so I'm not Sure really whether to buy those or not, and those can be a bit tricky. I have bought some type of Rainforest bars, that said they are ethical, it was all I could find, only in Dark, limited edition...I figured they were probably Better than Hersheys but still, you never know, right?

My thing is though, there are So many products that we use that Have cocoa in them, from cake mixes to baking cocoa to hot chocolate to Cereals to Cookies, I mean, when you really start narrowing down to only buying Fair Trade Chocolate, you see real fast, just HOW much chocolate we really consume. So what I really want to do, is find Affordable Fair Trade [for us poorer folks] cocoa so we can Make our own cookies/cake mixes, etc., and that has not been an easy task.

Again I think that really depends on Where one lives, if stores Carry these Fair Trade products or not. IF there isn't a Demand for them, stores won't carry them, and I can kind of see their point--why stock shelves with something that won't sell--and then goes stale/out of date, etc., this is Why public EDUCATION is so important, its not just 'buy fair trade' but Educate, because many people simply do NOT KNOW, about the SLAVERY IN COCOA HARVESTING. Because if they Did, I'm sure the slave industry Would have had to end at least there, by now. One would Think, at least...[trying to stay optimist here]

Divine Chocolate had the best rating, that I can see thus far--but even they aren't totally able to remedy child labor, again, My opinion is that this problem is more complex and there needs to be some other Solutions, to aid in the transition from slavery to sufficiency without exploitation, where the children are housed, cared for, etc., and not only that, but Dealing with the issue, of Why children, are being Sold for debt bondage/poverty, etc., IF we do NOT address those issues, then those children can be sold into slavery into another market--something we have to keep in mind when we are dealing with these complex issues. And I am of Strong opinion, that a lot of this is related to the status of women--forced marriages, forced pregnancies, war/widows and too many children, with no available [or allowed] work for women in Africa [regions] and therefore children are sold...its not enough to just not buy child labor, we got to Do something, to prevent the child labor in the First place. Some tough problems there, I wish I had the answers...maybe one, though is more Women centered and Family centered economic policies and development [the right wing won't like this, but oh well].

OK well, that's it for now, I am still searching...I know Consumption Rebellion did a review of Chocolate [she's done her work on this] but I don't know if those same companies are IN the U.S.

So, ok then...will report back later. Ooops, one more thing, Nestle did better than Hershey, and they are from the profile, working towards improvement. Now that's good too--its NOT utopia, no, but its a Start,

if every woman reading this, could Inform/Educate her church/fellowship, that would be hundreds of more people, who are Informed and who could buy Fair Trade, write letters, support companies that are improving, etc.

All it takes, is just a little remembering, being informed [you tube, just type in blood chocolate, there are tons of videos and footage/testimonies from child slaves and also the contributors to the horrors of slavery], and well,

a little sacrifice. I found, that Children, when they see these videos, are much more likely to say NO to blood chocolate....and That, that is a good thing too.

I won't 'lie' though, its NOT easy, especially if you find that a 90 cent bar costs you 2.00. It does take some adjustment [esp if your children like chocolate milk like mine do] and IF you are a chocolate addict [ice cream too] then its even tougher--you often don't Think, when you buy, because its 'habit'. OR when someone buys [like another family member] a chocolate bar for the kids, etc.,

so, yea, its not an easy transition, but the more I learn, the more I think when I shop. WE are now, buying only Fair Trade Coffee--having to cut back, of course, but it's worth it.

more on this to come...

In solidarity,

Jane

GET ANGRY!

see also http://www.captivedaughters.org/index.htm

girls are being trafficked to America through Mexico and Canada AS WE SPEAK...

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

These women, used Quilting, to make a Difference, in the world, to End Child Trafficking---http://luvmybeagles.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/born2fly-org-and-human-trafficking/

just think, what Five women artists could do--with a coop-sale-fundraiser, selling their artwork and donating proceeds, portraying related images in their artwork to educate and inform and get Others involved,

just Five women--

just One woman, can do something, Five could do more, Twenty even more...

