tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post8192853354850248618..comments2024-03-17T03:42:21.277-05:00Comments on LEARNING CURVE ON THE ECLIPTIC: The Ides of September & Chocolate DayTwilighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-38407243396634909872013-09-15T15:35:52.046-05:002013-09-15T15:35:52.046-05:00LB ~ Thanks for the additional information - I...LB ~ Thanks for the additional information - I'm sad about Lindt too - would've expected better of them. Can't imagine why it would take until 2020 to do the right thing.<br /><br />I shall give all chocolate a thumbs down for the foreseeable future, it could help me stick to my weight-losing efforts.Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-4687466810158221492013-09-15T14:43:41.698-05:002013-09-15T14:43:41.698-05:00P.S. Apparently Lindt's involvement remains q...P.S. Apparently Lindt's involvement remains questionable at this point, which made me very sad because I *used* to love them. <br /><br />The good news is that, "110,000 people signed Morgan's petition to end child labour in Lindt and Ferrero's chocolate supply chain. And it got an incredible response from the companies: they both committed to have their supply chains "100% audited" by 2020."<br /><br />Until then, they're off my list. We shall see what happens in 2020.LBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-25093697629164251112013-09-15T14:25:49.122-05:002013-09-15T14:25:49.122-05:00Twilight ~ Hopefully as more of us become aware, f...Twilight ~ Hopefully as more of us become aware, fewer of us will accept (and therefore perpetuate) the inhumane practices that enslave and exploit children, who are regularly victimized by things other than drones, chemical weapons and bombs. Thankfully, there are ways for us to support the ethical production of cocoa (chocolate) without having to give up our beloved treat. <br /><br />I'm sure like most people, I was surprised at how widespread a problem it is and also at how relatively easy it is for us not to participate, simply by choosing to purchase a different brand. Your post reminded me how important it is to talk about it with friends by encouraging them do the same. There are a lot of good-hearted folks out there who'd be willing but aren't aware of the problem or other options.LBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-56289620011130186822013-09-13T17:14:06.481-05:002013-09-13T17:14:06.481-05:00LB ~~ We seldom think past the wonderful taste and...LB ~~ We seldom think past the wonderful taste and texture of chocolate to consider what it cost in human stress and effort to produce it. I guess the same applies to coffee too, and other stuff we tend to take for granted.<br /><br />I shall now accept the "sweat" with more respect. :-)Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-28386024323198309782013-09-13T16:18:02.039-05:002013-09-13T16:18:02.039-05:00Twilight ~ Sweaty chocolate doesn't sound near...Twilight ~ Sweaty chocolate doesn't sound nearly as appealing, does it?:) Still, all the sources I've found say 'sweat' not sweet. Maybe the point is it took a lot of effort to create something so amazing, which is great so long as it's not slave labor here on Earth!:(LBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-61358692105576492762013-09-13T15:09:00.814-05:002013-09-13T15:09:00.814-05:00We're fortunate in that we live near a food co...We're fortunate in that we live near a food co-op and health food store that both sell fair-trade/fair-food chocolate, which is supposed to mean,among other wonderful things, that child and slave labor isn't used to produce their products. I like Equal Exchange: http://shop.equalexchange.coop/<br /><br />Here's a link to another interesting Huffington Post article, "Hershey Accused Of Using Cocoa Suppliers That Employ Child Labor": http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/02/hershey-child-labor_n_2060702.html<br /><br />And from Wikipedia:<br /><br />"The widespread use of children in cocoa production is controversial, not only for the usual concerns about child labor and exploitation, but also because up to 12,000 of the 200,000 children working in Côte d'Ivoire, the world's biggest producer of cocoa,[1] may be victims of trafficking or slavery.[2] Most attention on this subject has focused on West Africa, which collectively supplies 69 percent of the world's cocoa,[3] and Côte d'Ivoire in particular, which supplies 35 percent of the world's cocoa."<br /><br />Who would've thought? It's amazing how much we *don't* know about what goes on behind the scenes. I'm aware there are concerns about fair-trade producers, but for now it's the best I can do.LBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-65072904339825031122013-09-13T14:12:42.938-05:002013-09-13T14:12:42.938-05:00mike ~ That all sounds quite delicious!
I have a...mike ~ That all sounds quite delicious! <br /><br />I have an unopened bag of Lindt chocolate truffles saved from last Christmas, stashed away somewhere, far from my prying hands. Even International Choc Day will not break my will....or will it? I'm trying to lose a few pounds gained mainly due to needing constant allergy meds (generic Zyrtec), but it's hard going.<br /><br />I wonder if our Jewish brothers and sisters are getting all their choc eating done early in the day then? :-)<br /><br />********************<br /><br />Sonny ~ Greek Yoghurt is the nearest I've come to milk - or chocolate so far today. I love chocolate, all kinds, but I dare not succumb. I have a packet of McVities chocolate Digestive cookies (the Brits' favourite) too - unopened. I will not....no....I will not....<br /><br />*******************<br /><br />LB ~ Now that sounds suitably restrained and delicious at the same time. :-)<br /><br />Not so sure about "sweat of the stars" though..... Maybe - I hope - he meant "sweet of the stars". ;-(Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-26359661005856531762013-09-13T13:40:22.983-05:002013-09-13T13:40:22.983-05:00So maybe this will be my excuse for indulging in a...So maybe this will be my excuse for indulging in a small square of dark chocolate this afternoon. I sprinkle sea salt on mine to bring out the flavor. Plus, there are health benefits associated with indulging in a square or two a day of a dark chocolate rich in antioxidants - *if* the chocolate is organic and at least 70-90% cacao. The more cacoa the better: http://www.naturalnews.com/035035_dark_chocolate_health_benefits_cacao.html<br /><br />"Chocolate is a divine, celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea and universal medicine." -Geronimo Piperni <br /><br />Enjoy!LBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-82102795416361883292013-09-13T09:13:22.488-05:002013-09-13T09:13:22.488-05:00Heavy cream in my coffee this morning.
I'll...<br /><br /> Heavy cream in my coffee this morning.<br /><br /> I'll be sure to work in some chocolate this afternoon:)<br /><br /> My kinda holiday for sure..Sonny Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06926830309207639536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-56789292056748518702013-09-13T08:58:41.194-05:002013-09-13T08:58:41.194-05:00I made a loaf of whole wheat bread this morning......I made a loaf of whole wheat bread this morning...just took it out of the oven. I'll act like an epulone at the epulum! I did sacrifice some very white cow's milk yogurt into the bread without even having prior knowledge of the feast. I'll have two splendid peanut butter sandwiches for lunch with a glass of white cow's milk for assurance.<br /><br />No real chocolate in the house, except for cocoa...too hot & humid here for hot cocoa. I am biking to the grocery store soon, so maybe...!<br /><br />The Jewish Yom Kippur begins at sunset today, too. Day of Atonement...a little expiation goes a long way. mikenoreply@blogger.com