bcmatson
The personal weblog of Bradley C. Matson.
By Denise Galloway
Holland Sentinel contributor
Posted May 24, 2008 @ 06:00 AM
Holland, MI —
When God provided flakes of bread in the desert, the Israelites were confused. “What is it?” they asked, and in Hebrew, the word for that question is “manna.” The Rev. Dave Guerrin and the Rev. Greg Smith of Manna? church in downtown Holland are always questioning their approach to ministry, so it’s appropriate that the name of the church is a question. Their name also reminds them to depend on God for provision, as the Israelites did. Guerrin notes that God provided enough manna for each day, emphasizing the idea that we have to “live in the present tense.”“Most church growth (plans) are future-oriented,” he says, and “we obsess over things we have no control over.”Guerrin and Smith try to live in the present. They avoid worrying about the outcome, or how many people they attract to the church. Manna? represents a divergence from the business-inspired approach to ministry popular in the 1990s, which used marketing principles to grow congregations. Getting “measurable results,” Smith remembers, was part of his training, and became his approach at church, too.“I lost the adventure of knowing and enjoying God,” he says. “I was looking personally, in my own spiritual life, stumbling along with a hunger to be a part of that kind of community.” Now, he says, they just “roll with it.”Guerrin and Smith intentionally strive to maintain simplicity in their practices and take inspiration primarily from the practices of the early Christian church, rather than business.Part of that simplicity is the “tent-making” approach, which means that both Guerrin and Smith work outside the church. The church budget can remain small because the pastors are not paid full-time salaries, and the church uses its resources to support other priorities.Guerrin attended Trinity Divinity School in Illinois and Reformed Theological Seminary in Florida before helping to start Ridgepoint Church in Holland in the early 1990s. He was senior pastor there for nine years. After leaving Ridgepoint, Guerrin kept a Bible Study going with friends who wanted to be “plugged in” to a close spiritual community. Guerrin now has his own business providing financial and insurance services.Smith has an MBA from UCLA, as well as theological training from Calvin Theological Seminary. In 2000, Guerrin and Smith were introduced by former Hope College Dean of Chapel Ben Patterson, who mentored both of them. Smith was the pastor of Victory Point Church, and both he and Guerrin left their former churches around the same time. Smith has held jobs in advertising and book publishing. He now runs his own business, Black Lake Studio, which provides creative services such as branding, graphic arts and Web design used in advertising.Manna? began as a meeting between three friends: Dave, Greg and their friend, the Rev. Barbara Yandell, a local missions coordinator who is still their co-pastor at Manna? The three met at a coffee shop and committed to study the Bible, share, pray and pursue international outreach together. “We weren’t intending to start a church,” Smith says.“It sort of evolved; it’s never clear to me how it happened,” says Guerrin.The focus of Manna? remains to “promote the spread of the gospel worldwide” although they are conscious not to have a specific “mission statement” or a “target group” as has been common in contemporary church movements. Instead of “goal-setting,” Smith says the group felt God was calling them to be “values-driven.” They decided to let church attendance and structure fall into place as they focused on living their values. “It has left us wonderfully free to be serendipitous and to focus on values,” says Smith.As a result, their primary focus is still simple: Bible study, prayer and meeting together. “There was no pressure to reach a certain number (of attendees) or a certain budget — we never tried to grow, and the room was full,” says Smith. Because of the location of the current building at Ninth and Central, and their former meeting place at the Park Theatre, Manna? was within walking distance for both City Mission and Hope College. “The people who came were all accidental,” says Smith. “You can walk in and sit next to a middle-aged businessman, a homeless guy in recovery or a Hope student — it makes Manna? unique.” Besides international missions, the community offers 12-step recovery groups and opportunities for local bands to play at their building. The atmosphere of their weekend services is relaxed and social.“We’re just a bigger version of what was meeting in the coffee shop,” Smith says.
