January 18, 2007 Eco-Sweet Red paper hearts are starting to appear everywhere, so I wrote the following eco-Valentine's Day article for our homeschool newsletter. Coming soon, something about the environmental thorns on roses. peace, Jennifer >>>>>>>>>> Valentine's Day means heart shaped boxes of chocolate, right? The US is the world's largest consumer of chocolate. We eat more than 3.3 billion pounds per year. Well, here comes Jennifer, the environmental wet blanket again. Those chocolates are not as sweet as they seem when you look at how they're produced and the consequences for humans and the environment. This Valentine's Day, please consider buying only Fair Trade, organic chocolate. Here's why: Clear cutting the rainforest Chocolate's main ingredient, cocoa, comes from the Latin American cacao tree. These shade-loving trees are an important part of the rainforest ecosystem. But to keep up with the high demand for chocolate, a high-yield cacao hybrid has been developed. They must be grown plantation style because they require intense sunlight. They also wear out the soil very quickly. The six largest cocoa producing countries are the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, and Cameroon. Farmers in these countries are now clear-cutting the rainforests to make more land for the cacao hybrids. According to Sierra Club magazine, cacao production has resulted in the deforestation of 14 percent of West Africa's rainforests, as well as significant deforestation in Latin America. Toxic exposure for farmers and consumers Because the hybrids are grown as a monoculture, they don't have the natural pest resistance of the original trees. So the farmers use tons of pesticides. Because the soil is depleted without the natural cycles and complex interdependencies of a rainforest, the farmers use tons of chemical fertilizers. It's the same sad industrialized farming story we've heard many times. Not only do these toxic substances encourage the development of pesticide-resistant diseases and pests, but they also poison the animal and human communities around them, especially the farm workers. But it doesn’t stop there. Residues remain on the beans that go into the chocolate we eat. These, supposedly, do not exceed allowed levels for consumption, but no one knows what the build-up of poison over time does to our bodies. Child Slavery According to the U.S. State Department's year 2000 Human Rights Report, the cocoa industry has another even more terrible consequence - child slavery! 15,000 children between the ages of 9 and 12 have been sold into slavery on cocoa, cotton and coffee plantations. When workers are paid, they get only about five cents for every dollar spent on chocolate. Yet the chocolate industry reaps over 13 billion dollars annually. Something is wrong with this picture. Fair Trade and Organic alternatives When something is certified "Fair Trade" it means that the growers are guaranteed a minimum price, and that no child or forced labor is used. Participating farmers' organizations must be organized democratically and plantation workers must be able to join trade unions. Fair Trade producers are monitored at least once a year. It doesn't mean that the rainforest wasn't cut down to grow the product. For that distinction, you must look for the label "organic" or "shade grown". It's complicated, I know. But Trader Joe's does sell a Fair Trade and organic chocolate bar, right by the registers. They cost a little more, but you can feel good about putting your money where your conscience is! Resources: Lesson plan from the Global Education Network "Chocolate: A Fair Trade and Human Rights unit" Fun for kids with good info on Fair Trade chocolate Global Exchange's Fair Trade chocolate campaign Fair Trade and organic chocolate sources (scroll down to the bottom)
January 18, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBack (0) Sumber : http://truffulatuft.blogs.com/ __________________________________________________ Be aware of the contact between your feet and the Earth. Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet. We have caused a lot of damage to the Earth. Now it is time for us to take good care of her. We bring our peace and calm to the surface of the Earth and share the lesson of love. We walk in that spirit. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~ --------------------------------- Sekarang dengan penyimpanan 1GB http://id.mail.yahoo.com/
