Feel good chocolate: Fair trade s'mores and Halloween kits

greenlagirl — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:50:58 -0500

Camping over the long weekend? Make s'mores -- with fair trade chocolate -- then let your s'more be counted by registering it!

Why? Human rights nonprofit Global Exchange's trying to count up fair trade s'more lovers for its national fair trade s'mores action. Ideally, Global Exchange also wants videos of you making and eating s'mores too, but really, all you have to do to be part of this media stunt / solidarity action is enjoy a s'more by September 3.

Fair trade chocos are now more widely available than ever. You can find them at Whole Foods and many other stores (here's my list of LA stores that offer fair trade chocolate), or online at Global Exchange and other retailers. If you're looking for something healthier, Clif bar and Kopali Organics both offer yummy energy bars made with fair trade chocolate.

Want FREE fair trade chocolate? It's yours -- but only if you promise to give it way. Thanks to Global Exchange and some fair trade chocolate companies, fair trade chocolate advocates can get Reverse Trick or Treat Kits -- 20-25 pieces of fair trade chocolate along with fair trade information cards -- for just the shipping cost, $4.95. The one requirement is that these chocos must be given out by kids to adults on Halloween.

If you'd rather do the giving out yourself, order a regular Fair Trade Trick or Treat Action Kit from Global Exchange (left). For $21, you get 42 pieces of Equal Exchange Fair Trade mini chocolates, a stack of festive Halloween postcards, traditional Papel Picado Mexican party streamers, a Fair Trade is Bootifull poster to hang on your door, and an eco-friendly mulberry paper Trick or Treat Bag from Thailand (not pictured). Plus right now, you get an additional bonus: a 9-piece Chocolate Gift Box (right).

If you've been reading this post cuz you heart chocolate but really don't get why fair trade's necessary: The basic reason's that abusive child labor is often used to harvest the cocoa beans on farms in Cote D'Ivoire. Fair trade activists are trying to put an end to that practice, but in the meantime, buying fair trade chocolate lets you put your money towards more ethical labor practices. Here's more history and background, and here's more on how you can get involved in this issue.

A coalition called STOP THE TRAFFIK -- a group that basically brings together organizations committed to stopping slave-like human labor -- also has some creative ideas for actions you can take in your community, though many of these are more involved and will require some real commitment.

The easiest -- and in some ways, the most effective -- action you can take is just stick to fair trade chocolate when you decide to indulge in the sweet stuff. Many women bloggers are going this route: Carrie of Carrie's Kitchen Creations says "Fair-trade is the only way to go," and Felice of What Gives!? says "Nothing beats the taste of sweet social justice."

Photos and images via Global Exchange

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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel likes Theo's fair trade and organic chocolate bars. She blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

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Feel good chocolate: Fair trade s'mores and Halloween kits