Holland Sentinel contributor
Posted May 24, 2008 @ 06:00 AM
Holland, MI —
When God provided flakes of bread in the desert, the Israelites were confused. “What is it?” they asked, and in Hebrew, the word for that question is “manna.” The Rev. Dave Guerrin and the Rev. Greg Smith of Manna? church in downtown Holland are always questioning their approach to ministry, so it’s appropriate that the name of the church is a question. Their name also reminds them to depend on God for provision, as the Israelites did. Guerrin notes that God provided enough manna for each day, emphasizing the idea that we have to “live in the present tense.”“Most church growth (plans) are future-oriented,” he says, and “we obsess over things we have no control over.”Guerrin and Smith try to live in the present. They avoid worrying about the outcome, or how many people they attract to the church. Manna? represents a divergence from the business-inspired approach to ministry popular in the 1990s, which used marketing principles to grow congregations. Getting “measurable results,” Smith remembers, was part of his training, and became his approach at church, too.“I lost the adventure of knowing and enjoying God,” he says. “I was looking personally, in my own spiritual life, stumbling along with a hunger to be a part of that kind of community.” Now, he says, they just “roll with it.”Guerrin and Smith intentionally strive to maintain simplicity in their practices and take inspiration primarily from the practices of the early Christian church, rather than business.Part of that simplicity is the “tent-making” approach, which means that both Guerrin and Smith work outside the church. The church budget can remain small because the pastors are not paid full-time salaries, and the church uses its resources to support other priorities.Guerrin attended Trinity Divinity School in Illinois and Reformed Theological Seminary in Florida before helping to start Ridgepoint Church in Holland in the early 1990s. He was senior pastor there for nine years. After leaving Ridgepoint, Guerrin kept a Bible Study going with friends who wanted to be “plugged in” to a close spiritual community. Guerrin now has his own business providing financial and insurance services.Smith has an MBA from UCLA, as well as theological training from Calvin Theological Seminary. In 2000, Guerrin and Smith were introduced by former Hope College Dean of Chapel Ben Patterson, who mentored both of them. Smith was the pastor of Victory Point Church, and both he and Guerrin left their former churches around the same time. Smith has held jobs in advertising and book publishing. He now runs his own business, Black Lake Studio, which provides creative services such as branding, graphic arts and Web design used in advertising.Manna? began as a meeting between three friends: Dave, Greg and their friend, the Rev. Barbara Yandell, a local missions coordinator who is still their co-pastor at Manna? The three met at a coffee shop and committed to study the Bible, share, pray and pursue international outreach together. “We weren’t intending to start a church,” Smith says.“It sort of evolved; it’s never clear to me how it happened,” says Guerrin.The focus of Manna? remains to “promote the spread of the gospel worldwide” although they are conscious not to have a specific “mission statement” or a “target group” as has been common in contemporary church movements. Instead of “goal-setting,” Smith says the group felt God was calling them to be “values-driven.” They decided to let church attendance and structure fall into place as they focused on living their values. “It has left us wonderfully free to be serendipitous and to focus on values,” says Smith.As a result, their primary focus is still simple: Bible study, prayer and meeting together. “There was no pressure to reach a certain number (of attendees) or a certain budget — we never tried to grow, and the room was full,” says Smith. Because of the location of the current building at Ninth and Central, and their former meeting place at the Park Theatre, Manna? was within walking distance for both City Mission and Hope College. “The people who came were all accidental,” says Smith. “You can walk in and sit next to a middle-aged businessman, a homeless guy in recovery or a Hope student — it makes Manna? unique.” Besides international missions, the community offers 12-step recovery groups and opportunities for local bands to play at their building. The atmosphere of their weekend services is relaxed and social.“We’re just a bigger version of what was meeting in the coffee shop,” Smith says.
posted by Bradley Matson # 4:52 PM
Oil dependence: facts and figures from "Set America Free"
How does foreign oil dependence impact our economy and security? Which sector of the economy consumes the most oil? How will China's growing oil dependence affect the U.S.? Click on the headlines below to learn more about the impact of foreign oil dependence on America and the rest of the world.
The Hidden Cost of Oil Brief by Milton Copulos presenting the cost dependence on foreign oil imposes that is not paid at the pump.
