Tricky Questions

• MARS: "We are part of the Harkin-Engel Protocol / International Cocoa Initiative / World Cocoa Forum"

  Your Answer: I know you signed the Harkin-Engel Protocol in 2001 and some small-scale projects were launched as a result. But those projects are nowhere near meeting your promise of eradicating forced labor and trafficking from the making of cocoa in West Africa. The 2005 deadline of that Protocol was missed and then postponed until July 2008. This second deadline was only reached because the hard, most meaningful parts of the protocol were redefined or taken out altogether.

• MARS: "We are part of the UTZ Certified process"

  Your Answer: I know you're involved in the UTZ Certified process, but as you have not actually committed to buying their beans once that project starts, it hardly qualifies as a real commitment to stopping the use of trafficked children either.

• MARS: "We are running the IMPACT program"

  Your Answer: I also know about the IMPACT program but that is just small scale, and there is no independent certification, which means we still have no assurance that child labor is not being used.

  CONTINUED CALLER RESPONSE:

  In other words, you have done some work, but it's all small scale work compared to the size of the problem. And there's still no independent certification to verify you are doing what you claim to be doing. You need to be delivering a product that is free of human trafficking, that is transparent in its production so we can see you are living up to your promises and commitments. NEXT GO TO: RED BOX on the main script, and start the line with "Can you tell me when..."

• MARS: "It's really hard to get it right"

  Your Answer: I realise that it isn't easy. But we're talking about the issue of people, often children, being trafficked and forced to live and work as slaves. Even if it's hard to do, it's your moral imperative to put an end to this practice. NEXT GO TO: RED BOX on the main script, and start the line with "Can you tell me when..."

• MARS: "All the info is on our website"

  Your Answer: I've read on your website (www.cocoasustainability.mars.com/) about the different processes, protocols and programs you are signed up to. I realise that there are some initiatives underway but it's all small scale work compared to the size of the problem. And there's still no independent certification to verify that you are doing what you claim to be doing.
  You need to be delivering a product that is free of human trafficking and that is transparent in its production so we can see you are living up to your promises and commitments. It's been 8 years since you signed the Harkin-Engel protocol and you still haven't made significant progress. Consumers need to know when you can assure us that no trafficking is used to make Mars bars. NEXT GO TO: RED BOX on the main script, and start the line with "Can you tell me when..."

• MARS: "Let me send you some more information by e-mail/post"

  Your Answer: Thanks, that would be interesting but it doesn't answer my question. I want to know when you will live up to your promise and assure me you're not using trafficked children to grow the cocoa beans that make your Mars bars and other products. You need to be delivering a product that is free of human trafficking, and that is transparent in its production so we can see you are living up to your promises and commitments. Unless you can tell me that the information you propose to send delivers on that promise, please do not send me anything at all. NEXT GO TO: RED BOX on the main script, and start the line with "Can you tell me when..."