We just heard from Molly Lu that we’ve aired on Taiwanese tv. Molly works with Foody Company, Ltd., a distributor in Taiwan who is a big supporter of Equal Exchange and has been buying our products for many years now.
A rough translation of the news segment is as follows:
After Chinese New Year soon comes Valentine’s Day. Many of us will purchase chocolate but most of us are not aware that child labor is involved in the production process. Products certified through Equal Exchange guarantee child labor is prohibited.
Although the chocolate price from Equal Exchange may be 10% higher than other brands, the cocoa is from Ecuador, the organic sugarcane comes from Paraguay and spices are from Madagascar and there is no child labor.
The importer [in Taiwan] points out that most consumers are not aware that there are lots of chocolate companies that use child labor, so they are hoping to educate consumers while enjoying the sweetness of chocolate without the burden of child labor.
The importer also carries Fair Trade crafts from countries like Japan and Tibet, hopefully their traditional skills can be preserved. When patrons support Fair Trade, they know the price will be discussed face-to-face with their agreement; this means producers will have stable income to support their family.
They might not make lots of money, but being able to send their children to school means a lot for them. Equal Exchange has been a great support and care for 3rd world countries. Running water is part of our daily life, we do not even think of it, but it is not available for many in those countries. Consumers might only spend a little money to buy the product but it will bring so much benefit to reduce the death rate of children and increase welfare for elderly in those countries. Hopefully, we as consumers can use our purchasing behavior to promote Fair Trade in order to change the world.
February 18, 2014