Valentine's Day.

[hippywife]

Please consider doing the extraordinary to show your love by learning to eat chocolate liberally:

http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/index.html

Thank you!

[Dystopian]

1. Thank you....

This is very important information...and extremely tragic. I've always been disgusted by diamonds and would never want/wear one....it was only much later in life that I learned the horrific background.

Chocolate is something else...a must have.

This is something we should all know and keep in mind...
For the children...
:loveya:

Thank you for the enlightenment...

peace~

[hippywife]

2. No, thank you! ;0)

So few people realize the ramifications of their morning cup of coffee or their chocolate fixes. The realities of how the rest of the world operates to feed our lust for luxuries can be truly sad and frightening.

And I agree on the diamonds. They've never been my speed anyway, so that makes those a little easier to do without. LOL

Anyway, a few dollars extra for anything is worth making the life of someone half a world away better.

Peace to you, too, Dys.

[Dystopian]

3. : )

I just noted your sig line...I have this picture on my MySpace page..I don't go there often.

Looks like we're sisters of the heart...

:loveya:


peace~

[hippywife]

5. Must be. LOL

Looks like you probably got that pic from the same place I got this one:



It's a great website, just wish I could remember where it is.

[Dystopian]

7. I don't recall....

I think I stole it from someone....Which is not good as I raised my children telling them that it was only okay to steal from family members..:blush:

Love the other quote and photo, also. Thank you for sharing...
And thank you for this thread.:hug:

:hi:

peace~

[hippywife]

8. You're welcome.

Even if one person who didn't know this before takes it to heart and changes their buying habits, that's one more than yesterday. :hi:

[Lavender Brown]

4. I already buy Endangered Species brand choc bars

because I like the taste (and the animals on the wrapper :blush: ). I'll just have to stick with them instead of buying the cheap stuff when I need a chocolate fix. :)

[hippywife]

6. The quality is definitely there

in fair trade, organic chocolate that's for sure!

The site I linked to in the OP has a page to help source chocolates by whether they are fair trade or not. If someone isn't sure, if it's organic it's very likely to be okay even if not fair trade certified.

:hi:

[DarkTirade]

9. Lake Champlain chocolates are teh awesome.

[hippywife]

10. I've never heard of that brand.

Is it regional to your area? Do they sell both conventional and fair trade varieties? Just kinda wondering since the list indicates only some of theirs is fair trade and organic.

My old favorite, Callebaut, is not on the list so won't be getting that anymore. Luckily there are lots of very good ones on the list to replace it with. Usually get Green & Black's for munching.

:hi:

ETA: According to Callebaut's website they oppose the slave labor used to grow cocoa beans but it doesn't look like they've taken the final step and insisted on it for their products. Hmmmm.

http://www.barry-callebaut.com/2061

[DarkTirade]

16. Lake Champlain chocolates are from VT, not sure exactly where on the lake they're from.

But my uncle used to send us a package every christmas and they were damn good. :)

[malta blue]

11. Somehow I have a feeling that my favorite chocolate

is going to be not cool if I click the link... :(

Vosges chocolate - is it okay?

[hippywife]

12. It's not listed but

you might research their website. I have to give up my Callebaut until I feel certain they've made certain that all their cocoa beans comply. But there are still some mighty fine tasting chocolates on the list so you won't have to do without. Might even find one you like better.

Most of it isn't going to be prettily packaged for the holidays but even better than a bow, to me anyway, is that fair trade label. :hi:

[malta blue]

13. here is their "who we are"

http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/who_we_are

http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/green

Says nothing about fair trade, but mentions their green policies :hide:

on edit - i may be safe, check out the second link...

[hippywife]

14. I just found a page on Callebaut's site that

says they do sell an organic/fair trade variety. I may have to hunt it down but if I don't find it, there are plenty of others to use for baking and eating that are. The rest of their site talks extensively about social responsibility and support for the industry protocol but is kind of vague, over and over, in what manner they support it.

[hippywife]

15. Like the other site,

it doesn't say outright that they don't buy cocoa beans from all non-slave sources but it sounds like they might. The site in the OP even says if it's organic then it probably is likely to be fair trade, even if not certified.

You're probably okay with it, MB. :hug: