What caused the civil war in Ivory Coast?
How wealthy is Cote d'Ivoire?
Is Ivory Coast poor?
Is Ivory Coast a third world country?
Ivory Coast’s cocoa industry, the largest producer in the world supply of cocoa to Mars, Kraft and Nestle among others, is highly controversial. The annual 30 million dollar profits incurred from lucrative cocoa fields is a major source of child labor, violence and rebel army funds in Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast exports 40 percent of the world’s 3.5 million tonnes of cocoa. The country is as reliant on its income from cocoa as the chocolate industry is on supply from the West African country.
According to the documentary “Hot Chocolate” on Al Jazeera, despite large profits, the region is amongst the world's poorest nations, ranking 166 over 177 on Human Development Index. The region suffers with little workforce regulation, plagued with corruption and allegations of atrocities.
Ivory Coast has one of the highest concentrations of U.N. soldiers. The U.N. operation in this region has 1,100 personnel, the fifth largest U.S. peacekeeping mission in the world.
The country is divided by political and economic instability, as well as tensions over regional discrimination, along with a tussle for control of cocoa fields. The chocolate industry, worth 80 billion U.S. dollars worldwide, continues to draw profit from the region’s embezzlement and corruption.
Does chocolate use child labor?
How many children work in the cocoa industry?
According to Tim Costello in May 1, 2008 The Newcastle Herald article "Cocoa's Child Slavery Leaves a Bitter Taste,” Ivory Coast accounts for more than 600,000 children working on cocoa fields.
Together, Ivory Coast and Ghana account for 60 per cent of the world's cocoa, employing 80 percent child laborers. Children usually work 100 hours a week and are exposed to dangerous practices such as unprotected use of chemicals, carrying heavy loads, brush burning and using machetes.
Further, Graham Readfearn in March 19, 2008 The Courier Mail article “Children Exploited in Appalling Conditions,” states that almost two-thirds of the children working are under 14. Surveys found 34 percent of children had never attended school and 35 percent of children aged 5-14 were engaged in child labor.
According to Karen Palmer in Feb.15, 2007, The Washington Times article "Ivorian Chocolate's Dark Side,” reports by the International Labor Organization found thousands of children working in Ivory Coast's isolated cocoa farms, the Ivorian government has spent a $1.2 million grant from the Department of Labor to assess the extent of the situation in six central villages.
There is also evidence of children being trafficked. Study estimated up to 12,000 children had been trafficked for cocoa in West Africa. Although there is a lack of accurate data about the true scope of this problem, police in the Ivory Coast have liberated more than 200 children in 2008. In one case reported, children were smuggled into the country in a fake ambulance.
Is Ivory Coast a peaceful country?
Is Ivory Coast a poor country?
According to “Hot Chocolate,” the rebel group Forces Nouvelle (New Force) came to power in 2002 due to Ivorian government’s exclusion policies towards northern immigrant farmers. Initially this group enjoyed the backing of majority northern population as they symbolized the rights of the regions immigrants. However, gradually Forces Nouvelle began to seize control of lucrative cocoa farms from immigrants through brutal force.
Gradually, this became a full-scale civil war and the country was divided into a rebel held north and a government controlled south, with U.N. peacekeepers patrolling a buffer zone.
Since then, cocoa plantations have been a long tension between immigrant farmers and indigenous Ivoirians. Today, Forces Nouvelle control 10% of the country’s cocoa, which provides them a perfect source of funding for their violent movement.
According to London based NGO Global Witness, Nouvelle earn 30 million dollars annually through cocoa trade. Mike Davis from Global Witness states
Although a peace deal signed in 2007, officially marked end of the conflict, with a profitable business of cocoa, the indigenous farmers are reluctant to hand back control of the farms. With tensions persistently building and cocoa trade bringing huge profits for those in power, peace remains distant.
Author George P.
How wealthy is Cote d'Ivoire?
Is Ivory Coast poor?
