Abstract
For hundreds of years slavery has been an issue throughout African and neighboring countries. Men and women were forced to work on fields and farms without pay, being mistreated by controlling owners. Slavery has not been abolished, as many may have read in textbooks, it still exits. However, the abuse has not been kaen upon adults, but children a s young as 5 years old as well. These children are forced to work long hours, mistreated until the work expected is completed.In the Ivory Coast young boys and girls are working in factories producing a popular product sold by huge companies, chocolate. These young boys and girls are unable to go to school and receive an education, so with no other option, are forced into work to support their families.By purchasing the differnt types of chocolate produced by these companies, the issue of child slavery is being supported because of the knowledge that is lacked from labels pertaining to "slave chocolate". These companies fail to educate us about the history of the chocolate, that they are selling. In most cases, these companies may have little or no knowledge of the history of their product, so it is important that the government not only inform the citizens of the different countries, but the companies as well. We as consumers are buying, ignoring and neglecting the issue. In 2001 a law regarding labeling on chocolate slavery was addressed and acknowledged but failed to succeed. This law was made to try and notify consumers about which chocolate was produced in the Ivory Coast, in regards to try and stop the sell of chocolate created and produced by the children subjected in chocolate slavery. There have been thought out plans and ideas to create solutions for our health care system, problems in our government,education, but none to help end the enslavement of young children. Children who deserve the right to live life as a child, and not be treated as property by slave owners as well as their parents. This issue needs to recieve immediate attention to help solve the mismanagement of children in the Ivory Coast. As a country we need to reconsider who and what is important in life, and right now we need to focus on these children, our future. Companies need to reconsider the labels being put onto chocolate that have been produced by children in the Ivory Coast. This will not end the harsh treatment and conditions of these children, but it is a step towards change, which is better than what we are doing now, nothing. This issue needs to be recognized more throughout the media and across newsstands to bring to the attention of the consumers in our country who are big fans of chocolate. It is a time we take control of this issue and bring to the attention to our country that our future is at risk and it is up to us now to help solve it, and create a solution to a problem that has existed for years.
For hundreds of years slavery has been an issue throughout African and neighboring countries. Men and women were forced to work on fields and farms without pay, being mistreated by controlling owners. Slavery has not been abolished, as many may have read in textbooks, it still exits. However, the abuse has not been kaen upon adults, but children a s young as 5 years old as well. These children are forced to work long hours, mistreated until the work expected is completed.In the Ivory Coast young boys and girls are working in factories producing a popular product sold by huge companies, chocolate. These young boys and girls are unable to go to school and receive an education, so with no other option, are forced into work to support their families.By purchasing the differnt types of chocolate produced by these companies, the issue of child slavery is being supported because of the knowledge that is lacked from labels pertaining to "slave chocolate". These companies fail to educate us about the history of the chocolate, that they are selling. In most cases, these companies may have little or no knowledge of the history of their product, so it is important that the government not only inform the citizens of the different countries, but the companies as well. We as consumers are buying, ignoring and neglecting the issue. In 2001 a law regarding labeling on chocolate slavery was addressed and acknowledged but failed to succeed. This law was made to try and notify consumers about which chocolate was produced in the Ivory Coast, in regards to try and stop the sell of chocolate created and produced by the children subjected in chocolate slavery. There have been thought out plans and ideas to create solutions for our health care system, problems in our government,education, but none to help end the enslavement of young children. Children who deserve the right to live life as a child, and not be treated as property by slave owners as well as their parents. This issue needs to recieve immediate attention to help solve the mismanagement of children in the Ivory Coast. As a country we need to reconsider who and what is important in life, and right now we need to focus on these children, our future. Companies need to reconsider the labels being put onto chocolate that have been produced by children in the Ivory Coast. This will not end the harsh treatment and conditions of these children, but it is a step towards change, which is better than what we are doing now, nothing. This issue needs to be recognized more throughout the media and across newsstands to bring to the attention of the consumers in our country who are big fans of chocolate. It is a time we take control of this issue and bring to the attention to our country that our future is at risk and it is up to us now to help solve it, and create a solution to a problem that has existed for years.
