Tara Sullivan

The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan is a brutal glimpse into the 'dark side of chocolate' that graphically reveals how children are sold and kidnapped into slavery. The market chain, much like poaching syndicates, mean that big business and the middlemen are the only ones to profit while the farmers get next to nothing, so are forced to coerce children into free labour. These ignorant children are trafficed from organised crime rings in neighbouring countries; beaten instead of motivated; live in squalour; have no opportunity for schooling; and have no way of escape.

According to UNICEF and the Harkin-Engel Protocol, labour laws, minimum age requirements and mandatory public schooling do exist to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in chocolate production, but there is very little evidence of real change happening. The chocolate companies value a low international price for chocolate and claim that they have nothing to do with the the bands of criminals selling children into slavery.

But there is another way: one where the consumer can influence change for the better; where social and environmental aspects are more in line with profits; where small farmers can receive a fair wage for their crops; and ultimately become proud land owners; and are empowered to become end-product producers, trading their chocolate direct to the consumers. Even if ethical chocolate costs more, we seriously need to rethink the cost of cheap chocolate.… (més)