1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber'i-as. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?" 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!"

John 6:1-14, (Revised Standard Version)

Jesus fed Five Thousand,

what So many artists could do--How God could divide and bless---for So many who are hungry in this world for relief, for food, for comfort, for deliverance....

What you say Artists, Sewers, Needle Workers, Quilters, Painters., etc.,

shall we Divide the loaves for these children?

Jane

P.S. Also check out the Abolish Slavery and Living Honestly 'links' to the side bar--for more ways you can help Stop Slavery and Sex Slavery [trafficking]--Europe, see also http://www.stopthetraffik.org/language.aspx

WHY WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT ETHICAL CONSUMPTION INCLUDING IN OUR CLOTHES

[see update--bottom]

Most, are aware of the sweatshops,

but, are we aware, of the abuses, of children, child labor--in the picking and producing of

cotton?

I will be adding some articles here, on the abuses, in some places where they are down right Horrid, in regards to the

COTTON SLAVERY

that we get our clothes from--

starting with Uzbekistan.

http://www.ejfoundation.org/page142.html

more on this to come later today and this week....so check back

Consumers should:

• Demand that all products containing cotton are clearly labelled stating the country of origin of the cotton fibre;
• Pick your cotton carefully - refuse to buy cotton products without certain knowledge that they have been produced without causing human rights abuses or environmental destruction;
• Choose products which have been certified as fair trade.

MORE INFO, ON THE INDUSTRY OF COTTON, AND THE SLAVERY-EXPLOITATION OF THIS MARKET...

http://www.laborrights.org/stop-child-labor/cotton-campaign

BTW, I first learned, of the 'cotton' exploitation, by stumbling on it, I was fully aware of the sweatshops and how that whole industry works, from corporate to the fashion industry, and I had wondered about the utilizing of what Could be, lands for agriculture for food, being used for cottons,

but I did not know, about the brutality, of the cotton industry, Until I was browsing through a photo archive, by one photographer who does a lot of photography [and who has been threatened by political Islamists because of his photos of brutality in many Islamic countries], and he had done a write up and photo essay of the Suicides, by Cotton farmers, in India. I will go back and pull that section up, to add on to here,

but I simply had no idea, but its like in the flowers [why I don't buy flowers for Valentine's day--another very exploitative slave market] and why I am switching over to Fair Trade chocolate, why I don't buy diamonds any more, because of the blood diamonds, but look, NOT like this is any sacrifice OK, not like I ever BOUGHT diamonds to Begin with, LOL, like Duh...ain't in that money level market, closest thing I get to diamonds is those nice little things called

Glaaaasssss

ah, but anyway, not big on diamonds anyhow, so like, not like here bragging on like these Huge sacrifices, because well, its not sacrifices for me/my family because well, we just don't shop much--no money, ya know,

but still, people need to be informed and well I always shopped either thrift stores or dumpster diving [yea, we Fregans] and well, other than my teen girls, not much of a clothes shopper either. But the reason I got so involved with the anti-sweatshop coalitions, was because of learning about the fashion industry and the ties to the slavery of women, in piece meal work, including in embroidery, which well, then That, that raised my eyebrows...and it took off from there,

long story, one day I might share it, but if you know sewing, you might not know, just the Extent, of the exploitation of Women, because of their caring for children, being more easily exploited, cheap labor, etc., of just how far that all goes, back in history, and how Deliberate the exploitation in Textiles has been. And well, its just corrupt beyond measure and the thing most people aren't aware of, is that Textiles, I do believe, is the second largest Global industry, according to the WTO and IMF. Don't quote me on that, its either second or third, but its way up there, as one of the top five largest,

and, the Most, exploitative and what is NOT really mentioned, is how Women--as CONSUMERS, actually have a lot of power here, and how, sadly, we, as Women, and on this, I blame that whole beauty market-patriarchal 'standard' to be 'accepted' to male desires/mores, actually, Feed into the Slave Market,

