One of the realities of our educational system is the control of information our system requires to help encourage consumerism. Our kids lack any empathy for where or how the products come into their lives. In a sense, they are insulated from reality by being taught a common chore....I mean core of knowledge regarding capitalism. Kids today have minimal knowledge that slavery exists largely in part to provide the products they crave. Our education system is corporatized to ensure that such a low knowledge base allows for the practice to continue.
I previously reviewed the movie Jobs and pointed out that our dependence on technology has led to horrific slave camps in China and other remote locations. Similarly, I discovered that the Chocolate trade is alive and well in West Africa. I watched a few examples of movies that date back 10 -15 years ago. Those documentaries largely found a small audience. Amazingly, I discovered a new documentary that spells out the problem. Ignorance of a problem allows for companies to continue to profit from slavery.
There is no better example than the chocolate trade. It is well knows that mainstream companies import chocolate to make the daily treats we enjoy. From a Mars bar to a Cadbury chocolate bunny, the cocoa trade is a part of our everyday life. What people do not realize is that Children are bought and sold into slavery They work 12 hour days. They are not allowed to see their parents. This practice is driven by our purchases.
The Dark Side Of Chocolate awakens our senses of injustice. It helps bring life to a discussion that has for years, been non-existent. Sit down with your children, and discuss the impact of capitalism on our world. The movie will surely increase your child's (along with yourself) awareness of the importance of fair trade policies. Teachers should also feel free to show the video to their students. Challenge the blandness of common core with the reality of the world we live in today. Our kids need to experience documentataries such as this one exposes.
