Here is an article posted March 25, 2010 detailing current trends in the Chocolate Industry and West Africa. While this shows some progress, it is clear that child slavery is still a large issue.
http://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/product-by-sector/Chocolate-Confectionery/Child-Slave-Labor-in-Cocoa-Unearthed-in-BBC-Program.html
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
More on Slavery and Chocolate
Hey y'all. I've been getting a few questions about where the chocolate is coming from, how much of the world's chocolate is slave chocolate, and what chocolate is safe. A lot of that information is available in the documentary I posted, but if you don't feel like watching it, I certainly don't blame you! From what I have gathered, when this documentary was made, about 60% of the world's chocolate came from the Ivory Coast, where they use child slaves. This means that almost all chocolate has likely been tainted with cocoa from the Ivory Coast.
I say almost all, because there is some chocolate out there that is safe. If you are ever in Europe, you might be able to find Tony Chocolonely slave free chocolate, however for those on this side of the pond, I recommend buying fair trade chocolate. Organic chocolate is also possibly safe because growing organic requires more supervision and stricter rules than growing non-organic.
I know that I will be giving up all non-fair trade and non-organic chocolate in the hopes of making a difference, as well as spreading the message. I'm definitely going to miss my peanut M&M's but it doesn't seem worth it. My temporary enjoyment of candy for the enslavement of a child? I don't think so.
For those of you who argue that this may not be definite, that this slavery may not be as prolific as suggested, I would rather be safe than sorry. I will note that this is a personal choice, but I highly urge you to do the same. Any small change in your normal lifestyle can make a difference.
Peace and Chocolate,
AGW
I say almost all, because there is some chocolate out there that is safe. If you are ever in Europe, you might be able to find Tony Chocolonely slave free chocolate, however for those on this side of the pond, I recommend buying fair trade chocolate. Organic chocolate is also possibly safe because growing organic requires more supervision and stricter rules than growing non-organic.
I know that I will be giving up all non-fair trade and non-organic chocolate in the hopes of making a difference, as well as spreading the message. I'm definitely going to miss my peanut M&M's but it doesn't seem worth it. My temporary enjoyment of candy for the enslavement of a child? I don't think so.
For those of you who argue that this may not be definite, that this slavery may not be as prolific as suggested, I would rather be safe than sorry. I will note that this is a personal choice, but I highly urge you to do the same. Any small change in your normal lifestyle can make a difference.
Peace and Chocolate,
AGW
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Slave Free Chocolate
Here is the trailer for the documentary, Tony and the Chocolate Factory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWzJR5KfdMc
Here is a link to the documentary. Unfortunately, a lot of the video is not in English.
http://vimeo.com/11817131
To visit the Tony Chocolonely website, you can go to http://www.tonychocolonely.nl/. Unfortunately the website is not in English, but I have emailed the company at info@chocolonely.nl to suggest that they make Tony's message available in English as well so that it can reach an ever growing audience in America. If this message has affected you in any way, please do the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWzJR5KfdMc
Here is a link to the documentary. Unfortunately, a lot of the video is not in English.
Tony's chocolonely 1 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 1 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 1 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 2 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 2 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 2 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 3 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 3 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 3 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 4 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 4 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 4 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 5 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 5 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 5 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 6 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 6 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 6 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 7 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 7 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 7 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 8 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 8 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 8 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 9 part 1 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 9 part 2 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
Tony's chocolonely 9 part 3 from DahlTV on Vimeo.
http://vimeo.com/11817131
To visit the Tony Chocolonely website, you can go to http://www.tonychocolonely.nl/. Unfortunately the website is not in English, but I have emailed the company at info@chocolonely.nl to suggest that they make Tony's message available in English as well so that it can reach an ever growing audience in America. If this message has affected you in any way, please do the same.
The Pandorica Opens: Review, etc.
Here is a brilliant review of The Pandorica Opens on Behind the Sofa: http://www.behindthesofa.org.uk/2010/06/mad-man-in-a-box.html.
It raises a lot of really interesting questions and discusses the potential meaning of inconsistencies throughout this season. I can't wait to see what happens this next Saturday. The show is scheduled to air 6/26/2010, a brilliant move on the part of Moffat, as this is also Amy's Day and the day that the TARDIS is said to explode. I hope I won't be disappointed.
It raises a lot of really interesting questions and discusses the potential meaning of inconsistencies throughout this season. I can't wait to see what happens this next Saturday. The show is scheduled to air 6/26/2010, a brilliant move on the part of Moffat, as this is also Amy's Day and the day that the TARDIS is said to explode. I hope I won't be disappointed.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Doctor Who: The Lodger - Observations, Questions, and Musings
Observations:
Does anyone else think Matt Smith's hair needs a bit of a trim? It was fine last episode, but this week, it could have been the monster of the week. If his hair gets any wilder, I'll begin wondering if it is causing the cracks in time and space. Also, seeing the Doctor in shorts was slightly traumatic. I'm beginning to think that British people shouldn't wear shorts. It just doesn't seem proper. That and he has very very very white legs.
Questions:
What was the rot about? Why was it poisonous? While intriguing, it didn't seem to make sense with the rest of the storyline... but maybe I missed something. Also, the whole bit with the ring in the end. Since Rory was erased not only from memory, but from existence, why is the ring still there? Unless it has something to do with the fact that he left it in the TARDIS... And was he really erased from existence? I mean, that's what I was lead to believe after Flesh and Stone. I think I understand how he can still exist in the Doctor's memory, as he's all time-lordy, and how he was erased from Amy's memory because he existed on her personal timeline... but does his existence in the Doctor's memory mean that he wasn't erased from existence? We haven't really seen any other repercussions of his disappearance, except for Amy noting that she is not the marrying type. What about Amy's Choice and the other episodes in which he played a vital role? Hopefully all will be cleared up next episode, which looks like it is going to be brilliant.
Musings:
Am I the only one who wondered exactly what Amy was thinking at first when she picked up the ring? It wasn't until the crack in time and space started growing that I was almost sure she was trying to remember Rory. At first, I wondered if she thought the Doctor was planning on proposing. Let's hope that cliche scenario isn't planned for next episode, though I think we can be fairly certain it is not.
Does anyone else think Matt Smith's hair needs a bit of a trim? It was fine last episode, but this week, it could have been the monster of the week. If his hair gets any wilder, I'll begin wondering if it is causing the cracks in time and space. Also, seeing the Doctor in shorts was slightly traumatic. I'm beginning to think that British people shouldn't wear shorts. It just doesn't seem proper. That and he has very very very white legs.
Questions:
What was the rot about? Why was it poisonous? While intriguing, it didn't seem to make sense with the rest of the storyline... but maybe I missed something. Also, the whole bit with the ring in the end. Since Rory was erased not only from memory, but from existence, why is the ring still there? Unless it has something to do with the fact that he left it in the TARDIS... And was he really erased from existence? I mean, that's what I was lead to believe after Flesh and Stone. I think I understand how he can still exist in the Doctor's memory, as he's all time-lordy, and how he was erased from Amy's memory because he existed on her personal timeline... but does his existence in the Doctor's memory mean that he wasn't erased from existence? We haven't really seen any other repercussions of his disappearance, except for Amy noting that she is not the marrying type. What about Amy's Choice and the other episodes in which he played a vital role? Hopefully all will be cleared up next episode, which looks like it is going to be brilliant.
Musings:
Am I the only one who wondered exactly what Amy was thinking at first when she picked up the ring? It wasn't until the crack in time and space started growing that I was almost sure she was trying to remember Rory. At first, I wondered if she thought the Doctor was planning on proposing. Let's hope that cliche scenario isn't planned for next episode, though I think we can be fairly certain it is not.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Ed Norton at SIFF
Edward Norton made an appearance today at a screening of Leaves of Grass for the Seattle International Film Festival. He was kind enough to pop by for a Q&A after the show. He was brilliant, as always, and my front row seats had me practically tingling with excitement. I will admit, it was very strange to watch him on screen for two hours and then watch him walk out on stage. Altogether it was a great experience, and I got to ask one of my favorite actors a question.
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