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THE JOURNAL OF STEFFANIE RIVERS: Just Say No
*Our 28-day chocolate fast is gaining momentum. Since last week's column was posted I've gotten emails of support from readers from the east coast to the west. Thank you for spreading the word. It seems the only people who are slow to respond are the management of M&M/Mars, Inc.
Our chocolate fast started Feb. 1st. It's our way of letting M&M/Mars company management know we disagree with their refusal to join a fair trade cocoa cooperative. Joining a cooperative would guarantee a minimum price to farmers for their cocoa. In turn that money would allow farmers to pay farm workers, instead of using child labor as their primary workforce.
Some chocolate industry leaders contend that abusive child labor practices are a cultural norm in West Africa. Anyone who thinks any group of people - especially children - deserves less than what you or I would demand for ourselves doesn't deserve our support. Also, people who are willing to overlook such atrocities might need to re-evaluate it's administration. That's why I've requested information about the diversity of it's management team.
For every dollar we spend on chocolate, huge companies like M&M/Mars get seventy cents of that dollar while cocoa farmers get only five cents. For cocoa farmers, that adds up to an average of $70 a year per family member. For the three owners of M&M/Mars their portion adds up to a net worth of more than ten billion dollars each. The Mars family also owns Masterfoods USA, the parent company of Uncle Ben's Rice and Pedigree pet foods to name a few.
Valentine's Day is the most popular day of the year for chocolate sales and consumption. School-age children, like those being exploited, eat most of the chocolate consumed by Americans. That's why we've chosen this month for our 28-day chocolate fast. If you plan to join us for the silent protest outside of M&M/Mars headquarters Tuesday, Feb. 13th, email me for the latest information. Continue to email your protest letters to consumer.affairs@mmmars.com and askmms@mmmars.com and tell ten friends to do the same.
Applied knowledge is power and word of mouth is the best kind of advertising.
Steffanie Rivers is a free-lance journalist in the Washington, DC metro area. Send your questions or comments to teamtcbadvertising@hotmail.com.
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