DO THIS!

This has been taken from Lard's Blog ( the painter at Roots!)
http://www.larddesigns.com/blog/

Spread the word and DO THIS :)

Please excuse the mass email but wanted to see if you wanted to help raise your voice on the issue of chocolate made with slave labour? You are all aware of the chocolate campaign being run by Stop the Traffik. You may also have heard about the latest scandal with MARS UK and the use of animal extracts in their chocolate that has outraged vegetarians. The response of just 6000 emails has caused MARS UK to change their production methods and use only vegetable extracts. Imagine what would happen if they responded to even more pressure about slave free chocolate.
My response was triggered by a full page ad in the METRO this morning which had a letter from Fiona Dawson who is the MD of MARS UK. In the letter she states ‘the consumer is our boss’ and ‘we made a mistake. we apologise’. She also goes onto say that ‘being sorry isn’t enough’ and that therefore they commit to changing.
I have written the email to her below and wondered if you would also join me in emailing on this issue. You can either adapt the email I sent or send one from the stop the traffik website. It’s up to you - but it would be great if you did take action.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Speak to you soon.–
Fionadawson@mars.co.ukAttention Fiona DawsonManaging DirectorMars UK


Dear Fiona,

Following your full page letter in the METRO today I was very encouraged to see that MARS had taken customer concerns into account to such an extent as to admit that you were wrong. This is a brave step and one that you should be applauded for. Most admirable is the sincere response to customer concern whom you have termed as ‘your boss’.

It is in this vein that I wondered if you would also consider changing the source of your cocoa. You will be aware, as are the BCCCA that over 12,000 children have been trafficked into the ivory coast to work on cocoa plantations (source UN). Nearly half of the world’s chocolate is sourced from cocoa harvested in the Ivory Coast. It is these child chocolate slaves that are producing the chocolate that is no doubt included in at least some of your products.

I am hoping that MARS UK will, in stating that the consumer is ‘their boss’ also add the slave free guarantee to it’s products, responding to the expressed desire of it’s customers, who are apparently at the forefront of your production focus.

Will you guarantee that your chocolate is not only suitable for vegetarians to consume but also free of the blood, sweat and tears of trafficked children as well? I sincerely hope so.

Thanks you for your open door to dialogue and your promise of honesty and integrity. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely

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Thank you