In 1999 the US Department of Labor issued Executive Order 13126. “Prohibition of Acquisition of Products Produced by Forced or  Indentured Child Labor,” was signed on June 12, 1999. The EO is intended  to ensure that federal agencies enforce laws relating to forced or indentured  child labor in the procurement process. It requires the Department of Labor, in  consultation with the Departments of State and Homeland Security, to publish  and maintain a list of products, by country of origin, which the three  Departments have a reasonable basis to believe, might have been mined, produced  or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor. Under the procurement  regulations implementing the Executive Order, federal contractors who supply  products on a list published by the Department of Labor must certify that they  have made a good faith effort to determine whether forced or indentured child  labor was used to produce the items listed.  Please see about link for detailed information.

There is a “mistake” on this order in regards to chocolate.  Cocoa  beans from The Ivory Coast and Nigeria is listed. Yet, companies like Hershey’s, Cargill and ADM to name a few who buy Ivory Coast cocoa beans still supply our federal government with their chocolate.  During my trip to capitol hill I found out why.  The federal government doesn’t buy cocoa beans, it buy it’s derivative product chocolate. If that ins’t a bunch smoke and mirrors malarkey, then what is?

We believe that in  order to be in line with its intention, these words need to be added: ”and its derivative products.”  If the big candy players can no longer sell to the feds, it would really wake them up.  Additionally, the bids for chcolate would go to ethical chocoalte companies!!  What a great way to give them opportunity they deserve.

A powerful way to get our government in action is to appeal individually to our elected officials.  It seems that if we all write the exact same letter with the exact same subject line (email or written), at the same time, then the offices of our public servants have to take note. Addressing the “mistake” in Executvie Order is something in their scope as a public servant.

It should take only about 15 mintues to send 3 emails. One to each of your Senators and one to your district Congressman on either Feb. the 13th or 14th. Here is a link that will lead you to the contact information of your politicians.  Below is the letter. Please spread the word it’s a numbers game at this point.  Thanks!!!!

THE LETTER WE SHOULD ALL USE:

Subject:  Put some love in Exec. Order 13126 this Valentine’s Day

Dear __________
As your constituent, I am writing you on behalf of Executive Order 13126: “Prohibition of Acquisition of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor”, signed on June 12, 1999. It’s wonderful that we live in a country that is concerned with the global welfare of children. Unfortunately, there is an omission on this order that needs to be fixed.
Currently, listed is cocoa from Cote d’ Ivoire and Nigeria. For this to have any effect at all I would like to see the words “and its derivative products” included. To my knowledge the federal government has never purchased raw cocoa beans, but it does, through procurement channels, purchase chocolate where the cocoa originated from the two countries in question. I personally see no ethical difference between the raw beans and chocolate.
If your office is unfamiliar with the current situation regarding worst forms of child labor situation in West Africa, may I suggest you take a look at Tulane’s latest report on the Harkin-Engel Protocol. (you can do so by going to: http://www.childlabor-payson.org/)
Adding “and its derivative products” will mean that our federal government will have to shift purchasing to smaller chocolate companies that only use ethically sourced cocoa. I see that as a win for both the sake of the children and a bonus for the many small business that would love to have more opportunity for growth.

 Thank you in advance for your help.