How oil money fuels terror It is no coincidence that so much of the cash filling terrorists' coffers come from the oil monarchies in the Persian Gulf. It is also no coincidence that those countries holding the world's largest oil reserves and those generating most of their income from oil exports, are also those with the strongest support for radical Islam. In fact, oil and terrorism are entangled. If not for the West's oil money, most Gulf states would not have had the wealth that allowed them to invest so much in arms procurement and sponsor terrorists organizations.
Threats to Oil Transport Getting oil from the well to the refinery and from there to the service station requires a complex transportation and storage system. Millions of barrels of oil are transported every day in tankers, pipelines and trucks. This transportation system has always been the Achilles heel of the oil industry but it has become even more so since the emergence of global terrorism.
The Future of Oil From now to 2020, world oil consumption will rise by about 60%. Transportation will be the fastest growing oil-consuming sector. The two countries with the highest rate of growth in oil use are China and India, whose combined populations account for a third of humanity. Where are the oil reserves? By 2020 83% of global oil reserves will be controlled by Middle Eastern regimes.
Fueling the dragon: China's race into the oil market With 1.3 billion people, the People's Republic of China is the world's most populous country and the second largest oil consumer. How does China's increasing oil dependence impact the global oil market and for U.S.-China relations?
The Oil Crisis' Impact on the Air Cargo Industry The air transport industry has been hit hard by increases in oil prices. What can be done to reduce the oil dependence of this sector or at least its vulnerability to oil price fluctuations?
Oil demand by sector Did you know that less than 3% of U.S. electricity is generated from oil and that transportation accounts for most of U.S. oil consumption? Click on the headline to look at a piechart.
The oil gap Take a look at the growing oil gap illustrated by this chart: on the one hand the U.S. has just 3% of world oil reserves (including ANWR), and on the other, efficiency is not a panacea
Fuel choice: shifting gears from foreign oil to domestic energy A quick look at how fuel choice can change the equation and profoundly reduce oil dependence.
Nicaragua
How does foreign oil dependence impact our economy and security? Which sector of the economy consumes the most oil? How will China's growing oil dependence affect the U.S.? Click on the headlines below to learn more about the impact of foreign oil dependence on America and the rest of the world.
The Hidden Cost of Oil Brief by Milton Copulos presenting the cost dependence on foreign oil imposes that is not paid at the pump.
How oil money fuels terror It is no coincidence that so much of the cash filling terrorists' coffers come from the oil monarchies in the Persian Gulf. It is also no coincidence that those countries holding the world's largest oil reserves and those generating most of their income from oil exports, are also those with the strongest support for radical Islam. In fact, oil and terrorism are entangled. If not for the West's oil money, most Gulf states would not have had the wealth that allowed them to invest so much in arms procurement and sponsor terrorists organizations.
Threats to Oil Transport Getting oil from the well to the refinery and from there to the service station requires a complex transportation and storage system. Millions of barrels of oil are transported every day in tankers, pipelines and trucks. This transportation system has always been the Achilles heel of the oil industry but it has become even more so since the emergence of global terrorism.
The Future of Oil From now to 2020, world oil consumption will rise by about 60%. Transportation will be the fastest growing oil-consuming sector. The two countries with the highest rate of growth in oil use are China and India, whose combined populations account for a third of humanity. Where are the oil reserves? By 2020 83% of global oil reserves will be controlled by Middle Eastern regimes.
Fueling the dragon: China's race into the oil market With 1.3 billion people, the People's Republic of China is the world's most populous country and the second largest oil consumer. How does China's increasing oil dependence impact the global oil market and for U.S.-China relations?
The Oil Crisis' Impact on the Air Cargo Industry The air transport industry has been hit hard by increases in oil prices. What can be done to reduce the oil dependence of this sector or at least its vulnerability to oil price fluctuations?
Oil demand by sector Did you know that less than 3% of U.S. electricity is generated from oil and that transportation accounts for most of U.S. oil consumption? Click on the headline to look at a piechart.