every time we shop IF we are not aware. And I say this, NOT to condemn, because many simply do not know,

but I will say, I have run into, those whom I Have informed, who after they do know, simply, do not care--and maybe that is why, I tend to get a little vocal in confronting Privilege, or better, the 'insistence' of protecting privilege and its here, that you really see the Geo-political racism, imperialism, American exceptionalism and well, class and before one says, yea its those white folks,

got news for you, there are Plenty of African Americans and Latinos, that have assimilated into that whole consumerist 'imperialist' exceptionalist culture just as much--Greed has no race--ethnicity or religion, or the rationalizations for, so,

well, lets just say,

its one thing to be Aware of these things, its quite another, to radically change whole consumption lifestyles, particularly if one has teens, long years of habitual shopping, because its NOT something, we like, think about, and may I also add,

often times, the 'ethical consumption' is more geared towards the upper middle classes, who can Afford the higher prices. And fair trade-etc., can be more costly--because they aren't in demand as much as cheap products. For working class--lower middle class to lower incomes--sometimes its simply not an option, to pay $70.00 for a shirt when they can pay $5.00 at Target or Walmart, and the thrift stores, while they are an alternative,

they don't always carry boys clothes, etc., so even if you thrift, you still depend on the 'markets' for clothing, etc. So, I just want to say,

because of this, I will be adding here, other alternatives, for ethical consumption, BECAUSE I know, what it is, to be low income and to also contend with trying to find alternatives--that one can afford, and sometimes its one of those things you just have to weigh, so, no condemnation here, OK,

because there ARE ways, in which we all can help, if anything, to make our voices heard and to Give support, to those who are working for Fair labor practices which btw, is Demanded, by Scripture, in both Old AND New Testaments.

While I'm in no way, Utopian, and believe that all these injustices will change in our lifetime, I do believe, we have a responsibility, at least some, to at least--make an effort, to be more fair, in our consumption, by fair, I mean, more ethical, in how our choices, lifestyles, may effect others, our neighbors, and again,

these are not things you just like overnight, change because consumption, IS after all, a habit. And some habits, are a bit hard to break...oh, you may not think so, but like with the chocolate,

once I started looking into buying only Fair Trade chocolate which there isn't any near us, without driving miles and with no car--you know, makes it kind of hard and the prices, don't help either, but what got me, was just how much, we really use Cocoa, its not just the chocolate but how many products USE cocoa, that is made by child-slaves. More than we think...

so, I decided, because the kids asked, that well, we might not be able to like, forever end all buying of cocoa...but we will do our best. And in meantime, write those letters, to Hershey and Nestle, demanding, that they change their labor practices, and work to inform,

because the MORE people are aware, the MORE social pressure, the MORE the DEMAND then begins to DEMAND, ethical labor practices. And it has to start somewhere...

and that means, Supporting those companies that Do take those cuts in Corporate Profits, when they do decide, to do more ethical and fair trade business. The more we support those, the more they become competitive, and the markets begin to change...

Personally, I don't know why we all can't just get a class action lawsuit and sue some of these Chocolate companies for Mental Cruelty, because to Think, that all those years, especially in my CHILDHOOD, I was eating chocolate that was made by forced slavery, of CHILDREN, who the same age as my youngest--

is Deplorable and I think, and outrage, and I think, that Hershey and Nestle and some of those companies, M&M included, OWE THE CHILDREN WHO WORK IN THESE SLAVE CAMPS, MORE THAN JUST AN APOLOGY--REPARATIONS, AND

THEY OWE AMERICA'S CHILDREN,

A BIG FAT APOLOGY--because if Children really knew, WHAT they were buying,

they wouldn't be too happy about it.

