Over at The Guardian, Jonathan Glennie embraces the wonders of online activism, singling out the petition website Avaaz.org for special praise. Intrigued, I went to Avaaz.org, and what did I see first?
I really, really wish I was making this up - and I just finished a bag of M&Ms at my desk - little did I know that they were conflict M&Ms and my money was going straight to Gbagbo!IVORY COAST: STOP CONFLICT CHOCOLATE
Ivory Coast is on the brink of civil war, and chocolate companies could play a critical role in saving lives and bringing peace.
In November, former President Laurent Gbagbo lost democratic elections but is clinging to power despite united international pressure, ruling through his brutal army that has killed hundreds. Cocoa is the country's largest export, and if chocolate companies stop doing business with Gbagbo now, his cash supply to the army could dry up -- and he could be forced to step down.
This situation could spiral into all-out war within days. Let’s flood our favourite brands with messages to suspend trade with Gbagbo now and commit to working only with the legitimate government. Click to send a message directly to leading companies -- and we will publish which companies have cut their financial ties to Gbagbo.
Those of you who were uncertain about what to do about Cote D'Ivoire, I think we've found the solution.
Addendum: I recognise that it's perfectly possible for cocoa exports to provide Gbagbo a lifeline, but somehow I am a little skeptical that a dramatically-titled internet petition aimed at Cadbury's is going to have the same effect as, I don't know, an embargo. Also, won't stopping cocoa exports put pressure on the army to take action? Then it might turn into coup chocolate!?!?
6 Comments
Wouldn't a boycott on chocolate just put the poor Umpa Loompas on the street!?!
Yeah, this particular campaign is a bit goofy. But are you saying the abuses -- child labor, unfair trade -- in Ivory Coast's cocoa industry are not a concern? And if there are abuses, are you saying the government is not accountable?
Nope, that's certainly not what I'm saying!
Maybe Avaaz are fans of the Collier solution?
Or maybe Avaaz just feel they have to have a stand on the issue du jour, and this is the best they could come up with?
Was not impressed with their anti-compromise stand over whaling which pandered to Western prejudices over the sensible solution.
I'm hardly an expert on the situation in Cote D'Ivoire or the global cocoa commodity trade, but from what I do understand, hasn't the on-going conflict pretty much always been fueled by cocoa cartels, on both sides?
And isn't the workaday, "non-conflict" cocoa that makes its way to Mars & Hershey & Cadbury pretty much not at all beneficial to the rural African cocoa harvesters/farmers?
I understand the increased attention and the need to try to squeeze Gbagbo, but it all seems a bit arbitrary to start up with a label of "conflict" when fighting has been going on for a decade there and even without that aspect the whole situation is pretty miserable.
Wow. what an irresponsible website. I just went on for the first time and clicked on a petition that many people seem to be signing, about the 'global bee emergency'.
This petitions says that we can reverse the death of the bees by banning a single group of pesticides.
It offers no evidence.
It then asks us to sign it and send it on.
The whole thing is about 3 paragraphs long. There is no assessment of the costs of not using the pesticide, of the countries whose agriculture might suffer, of the potential impact on hunger.
Just: Bees are dying. We can ban a pesticide. Sign.
I hate the fact that the world has so many people who think rushing into crap like this is a good idea.