The oil gap Take a look at the growing oil gap illustrated by this chart: on the one hand the U.S. has just 3% of world oil reserves (including ANWR), and on the other, efficiency is not a panacea
Fuel choice: shifting gears from foreign oil to domestic energy A quick look at how fuel choice can change the equation and profoundly reduce oil dependence.
posted by Bradley Matson # 8:31 PM
Nicaragua is a beautiful country with wonderful people. We spent our time serving the ministries of the local Church and loving on the people of Managua. In the lush landscape of Nicaragua the roads are bumpy and the people are friendly. Part of our team walked along side local school teachers and shared new teaching methods while the other part of the team helped paint the interior of a ministry building. A local family bought a coffee plantation to create a ministry to house teenage mothers in the area.
The coffee plantation may be able to generate enough income to fund the operational costs of the ministry if adjacent farm land is acquired and modern farming techniques are implemented. I am developing a business plan to assist in making this a reality.
While Nicaragua has a strong majority of Christians populating the county it remands largely undeveloped and materially poor. Nicaragua is primed for economic growth in tourism, manufacturing, and other industries. Nicaragua may serve as a strategic base for deploying empowered Nicaraguans within the local church to transcend cultural barriers and evangelism within unreached, underdeveloped regions.
God be with the Nicaraguan Church. Glory be to God.
The coffee plantation may be able to generate enough income to fund the operational costs of the ministry if adjacent farm land is acquired and modern farming techniques are implemented. I am developing a business plan to assist in making this a reality.
While Nicaragua has a strong majority of Christians populating the county it remands largely undeveloped and materially poor. Nicaragua is primed for economic growth in tourism, manufacturing, and other industries. Nicaragua may serve as a strategic base for deploying empowered Nicaraguans within the local church to transcend cultural barriers and evangelism within unreached, underdeveloped regions.
God be with the Nicaraguan Church. Glory be to God.
posted by Bradley Matson # 12:00 AM
Sunday, June 08, 2008 Website
The Portfolio and Thoughts sections of the site now have a new look. The Portfolio section also now contains a link to the IBAM Course- Thailand 2008 page.
posted by Bradley Matson # 12:21 AM
Information on Managua Nicaragua: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managua
Scheduling Info
posted by Bradley Matson # 7:57 PM
Note: Bradley will be out of the office Friday June 13th through Monday, June 23 . All communications will be returned promptly on Tuesday June 24th. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Intro to Business as Mission Course
posted by Bradley Matson # 7:46 PM
YWAM Business as Mission Course finishes well
Second six-week training scheduled for 2009
YWAM’s Business As Mission Resource Team launched the first ever Introduction to Business As Mission (iBAM) Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand earlier this year. The iBAM course is designed to take men and women with a calling to business and equip them to become cross-cultural entrepreneurs for the Kingdom of God.
They came from Togo, Cameroon, Netherlands, Germany, Central Asia, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States to learn more about becoming cross-cultural entrepreneurs. Twenty people participated in the first-ever Introduction to Business as Mission Course (iBAM 2008) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which began on January 26 and ran for six weeks. Among the participants were Youth With A Mission workers, missionaries from other agencies and business professionals. Seasoned business practitioners shared their experiences and coached course participants, most of whom came with a vision to develop their own start-up projects. Each student enjoyed a focused learning environment that prepared them with the skills they need to achieve their business goals. The bulk of the teaching came from practitioners with much first-hand experience in the field; as a result, it was authentic and passionate, not just theoretical.
Here is some of the feedback we received about the course from participants:
“The iBAM course gave me a better understanding and through the course I got a clearer view of my business and transformational goals…… I’m better able to integrate biblical thinking into my business.” Anne M.L.“The iBAM course provided a variety of experienced BAM practitioners, coaches and resources in one place for a period of intensive BAM equipping.” Bradley M.“Neil’s teaching this week was delivered ‘Asian-style’ and included a dynamic mix of biblical principles, first-hand BAM experience with words of wisdom, stories and cultural training. The most impressive of all was Neil’s commitment to live out his passion for God in word and deed- it was evident in everything he did this week and left an impact on us all.” iBAM Week 3 Report“Years of experience gained in six weeks.” Evan K.A key element of the course was a week-long field trip to visit established business-as-mission companies. Participants interacted with practitioners in their own context, seeing how principles discussed in the classroom were applied to real businesses operating in challenging cultures. The 20 participants divided into four groups and traveled to China, Cambodia, Indonesia and Northern Thailand.
