Ask Hershey to End Child Slavery in Cocoa Production and Go Fair Trade!

Targeting: Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing), Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer)

Started by: Amanda Kloer

Right now, thousands of young children are held in slavery in Western Africa, harvesting the cocoa that is used to produce chocolate for many of the worlds largest candy companies. These children are beaten, raped, forced to work with untreated wounds, and denied access to schooling and medical care. They are not allowed to leave and are threatened daily with violence. They are child slaves producing what should be a delicious and simple joy of childhood: chocolate.

The best way to free these children and end child slavery in the chocolate industry is for major chocolate companies like Hershey to buy Fair Trade Certified cocoa. Other large chocolate companies like Cadbury and Mars have recently made the decision to end child slavery in Africa; it’s time for Hershey to do the same. As customers of Hershey products, we must ask them to stand with us against child slavery.

For more infomation about the campaign to ask Hershey to end child slavery in cocoa farming, please visit the International Labor Rights Forum.

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Petition Text

Please, help me end child slavery by buying Fair Trade Certified cocoa

Dear Hershey Representative,

I love chocolate.  So I was disturbed to learn recently that all over Western Africa, children are brutally enslaved in the cultivation, gathering, and production the cocoa used to make chocolate. They are child slaves producing what should be a delicious and simple joy of childhood: chocolate. Because I know Hershey is committed to social responsibility, I'm asking the Hershey Company to help me end child slavery by buying Fair Trade Certified cocoa.

With a label from an independent third party Fair Trade certifier, we consumers have a way of knowing that Hershey is working to respect farmers and the environment, and to end abusive child labor in the cocoa industry. Fair Trade is the only label that gives farmers a fair price for their cocoa beans so they can support their families and escape poverty. Other large chocolate companies including Cadbury and Mars have made recent commitments to buying Fair Trade Certified cocoa, which have been publicly applauded.  Fair Trade cocoa can make a difference toward ending child slavery.

I believe Hershey shares my commitment to ending child slavery in Africa and values me as a socially-conscious customer.  I hope Hershey will help me take a stand against the abuse of children in the cocoa industry by making a commitment to buy Fair Trade cocoa.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Kymberli Peterman Hermiston, OR

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 20, 2009
Birdie B Dallas, TX

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 20, 2009
kristen Breitweg CITRUS SPRINGS, FL

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 20, 2009
Jessica Chin Glen Ellyn, IL

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 19, 2009
Elle Simpson Philadelphia, PA

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 19, 2009
Jennifer Bland Rogers, AR

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 19, 2009
Jocelyn Koopmann Kangaroo Flat, Australia

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 19, 2009
Sharla Stone Mokelumne Hill, CA

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 18, 2009
Clay Adams Buffalo, NY

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 18, 2009
Rachel Russell Frisco, TX

Sent letter to Michele Buck (Global Chief Marketing Officer) , Richard Andrews (Vice President of Marketing for Hershey International) and Lindsay Ward (Vice President of Global Sourcing)

Sep 17, 2009