Manifesto Choc Facts
2006: The Chocolate Challenge Manifesto is born
The Chocolate Challenge Manifesto was created by young people across the UK who took part in the cocoa summits of 2006. Dubble HQ organised events in London, Liverpool and Hull to bring together hundreds of young people across the UK (and some very special guests from Ghana) to think about how to make the chocolate industry fairer for cocoa farmers.
The UK cocoa summits featured two guests from Ghana, Raphael Agyapong (15) and Isaac Owusu (13). They both come from cocoa farming families in Ghana and have witnessed the benefits of Fairtrade in their communities.
ListenThis interview was recorded in London. Thanks to BBC Worldservice (Network Africa) for letting us use this clip. It was broadcast to 2 million people across West Africa, apparently Raphael's parents listened to it! to a radio interview with them on Dubble Radio.
A big thank you to all the organisationsTrading Visions, Dubble and Divine Fairtrade chocolate, Comic Relief, Liverpool World Centre and Liverpool Fairtrade Schools project, JAE project, The Guardian Hay Festival, Liverpool John Moore's University, Hull Fairtrade City Group, Hull City Council, Hull Development Education Centre, Traidcraft, Tropical Whole Foods, www.cutouts.net, The Co-op, JP juices. that contributed to making the cocoa summits possible.
2007: Thousand pledge their support at the Eden Project
In 2007, Dubble and Divine had an interactive exhibit at the Eden Project as part of the sustainability exhibition, ‘Towards the edge’. Thousands of visitors learnt about the story behind Divine, Dubble and Kuapa Kokoo and pledged their support by signing the Manifesto. Dubble HQ collected an incredible 9,343 declarations of support!
Why Change
Why the Chocolate Industry needs to Choc n Change
Most cocoa farmers earn less than 50p per day, their lives are unstable and they sometimes cannot afford basic things.
Let’s try to help all cocoa farmers get a fair and stable price for their cocoa.
Chocolate companies rely on cocoa, yet cocoa farmers don’t have any influence in how chocolate companies are run.
Let’s try to help cocoa farmers get more power in the chocolate industry. Perhaps more chocolate companies should follow Dubble’s example – cocoa farmers own the company that makes Dubble and Divine.
In the UK there are 4 huge chocolate companies who dominate the chocolate industry, but none of them have a serious commitment to Fairtrade.
Let’s try to convince big chocolate companies to behave more responsibly towards cocoa farmers.
In the UK we spend £3.4 billion per year on chocolate but less than 1% of these sales are Fairtrade products.
Let’s try to increase Fairtrade chocolate sales to improve the lives of cocoa farming communities around the world.
Supermarkets and shops stock more Fairtrade products than ever before, yet it is often difficult to find Fairtrade chocolate.
Let’s campaign for Fairtrade chocolate to be available in more supermarkets and shops, and get it displayed more prominently on shelves.
It’s time for the UK chocolate industry to choc and change! Sign the Manifesto today!
- The People - in Ghana grow the cocoa beans for Dubble & Divine choc, check out the 'BEAN 2 BAR' section
- The Trees - produce cocoa pods with white gooey cocoa beans inside, check out the 'BEAN 2 BAR' section
- The Pods - are rugby ball shaped and are usually yellow when ripe, check out the 'BEAN 2 BAR' section
- The Beans - are scooped out of the pods, fermented and dried, check out the 'BEAN 2 BAR' section
- The Trade - farmers are guaranteed a fair price for our choc, check out the 'BEAN 2 BAR' section
- The Factory - turns cocoa beans into yummy Dubble and Divine choc, check out the 'BEAN 2 BAR' section
- The Shop - where you have the power to make a difference, check out the 'BEAN 2 BAR' section
- Choc 'n' Change - change the chocolate industry - check out the choc 'n' change section