Is Ivory Coast a third world country?
Ivory Coast’s cocoa industry, the largest producer in the world supply of cocoa to Mars, Kraft and Nestle among others, is highly controversial. The annual 30 million dollar profits incurred from lucrative cocoa fields is a major source of child labor, violence and rebel army funds in Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast's Cocoa
Ivory Coast exports 40 percent of the world’s 3.5 million tonnes of cocoa. The country is as reliant on its income from cocoa as the chocolate industry is on supply from the West African country.
According to the documentary “Hot Chocolate” on Al Jazeera, despite large profits, the region is amongst the world's poorest nations, ranking 166 over 177 on Human Development Index. The region suffers with little workforce regulation, plagued with corruption and allegations of atrocities.
Ivory Coast has one of the highest concentrations of U.N. soldiers. The U.N. operation in this region has 1,100 personnel, the fifth largest U.S. peacekeeping mission in the world.
The country is divided by political and economic instability, as well as tensions over regional discrimination, along with a tussle for control of cocoa fields. The chocolate industry, worth 80 billion U.S. dollars worldwide, continues to draw profit from the region’s embezzlement and corruption.
Child Labor in Cocoa Farming
Does chocolate use child labor?
How many children work in the cocoa industry?
According to Tim Costello in May 1, 2008 The Newcastle Herald article "Cocoa's Child Slavery Leaves a Bitter Taste,” Ivory Coast accounts for more than 600,000 children working on cocoa fields.
Together, Ivory Coast and Ghana account for 60 per cent of the world's cocoa, employing 80 percent child laborers. Children usually work 100 hours a week and are exposed to dangerous practices such as unprotected use of chemicals, carrying heavy loads, brush burning and using machetes.
Further, Graham Readfearn in March 19, 2008 The Courier Mail article “Children Exploited in Appalling Conditions,” states that almost two-thirds of the children working are under 14. Surveys found 34 percent of children had never attended school and 35 percent of children aged 5-14 were engaged in child labor.
According to Karen Palmer in Feb.15, 2007, The Washington Times article "Ivorian Chocolate's Dark Side,” reports by the International Labor Organization found thousands of children working in Ivory Coast's isolated cocoa farms, the Ivorian government has spent a $1.2 million grant from the Department of Labor to assess the extent of the situation in six central villages.
There is also evidence of children being trafficked. Study estimated up to 12,000 children had been trafficked for cocoa in West Africa. Although there is a lack of accurate data about the true scope of this problem, police in the Ivory Coast have liberated more than 200 children in 2008. In one case reported, children were smuggled into the country in a fake ambulance.
Conflict in Ivory Coast
Is Ivory Coast a peaceful country?
Is Ivory Coast a poor country?
According to “Hot Chocolate,” the rebel group Forces Nouvelle (New Force) came to power in 2002 due to Ivorian government’s exclusion policies towards northern immigrant farmers. Initially this group enjoyed the backing of majority northern population as they symbolized the rights of the regions immigrants. However, gradually Forces Nouvelle began to seize control of lucrative cocoa farms from immigrants through brutal force.
Gradually, this became a full-scale civil war and the country was divided into a rebel held north and a government controlled south, with U.N. peacekeepers patrolling a buffer zone.
Since then, cocoa plantations have been a long tension between immigrant farmers and indigenous Ivoirians. Today, Forces Nouvelle control 10% of the country’s cocoa, which provides them a perfect source of funding for their violent movement.
What Tourists Must Know About Burkina Faso
What Is State Fossil Of West Virginia
According to London based NGO Global Witness, Nouvelle earn 30 million dollars annually through cocoa trade. Mike Davis from Global Witness states
Although a peace deal signed in 2007, officially marked end of the conflict, with a profitable business of cocoa, the indigenous farmers are reluctant to hand back control of the farms. With tensions persistently building and cocoa trade bringing huge profits for those in power, peace remains distant.
Author George P.
Comments