Here are some comments about the week-long field trip:
“Real needs, real people, real profit, real glory—it’s a REAL enterprise.” iBAM participant.“Through this trip, four classmates and I soaked up the Chinese culture as we met with Chinese business people, interviewed BAM practitioners, and learned the realities of doing kingdom business where unique challenges exist.” iBAM participant, China Field Trip.“One of the lessons from this course, highlighted for me practically during the field trip, is the value of finding locals, training them and releasing them in their gifts.” iBAM participant, Indonesia Field Trip.NEXT DATES: The Business as Mission Team will be offering the 6-week training course on Business as Missions next year from January 24 to March 7, 2009. This course is designed to equip YWAMers, missionaries, students and business professionals who want to be launched into Business as Mission. The training course will be hosted in Chiang Mai, Thailand due to its central location in proximity to established business as mission projects. To download an application pack or more information visit www.businessasmisison.com/pages/thecourseHere are more comments from iBAM 2008 participants:
“The business of people and nations is the business of God.”“It was great to see all the families.”“I was blessed by the course and the whole set up.”“The staff did an amazing job! I am impressed with how well they sought the Lord and heard from Him. Thank you!”“Your passion for the Lord and BAM is evident!”“The iBAM course equipped me to live out my passion for business ministry in the world for the glory of God.”
The Business As Mission Resource Team works in close partnership with experienced BAM practitioners and seasoned business professionals to facilitate the six-week course. Experienced BAM practitioners, lecturers, and business professionals will teach and facilitate learning processes throughout the course providing support as you develop your business plans and personal development goals. A key element of the course is a weeklong field trip, where you will visit business as mission companies working out the reality of building the Kingdom of God in business. For more info visit www.businessasmisison.com/pages/thecourse
chocolate
Second six-week training scheduled for 2009
YWAM’s Business As Mission Resource Team launched the first ever Introduction to Business As Mission (iBAM) Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand earlier this year. The iBAM course is designed to take men and women with a calling to business and equip them to become cross-cultural entrepreneurs for the Kingdom of God.
They came from Togo, Cameroon, Netherlands, Germany, Central Asia, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States to learn more about becoming cross-cultural entrepreneurs. Twenty people participated in the first-ever Introduction to Business as Mission Course (iBAM 2008) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which began on January 26 and ran for six weeks. Among the participants were Youth With A Mission workers, missionaries from other agencies and business professionals. Seasoned business practitioners shared their experiences and coached course participants, most of whom came with a vision to develop their own start-up projects. Each student enjoyed a focused learning environment that prepared them with the skills they need to achieve their business goals. The bulk of the teaching came from practitioners with much first-hand experience in the field; as a result, it was authentic and passionate, not just theoretical.
Here is some of the feedback we received about the course from participants:
“The iBAM course gave me a better understanding and through the course I got a clearer view of my business and transformational goals…… I’m better able to integrate biblical thinking into my business.” Anne M.L.“The iBAM course provided a variety of experienced BAM practitioners, coaches and resources in one place for a period of intensive BAM equipping.” Bradley M.“Neil’s teaching this week was delivered ‘Asian-style’ and included a dynamic mix of biblical principles, first-hand BAM experience with words of wisdom, stories and cultural training. The most impressive of all was Neil’s commitment to live out his passion for God in word and deed- it was evident in everything he did this week and left an impact on us all.” iBAM Week 3 Report“Years of experience gained in six weeks.” Evan K.A key element of the course was a week-long field trip to visit established business-as-mission companies. Participants interacted with practitioners in their own context, seeing how principles discussed in the classroom were applied to real businesses operating in challenging cultures. The 20 participants divided into four groups and traveled to China, Cambodia, Indonesia and Northern Thailand.
