Chocolate Activism

As Valentine’s Day approaches, activist groups including Green America and Avaaz are protesting cacao that is cultivated with abusive labor practices. Green America has started an online campaign to send “valentines” to The Hershey Company, urging them to use cacao that has “been certified to be free from the worst forms of abusive child labour.” The chocolate company uses cacao grown in the Ivory Coast, the world’s biggest source for the fruit. The US State Department describes the country as a “destination for children and women subjected to trafficking.” Activist group Avaaz is pushing for an Ivorian cacao protest, targeting companies including Hershey, Nestle, and Kraft’s Cadbury.