From the Catholic Health Association Website: www.chausa.org
The Catholic health ministry is raising awareness about Human Trafficking through the ministry-wide initiative, “Faithfully United Against Human Trafficking.” This Easter season is an opportunity for all of us to turn our attention to the plight of children who toil to bring us the chocolate we love and consider actions we can take to help bring about change.
Here’s the issue:
Thousands of children in West Africa are forced to labor in the production of cocoa, chocolate’s primary ingredient. The West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is the leading supplier of cocoa, accounting for more than 40 percent of global production.
Low cocoa prices and thus the need for lower labor costs drive farmers to employ children as a means to survive. The US Department of State estimates that more than 109,000 children in Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa industry work under “the worst forms of child labor,” and that some 10,000 are victims of human trafficking or enslavement.
Here’s how you can help:
• Ask your local stores to stock chocolate that is “fair trade”
• Pray for these young victims and all victims of trafficking
• Learn more and let your friends and family know
Here’s the issue:
Thousands of children in West Africa are forced to labor in the production of cocoa, chocolate’s primary ingredient. The West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is the leading supplier of cocoa, accounting for more than 40 percent of global production.
Low cocoa prices and thus the need for lower labor costs drive farmers to employ children as a means to survive. The US Department of State estimates that more than 109,000 children in Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa industry work under “the worst forms of child labor,” and that some 10,000 are victims of human trafficking or enslavement.
Here’s how you can help:
• Ask your local stores to stock chocolate that is “fair trade”
• Pray for these young victims and all victims of trafficking
• Learn more and let your friends and family know
No comments:
Post a Comment