Here are some comments about the week-long field trip:
“Real needs, real people, real profit, real glory—it’s a REAL enterprise.” iBAM participant.“Through this trip, four classmates and I soaked up the Chinese culture as we met with Chinese business people, interviewed BAM practitioners, and learned the realities of doing kingdom business where unique challenges exist.” iBAM participant, China Field Trip.“One of the lessons from this course, highlighted for me practically during the field trip, is the value of finding locals, training them and releasing them in their gifts.” iBAM participant, Indonesia Field Trip.NEXT DATES: The Business as Mission Team will be offering the 6-week training course on Business as Missions next year from January 24 to March 7, 2009. This course is designed to equip YWAMers, missionaries, students and business professionals who want to be launched into Business as Mission. The training course will be hosted in Chiang Mai, Thailand due to its central location in proximity to established business as mission projects. To download an application pack or more information visit www.businessasmisison.com/pages/thecourseHere are more comments from iBAM 2008 participants:
“The business of people and nations is the business of God.”“It was great to see all the families.”“I was blessed by the course and the whole set up.”“The staff did an amazing job! I am impressed with how well they sought the Lord and heard from Him. Thank you!”“Your passion for the Lord and BAM is evident!”“The iBAM course equipped me to live out my passion for business ministry in the world for the glory of God.”
The Business As Mission Resource Team works in close partnership with experienced BAM practitioners and seasoned business professionals to facilitate the six-week course. Experienced BAM practitioners, lecturers, and business professionals will teach and facilitate learning processes throughout the course providing support as you develop your business plans and personal development goals. A key element of the course is a weeklong field trip, where you will visit business as mission companies working out the reality of building the Kingdom of God in business. For more info visit www.businessasmisison.com/pages/thecourse
posted by Bradley Matson # 7:40 PM
HOW MUCH CHOCOLATE DO YOU EAT IN A WEEK?
One form of trafficking is the use of children to harvest the cocoa beans on farms in Cote D'Ivoire. These children are likely to be working to make your chocolate.
Where did all the chocolate come from? Nearly half the world's chocolate is made from cocoa grown in the Cote D'Ivoire, in Africa.
AN ESTIMATED 12,000 children have been trafficked into cocoa farms in Cote D'Ivoire When we buy chocolate we are being forced to be oppressors ourselves as we do not know that the chocolate we eat is 'traffik free'.
SHOW US THAT YOUR CHOCOLATE IS TRAFFIK FREE We want all chocolate companies to be able to stamp onto their chocolate wrappers a symbol that tells us the cocoa beans have not been harvested by trafficked labour. We can then choose to eat chocolate that we know is TRAFFIK FREE.
Diabate and Traoré had left their village in Mali to go to Ivory Coast looking for enough money to afford a bicycle, but they were sold to a man who had paid 50,000 West African Francs (about £50) for the two boys and he wanted the money back—in labour. The boys from Sirkasso met about twenty others in the same predicament and learned that no one was ever paid. They slept in a rectangle-shaped mud hut that initially had windows but when some boys found they could escape during the night, the windows were sealed shut. Diabate and Traoré remember eating mostly bananas, though they would gobble up the cocoa beans, as others did, whenever they got the chance. Many months passed, and the boys forgot what the purpose had once been for this adventure. Life became a struggle to exist, then hardened to despair. They gave up thinking of escape. They were under constant threat of beatings if they were caught trying to flee—and they had seen several boys treated savagely—they were actually spooked by a belief that they were under a spell. Read more in Carol Off's book "Bitter Chocolate".
STOP THE TRAFFIK Chocolate Campaign is about ACTION and CHANGE.
The customer needs to know who picked the cocoa beans that make chocolate.
The retailer needs to know that their customers will change what they buy to force the chocolate industry to change their practices.
The chocolate manufacturers need to realise that this is the time to:SIGN THE CHOCOLATE PLEDGEKEEP THEIR ORIGINAL PROMISESAnd GIVE US TRAFFIK FREE CHOCOLATE NOW
WHAT TO DODrown your town in coupons! Download our coupon by following this link. Give this to the retailer when you pay for your chocolate. Carry the coupons around in your wallet, purse or bag and every time you buy chocolate—give it in. Let all the chocolate retailers in your neighbourhood know why you are buying fair trade chocolate and encourage them to sign the pledge, join the campaign and provide chocolate that is TRAFFIK FREE.