Both of my children, passed on Hanukkah's golden coins {we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah} this year Because, they didn't want to eat something, that reminded them of the horrible images of small children being beaten with chains, BY ADULT MEN, for not harvesting cocoa leaves fast enough. It has caused my one daughter some problems--seeing those videos [because she's older and has more understanding] and as a parent, yea, it sort of pisses me off,

because Corporations, are making big bucks, off ENSLAVING KIDS. Kids sold for $30.00 [BECAUSE OF OVERPOPULATION-PATRIARCHY=LOW STATUS OF WOMEN, WAR, AND POVERTY in Africa]...

why I DO support, Birth Control, oh yea...OK won't get into That issue--but well, when children, are sold for $30.00 to be beaten, so we can buy cheap consumer goods,

Something, is really Sinister and EVIL about the whole economic framework that institutes that.

Anyway, come to find, its not much different in cotton either, not only that but cotton, industry, pulls a LOT of resources, from land AND water due to irrigation, water in places where water is rare AND the people, are impoverished. AND as one, who has been a dumpster diver for YEARS and has first hand knowledge of the MEGA AMOUNT OF CLOTHES WASTE IN THIS NATION,

there is simply, no excuse for pillaging and raping the land--for cotton production and on top of that--to do this labor--via SLAVES?

so, yea, I'm gonna be posting a lot here, about these things because well, we need to know.

Let me close in saying, while I am dead set opposed to the unethical practices of capitalism, I in no way, any longer, support the left parties--or the political 'agendas' of those who Manipulate these issues, who are Just as despotic, as the imperialists and the capitalist-corporations are...and Why is that?

Well, will tell you, because many of them, have joined forces, with Political Islam--and they see nothing wrong with enslaving women [in the most brutal and Inhumane ways] and not only that, while they are opposed to Western Religions--due to the history of imperialism,

well, Ironically, in Islam, Slavery is not only tolerated--its condoned and supported by Hadiths. Look at Sudan--

and so, to say, on one hand, one is Marxist--and then, support a religion, that is pro-Slavery, well, its sort of an oxymoron...in my opinion...

you don't end slavery/wage slavery by embracing a system that is rooted in the beliefs of SLAVERY, like, uh, DUH, knock knock, anyone there? You know,

[and if one doesn't believe that, do some looking into the torture and oppression of the Communist Worker Party in Iran--and yet, we have idiotic 'leftists' and 'liberals' here in This country, who march along side, the very ones who one day, will yes, indeed, enslave them--the leftists in other nations, KNOW THIS,

but for some reason, there tends to be some either denial or complete stupidity in America AND in Europe over this. Even commies-socialists and union leaders in former Soviets, know a bit more, about the dangers of compromising with fundies on this one...[though, we won't get into the hypocrisy of the commies there--with that reality of capitalism for the elites--feudal Slavery for the masses, but eh, I speak as a one time, supporter of that whole ideology'.

Regardless, though, I never embraced capitalism nor will I--but I do believe, there has to be some other 'alternatives' other than state social engineering, selling out to the Dark Ages and/or embracing complete anarchy [been there, done that one too], LOL,

well--I think one solution, is women centered economics--another issue, another time,

and well, what DID surprise me, was the Voluntary 'communal' distribution in the Bible--from hearts of Love--not by coercion,

and it was one scripture, that Marx often quoted, many think its his own--to each according to his needs,

well guess what, its in the Bible--read the book of ACTS. It was, the First Church--who claimed that one.

Bet many didn't' know that, eh?????

One more thing, and this is another area where I really butted heads with many in the far left in those days [when I was a party member], and its on the state--protection of children, which often times, is really not protection, but is more exploitation on a whole other level. Allow me to explain,

one one thing, that I would disagree with, with the labor front--international, is in regards to child labor--its not 'enough' to say, end child labor WITHOUT replacing the NEED for that labor, with alternatives, because IF WE DON'T,

THEN THOSE SAME CHILDREN, ARE VULNERABLE TO TRAFFICKING-SEXUAL TRAFFICKING ESPECIALLY.

