What does coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, and fruit have in common?
Many common household grocery items (like coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar and fruit) are harvested and processed using slave labor. Many men, women, and children are enslaved on these plantations to provide us with things we eat everyday.
Fortunately, companies have begun to take a stand against slavery and are certifying that their products are “Fair Trade.” This certification guarantees that those involved with the harvesting/production of the product are paid a fair wage and have humane working conditions.
Here are just a few of these companies striving to make a difference:
- Endangered Species Chocolate 10% of the profits are donated to sanctuaries and conservatories to help protect endangered species across the world.
- Equal Exchange sells chocolate, coffee, and tea
- Rapunzel
- Theo Chocolate
Environmentalism is far from a “new thing” or a fad. Thirty-eight years ago, President Nixon created the first Earth Day and the Environmental Protection Act. The Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other environmental acts have saved many animals (land and marine), rivers, bay areas, wet-lands, and flat lands. With out the efforts of conservationalists, like Nixon, our Earth would be a much different place than it is today. Unfortunately, we are far from done. Every day, thousands and thousands of acres of viable land are destroyed. Wet lands, rain forests, and other habitats are vanishing by the second.
