The Real Nightmare of Halloween

Halloween has been well into a few days of celebration leading up to the official Oct.31 holiday, but there is still time to take stock of what you are handing out to co-workers or trick-or-treaters in the form of chocolate. It may be unthinkable that the chocolate we enjoy could come from the hands of children working as slaves. In Ivory Coast and other cocoa-producing countries, there are an estimated 100,000 children working the fields, many against their will, to create the chocolate delicacies enjoyed by Western countries.

As Consumers, We Have a Choice in Every Purchase We Make

As consumers, we have a choice with every purchase we make, and the strongest vote we have is with our dollars. Every purchase we make has an impact on the earth. When I buy a dress from Gap that’s made in China, I vote for Chinese labor practices. Now, I’m not saying that we should feel guilty every time we buy something that isn’t fair trade – but I know that I have a choice.