Go Make A Difference

Don't just stop at chocolate

By Sarah Heeringa

Chocolate cake, chocolate fudge, or straight from the block … whatever way you take it, there’s nothing quite like chocolate for satisfying a craving, delivering an energy hit and for sharing the love. It’s a rich treat—but it’s too often made using ingredients produced by the world’s poorest.

Chocolate we love. A whole lot less lovely are the harsh, unfair conditions endured by many cocoa workers. Cocoa farmers are among the world’s poorest and the children forced to work on cocoa plantations are among the world’s most helpless. And that's not to mention sugar, coffee or countless other goodies we can't do without.

What difference can we make? Here are three ideas for starters:

* For fair trade recipes that deliver a chocoholic bite—without a bitter aftertaste—check out "Fairly delicious" in the latest issue of Good (Issue 06). On sale in stores today!

* But don't just stop at chocolate. Fair Trade Fortnight (2–17 May and onwards) will soon be upon us. It’s a time when all New Zealanders are encouraged to take fair trade action. Trade Aid is ready for Fair Trade Fortnight with a new website, My Big Action.

* Already quite a few people have jumped online and thought of actions they can do over Fair Trade Fortnight. Join notables such as Toni Potter (Alice on Shortland Street), mountaineer Mark Inglis, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Jay-Jay Feeney from the Edge and MP Phil Twyford and support fair trading and environmental justice today.