Slavery in Chocolate Industry - 3505 Words

Slavery in the Chocolate Industry Introduction The forced labour of children in the Ivorian cocoa farms is at a distance from the glamourised candy producers such as Mars and Nestlà ©, and a universe away from the day-to-day consumers of chocolate. That such a quixotic market shares a commonality with the more exposed diamond market, for example, whose implication in the sale and involvement of guns in tribal cleansing has long been documented, drives home the reminder that our modern prosperity, usually reached and used with the best of consumer intentions, if not also the corporate, and even our harmless, insignificant indulgences sometimes owe themselves to an extremely complex source environment. In this paper we dissect the†¦show more content†¦This is, however, a perception; in a theoretical analysis it is important to make no assumptions and a wealth of definitions. We will discuss the pragmatism of this perception. We must, of course, bear in mind the 400-year-old theoretical and practical foundations of our continental economy – a minimum of government interference in commerce, the benefit of competition in lowering prices and raising quality for the consumer, and what Velasquez calls the pursuit of profit (37). Any business s survival must steer toward cost cutting and breakeven or net revenue. Smith s theory of free markets and utilitarianism (135-138) reminds us that this realpolitik approach to business is what drives our individual welfare, which we want (137). Social Darwinism goes further to associate capitalism with the summative advancement of society (141) though this may not equate to its growing moral hygiene (142). While the United States is an advanced society that will do relatively well even if it places moral concerns as an obstruction to trading with the West African cocoa farmers, Ricardo s theory prompts us that trade is still in the American interest (142). Furtherm ore, many may argue that the minimum of a business is legality and not immorality (37). While the United States outlaws human trafficking as well as Cà ´te d Ivoire (51) the systemic and human factors that mean the law isShow MoreRelatedSlavery in the Chocolate Industry Case Study1087 Words   |  5 PagesName: Asher Andrews Submitted to: Ms Elishah St.Luce Class: Business Ethics â€Å"The case of slavery in the chocolate industry† ‘ What are the systemic, corporate and individual ethical issues raised by the case? First of all what is ethics? According to Manuel G Velasquez â€Å"Ethics is the discipline that examines ones moral standard or the moral standards of a society. It asks how these standards applies to our lives and whether these standards are reasonable or unreasonable, that is, whetherRead MoreSlavery in the Chocolate Industry: Plight of Children Used for Cocoa Farming1198 Words   |  5 PagesClose to half of the worlds chocolate is made from the highly prized top-quality cocoa beans that are grown on farms in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, a small nation on the western side of Africa. The farmers of these poor nations are notorious, however, for sometimes relying on slaves to harvest their beans, The slaves are boys between 12 and 16 sometimes as young as 9 ~ who are kidnapped from villages in surrounding nations and sold to the cocoa farmers, who use whippings, beatings, and starvationRead MoreEssay about Case-Documentary: Child Slavery in the Chocolate Factories730 Words   |  3 PagesThe issue of child slavery within the chocolate industry is a complex issue to solve for corporations within this market sector. Child slavery is heavily embedded into the working culture in cocoa farming, and as a manager, it is important to recognise the problem and do all possible to abolish such activity. As a manager overseeing these issues, it is key to be a leader and enact objectives to inspire other corporations to stand against child slavery in the chocolate industry. Since corporationsRead MoreEssay about Bittersweet: Unwrapping the Hidden Side of Chocolate1355 Words   |  6 PagesTriangular Trade among the Americas, Europe and Africa. Slaves were the working force in this trade network because they harvested the cash crops that circulated around the Atlantic Ocean. A form of slavery very similar to those in the sugar plantations of the Caribbeans is child labor in the modern cocoa industry. Cocoa trees only thrive in humid regions near the equator, which is why two West African countries, Cà ´te d’Ivoire and Ghana, supply well over half of the world’s total cocoa. In order to keepRead MoreThe Effects Of Child Slavery And Child Labor On Chocolate Plantation1617 Words   |  7 PagesChild slavery and child labor on chocolate plantations is one of the world’s greatest concerns at the moment. Chocolate plantations are specifically mentioned because chocolate is such a large industry and many kids, particularly in tropical A frican countries, are affected by child labor. In Cà ´te d’Ivoire alone, around 15,000 children are slaves working on chocolate, or cacao, plantations. (american.edu) This problem is concerning because not only is it unethical, but child labor and, thereforeRead MoreBulgarias Foreign Trade with Chocolate1332 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Characteristics of the good Chocolate is a sweet food preparation made of cacao seeds in various forms and flavors. It has large application in the food industry and can be consumed either as a final product or as a flavoring ingredient for a great variety of sweet foods. Its primary ingredient – cacao, is cultivated by many cultures in Mexico and Central America as well as in some countries in West Africa, such as Cote d’Ivoire. The production of chocolate takes place in several stages. FirstRead MoreChild Labor, Slavery, And Human Trafficking1703 Words   |  7 Pagesto child labor, slavery, and human trafficking, the chocolate industry has not taken significant steps to remedy the problem. Within their $60-billion industry, chocolate companies have the power to end the use of child labor and slave labor by paying cocoa farmers a living wage for their product. The chocolate industry is also being called upon to develop and financially support programs to rescue and rehabilitate children who have been sold to cocoa farms. To date, the industry has done littleRead MoreChild Labor And Child Rights884 Words   |  4 Pages Child Slavery Up until the 13th amendment, owning a slave had been just like owning any other piece of property. No one felt guilty about how the slaves were being mistreated. The 13th amendment was the first step in ending slavery in the United States, but no steps were taken to end slavery in other countries. Even though people believe that slavery no longer exists today, about 5.5 million children are still held captive in slavery (Anti- Slavery International 2012). Child slavery can come inRead MoreThe Effects Of Child Labor On The Chocolate Industry1669 Words   |  7 PagesLabor in the Chocolate Industry: December 6, 2015, was an important day for many Americans, as it marked the 150th year since the abolishment of slavery when the U.S. authorized the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to end what can be described as the darkest chapter of American history. Many in Western Society seem to be unaware of the contemporary slavery still plaguing many developing countries, particularly involvin g children. The 2010 documentary film called The Dark Side of Chocolate exploredRead MoreThe Production Of Cocoa As A Byproduct Of Cacao1627 Words   |  7 PagesNo longer the rare commodity handled only by the nobility of the Aztecs or European kings and queens; chocolate has swept the nation in its mad dash for confectionary world dominance. In fact, the production of cocoa, a byproduct of cacao, has been historically noted as one the leading factorings in economic and social change among the people of Ghana (Okali, 8). But in its race for perfection, it has seen its fair share of gains, and ultimately its share of downfalls. From child labor to rises