Cocoa kids
Buying slave-free certified chocolate this Christmas means knowing that the farmers who produced the ingredients are getting a good deal, and children aren't being exploited. You can feel good in the knowledge that the goodness goes on even after the wrapper is empty.
About 70 per cent of the cocoa beans used to make the world’s chocolate comes from West Africa. Many cocoa farms in this area use child labour. The Ivory Coast has an estimated 300,000 children working in dangerous conditions; more than half are under 14 years old. The work includes spraying pesticides, using machetes and carrying heavy loads.
- Look for certified products under the labels Fairtrade, UTZ, Cocoa Horizons or Rainforest Alliance.
- Be Slavery Free's Chocolate Scorecard shows how companies compare with their commitments and actions
- Buy direct at fair-trade online shops such as Biome
Rekindling creativity.
“The child is in me still and sometimes not so still.” ― Fred Rogers
Children are naturally creative. Think of all the ways a child can take an ordinary object and turn it into something extraordinary. Like how a tattered t-shirt can become a magical cape that makes you fly, how a sandcastle turns into a mystical land full of castles with dragons and princesses, or how an imaginary friend stirs up adventures to pursue. When we are childlike, we give ourselves the space to play with new concepts, to see things from a shifted perspective, or to imagine something entirely new. As adults, we're less likely to, having had years of exposure to the “usual” or “accepted” approach. So how do we maintain the creative spirit as we grow up and open our minds to more imagination and creativity? Here's 3 ideas to try over this summer.
1. Be Curious. View the world with wonder and excitement.
2. Think Outside the Box: Embrace a New Perspective. Let Your Imagination Run Wild
3. Remember to smile and laugh. Be active and engaged in the present moment.
“The child is in me still and sometimes not so still.” ― Fred Rogers
Children are naturally creative. Think of all the ways a child can take an ordinary object and turn it into something extraordinary. Like how a tattered t-shirt can become a magical cape that makes you fly, how a sandcastle turns into a mystical land full of castles with dragons and princesses, or how an imaginary friend stirs up adventures to pursue. When we are childlike, we give ourselves the space to play with new concepts, to see things from a shifted perspective, or to imagine something entirely new. As adults, we're less likely to, having had years of exposure to the “usual” or “accepted” approach. So how do we maintain the creative spirit as we grow up and open our minds to more imagination and creativity? Here's 3 ideas to try over this summer.
1. Be Curious. View the world with wonder and excitement.
2. Think Outside the Box: Embrace a New Perspective. Let Your Imagination Run Wild
3. Remember to smile and laugh. Be active and engaged in the present moment.
More Shop Ethical Christmas ideas
