Chocolate: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Summary

The script humorously examines the chocolate industry, highlighting its global worth and the joy it brings consumers, contrasting it with the harsh realities faced by cocoa farmers, particularly in West Africa. It delves into the exploitation and poverty of these farmers, the persistence of child labor, and the industry's failure to meet self-imposed deadlines to eradicate these issues. It calls for stronger legislation and corporate responsibility, suggesting that paying farmers a fair price could be a significant step towards rectifying these systemic problems.

Takeaways

• 🍫 Chocolate is a beloved dessert ingredient and a significant global industry, worth 140 billion dollars a year.
• 😋 The script humorously suggests that chocolate's appeal might be due to phenethylamine, a substance in chocolate that can mimic the effects of an orgasm.
• 👨‍🌾 The majority of cocoa farmers, primarily in West African countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana, have never tasted chocolate because they can't afford it.
• 💰 More than 60% of cocoa farmers do not earn a living income, with many earning below the World Bank's extreme poverty line.
• 🌳 Cocoa is mostly grown on small family-run plots, with labor-intensive harvesting done by hand, often under poor conditions.
• 🔄 The cocoa industry is controlled by a few powerful companies, with a small percentage of the chocolate bar's value reaching the farmer.
• 📉 Attempts to stabilize farmers' earnings through minimum prices have been insufficient and difficult to enforce.
• 🌳 Some farmers, desperate for income, have resorted to illegal farming on protected land, leading to environmental damage known as 'skeleton forests'.
• 👦 The cocoa industry has long been associated with child labor, with some children working in hazardous conditions or trafficked for labor.
• 📊 Despite commitments to eliminate child labor, major chocolate companies have repeatedly missed their self-imposed deadlines.
• 🛑 The script calls for stronger legislation and corporate responsibility to address the exploitation and poverty in the cocoa supply chain.

Q & A

What is the main subject discussed in the script?

The main subject discussed in the script is the chocolate industry, particularly the issues surrounding cocoa farmers, including their low income, the environmental impact of cocoa farming, and the presence of child labor.

What is the significance of phenethylamine in chocolate?

Phenethylamine is a substance in chocolate that slightly elevates blood pressure and heart rate, creating a sensation similar to having an orgasm, which might contribute to people's love for chocolate.

How is the chocolate industry's annual revenue described in the script?

The chocolate industry is described as a 140-billion-dollar-a-year global industry.

What is the situation of cocoa farmers in terms of income?

The majority of cocoa farmers do not earn a living income, with 73 to 90 percent in West African countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana not earning enough, and 30 to 58 percent earning below the World Bank's extreme poverty line.

Why have cocoa farmers not tasted chocolate according to the script?

Cocoa farmers have not tasted chocolate because they cannot afford it, given their low income from selling cocoa beans.

What is the role of cocoa trading companies in the chocolate industry?

Cocoa trading companies act as a bottleneck in the chocolate industry, controlling the flow of cocoa from millions of small holders to major chocolate companies, and they significantly influence the price that farmers receive for their cocoa.

What is the 'Harkin-Engel Protocol' mentioned in the script?

The 'Harkin-Engel Protocol' is a voluntary agreement by the chocolate industry to eliminate the 'worst forms' of child labor from cocoa farming, which was supposed to be achieved by 2005 but has been repeatedly missed.

What is the issue with current child labor monitoring systems used by chocolate companies?

The current child labor monitoring systems are inadequate, as they often fail to detect child labor in supply chains. For example, a documentary crew found child labor at a farm listed on Mondelez's Cocoa Life website.

How does Tony's Chocolonely differ from other chocolate companies in its approach to child labor and farmer income?

Tony's Chocolonely is committed to ensuring its supply chain is free from child or slave labor and pays farmers a premium that covers the gap between the government set price and a living income price, effectively paying almost double the market rate for cocoa beans.

What is the role of third-party organizations in the chocolate industry in relation to child labor and environmental standards?

Third-party organizations certify that farmers who supply them meet certain child labor and environmental standards. However, these certifications are not always reliable due to issues such as advance notice of inspections, which can lead to temporary hiding of child labor practices.

What is the script's suggestion for a potential solution to the issues in the chocolate industry?

The script suggests that chocolate companies should pay farmers more for their cocoa beans, which could help alleviate poverty and reduce the reliance on child labor. It also calls for tough legislation to enforce better practices in the industry.