Slavery in the Chocolate Industry
Slavery in the Chocolate Industry
What a systematic, corporate, an individual and ethical issues raised by this case? The systematic ethical issues raised by this case include economical, political, and legal questions. Let us first look at the economical repercussions. Would it be economically logical not to do any business with these countries? The answer is no, considering close to half of the world’s chocolate is made from the cocoa beans that are grown in the Ivory Coast and Ghana. If we were to refuse to do any business with these countries or the people associated with these countries, the costs of the products may be un-affordable to consumers. As far as political issues, I’m sure we’re not the only country who does business with these other countries, and if we stop doing business with the ivory coast and Ghana the other countries that also do business with them may stop doing business with us. The last systematic issue raised is legal. As stated in the article slavery on the farms is in illegal in the Ivory Coast. Whether it is or how well the laws are enforced is for the most part out of our control.
In your view, is the kind of slavery discussed in the case absolutely wrong no matter what, or is it relatively wrong, i.e., if what happens to live in a society like ours that disapproves of slavery? I feel slavery of any kind is wrong whether the society approves or disapproves of it. However, throughout history slavery has been a common practice of most societies across the world. If the young boys in this case had been treated better, for example better working conditions, better sleeping conditions, better living conditions, and better treatment in general would this article ever have appeared? Probably not, I think the major moral issue here is the treatment of the boys.
Who shares in the moral responsibility for the slavery occurring in the chocolate industry: African farmers? African governments? American chocolate
What a systematic, corporate, an individual and ethical issues raised by this case? The systematic ethical issues raised by this case include economical, political, and legal questions. Let us first look at the economical repercussions. Would it be economically logical not to do any business with these countries? The answer is no, considering close to half of the world’s chocolate is made from the cocoa beans that are grown in the Ivory Coast and Ghana. If we were to refuse to do any business with these countries or the people associated with these countries, the costs of the products may be un-affordable to consumers. As far as political issues, I’m sure we’re not the only country who does business with these other countries, and if we stop doing business with the ivory coast and Ghana the other countries that also do business with them may stop doing business with us. The last systematic issue raised is legal. As stated in the article slavery on the farms is in illegal in the Ivory Coast. Whether it is or how well the laws are enforced is for the most part out of our control.
In your view, is the kind of slavery discussed in the case absolutely wrong no matter what, or is it relatively wrong, i.e., if what happens to live in a society like ours that disapproves of slavery? I feel slavery of any kind is wrong whether the society approves or disapproves of it. However, throughout history slavery has been a common practice of most societies across the world. If the young boys in this case had been treated better, for example better working conditions, better sleeping conditions, better living conditions, and better treatment in general would this article ever have appeared? Probably not, I think the major moral issue here is the treatment of the boys.
Who shares in the moral responsibility for the slavery occurring in the chocolate industry: African farmers? African governments? American chocolate