Now, the capitalist will USE that fact, to perpetuate the 'excuses' to justify child labor, or to sweep them under the rug, etc., and the leftists will use the children to target capitalism yet once the economy has been pulled out, even though yes its exploitative, they tend to leave the children vulnerable to Other predators and those predators are in the left as well as the right--so, this is where I think, a women centered or feminist [true women centered, not misogyny masked as feminism] economics-fair trade is in order. I would suggest, Until there is either a better market [labor] or means for families to make enough to support themselves, to make fair labor practices While cutting hours, and making education available for these children--that way, they aren't cut off at the knees OR exploited,

that is only one suggestion. I also think, this is Really, where Empowerment, Economic Empowerment for Women-Mothers really is important, because a lot of the child-labor IS due to the low status of women, who can't get work that pays enough, to support AND the patriarchal low status of women in many societies, that force women to be pregnant--in abusive marriages, etc., who can't work, because they always have young kids to care for--leaving the older Kids to have to work--to support families.

In other words, its an oxymoron to say on one hand, lets end child labor, but on the same hand, be tolerant or apologetic towards Cultures that oppress and subjugate mothers, e.g. women, and think, that child labor will end. It may end, but it won't end completely, it will only be transferred to trafficking,

which, one one hand, at Least--if children are employed locally, they can be monitored with Labor unions, if they are trafficked to other nations, with different languages, in sweat shops OR in worse--sex slavery-legalized prostitution [oh, Holland is the WORST] where there IS no rescue or help for these kids--

and they can't be monitored there--and many wind up dying, either of AIDS or torture/mutilation, etc., which is why, the support of Porn--the demand for legal prostitution which 'normalizes' that whole market--[which ironically, is supported by today's hypocritical LEFT], is also, a part of the whole problem--and I include this, because its that whole sex industry, that guess what,

is supported by big Corporate Lawyers and big business conventions all over the big cities--to entertain--those big business elites. Corrupt, you betcha,

it gets really nasty.

So like with many things, you can't end one form of exploitation and be 'sympathetic' towards another and Expect real change to come about--and what is so funny, both Marx AND Lenin, said as much,

and why they were opposed to the more 'liberal' forms of what they deemed as Bourgeoisie Liberal Socialism.

Hate to say it, but on Those points--they were 100 percent correct. So--taking All that in mind, there needs to be, a more wider solution, targeting the problems of economy, so that, in one form or another, these children AND their families, don't fall between the cracks. And part of that solution,

is where WE come in...demanding Fair Trade, Ethical Labor-Living Wages-and an end, to Fraudulent practices.

Jane

more on this later, Peace




Jane

ENDING CHILD SLAVERY AND SLAVERY

[see post below]

I have been doing some research to see if there has been any changes in Fair Trade Chocolate, since writing article below. As I said, I cut back on buying chocolate as I couldn't afford the $16.00 for four bars, and I bake a lot, I'm still looking for Fair Trade [no use of child slaves] baking cocoa. Anyway,

in the meantime, I did find this site, and its a letter writing site. IT appears that Nestle, Hershey [notoriously indifferent] and another, are still not ethical and use forced child slavery.

Here is the site: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/chocolate

more on this later, [update, we may have found cocoa, Whole Foods, we're looking into, will update on what we find in our state.]

SEE VIDEO, BE WARNED, SOME OF THE IMAGES OF CHILD SLAVERY-CHOCOLATE, VERY DISTURBING, HERSHEY, SHAME ON YOU, MY FAMILY WILL NOT BUY YOUR PRODUCTS AGAIN UNTIL YOU FOLLOW THE PROTOCOL AGAINST CHILD SLAVERY.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=4717141901

also see, two part series, on the battle to end Child Slavery, Child Labour, in the Chocolate Industry



and



and



on another video, it states, these children, in the Thousands, are Sold for $30.00 US dollars,

and I couldn't help think, 'where's all the Pro-Lifers anti-Abortion' zealots on this issue, after all, this is CHILDREN we are talking about, children, who are many sold for debt, because of abject poverty, from Women

WHO WERE DENIED BIRTH CONTROL, AND DENIED THE RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR OWN BODIES.

just saying,

this is one of the things that just really Pisses me off, about the Right wing Christian camp.

Jane



Jane