Follow this link for further chocolate campaign actions
BREAKING NEWS—A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
On 10th October 2007, major global players in the food industry initiated a programme for a more sustainable cocoa supply chain in the Ivory Coast, to improve social and environmental practices. This is a key decision that could lead to ending the trafficking of children into slavery on cocoa farms.
One of these global players is Cargill, an international provider of food and other products and services in 66 countries, and a major buyer and processor of cocoa beans from Ivory Coast. (This could affect many of the chocolate products that you buy in your supermarket)
At the beginning of 2008, a draft farm level certification code will be tested in pilot projects in Ivory Coast. Local stakeholders including farmers, charities, government bodies, and others will be involved in its development. By the end of 2008, the first independent certifiers will have been trained and the final code will be implemented. Throughout 2009, the project will certify the first 10,000 farmers in Ivory Coast, and pilot projects will be carried out in other producing countries to customise the programme to their specific circumstances.
THIS IS BIG NEWS
This is a first step … and STOP THE TRAFFIK welcomes this new initiative by Cargill and calls to see this become a reality.
It is critical we keep pressure up on this issue. We are making a difference. We will not stop until the trafficking has been STOPPED.
TOP
THE COCOA PLEDGE
We want our chocolate to be Traffik Free. We have developed this into a Cocoa Pledge for use by the industry. Read it by going to the link at: www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolateDownloads/stt_pledge.pdf
We are calling all chocolate manufacturers and retailers to SIGN the pledge.
TOP
GLOBAL CATCH UP
The Chocolate Campaign is global. All over the world from Australia to America, Belgium to Burnley there has been a grassroots movement of thousands of people fighting hard to raise awareness and fight for Traffik Free chocolate. Every day it is growing.
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
Do you remember the ICI (International Cocoa Initiative)? This is the body that was set up in 2001 as part of the Harkin-Engel protocol, to help fight human trafficking in the cocoa supply chain. Although the ICI has worked to establish community projects to fight trafficking, Industry has not supported them enough to make a significant impact. Industry has also failed to deliver on certifying that only farms free from trafficked labour can supply the cocoa that makes our chocolate. Now Industry only talks about making a survey and reporting progress—a far cry from the certification that they promised. We are placing our Cocoa Pledge, which has growing international support (see the web site), as the best response to a failed industry protocol.
One form of trafficking is the use of children to harvest the cocoa beans on farms in Cote D'Ivoire. These children are likely to be working to make your chocolate.
Where did all the chocolate come from? Nearly half the world's chocolate is made from cocoa grown in the Cote D'Ivoire, in Africa.
AN ESTIMATED 12,000 children have been trafficked into cocoa farms in Cote D'Ivoire When we buy chocolate we are being forced to be oppressors ourselves as we do not know that the chocolate we eat is 'traffik free'.
SHOW US THAT YOUR CHOCOLATE IS TRAFFIK FREE We want all chocolate companies to be able to stamp onto their chocolate wrappers a symbol that tells us the cocoa beans have not been harvested by trafficked labour. We can then choose to eat chocolate that we know is TRAFFIK FREE.
Diabate and Traoré had left their village in Mali to go to Ivory Coast looking for enough money to afford a bicycle, but they were sold to a man who had paid 50,000 West African Francs (about £50) for the two boys and he wanted the money back—in labour. The boys from Sirkasso met about twenty others in the same predicament and learned that no one was ever paid. They slept in a rectangle-shaped mud hut that initially had windows but when some boys found they could escape during the night, the windows were sealed shut. Diabate and Traoré remember eating mostly bananas, though they would gobble up the cocoa beans, as others did, whenever they got the chance. Many months passed, and the boys forgot what the purpose had once been for this adventure. Life became a struggle to exist, then hardened to despair. They gave up thinking of escape. They were under constant threat of beatings if they were caught trying to flee—and they had seen several boys treated savagely—they were actually spooked by a belief that they were under a spell. Read more in Carol Off's book "Bitter Chocolate".
STOP THE TRAFFIK Chocolate Campaign is about ACTION and CHANGE.
The customer needs to know who picked the cocoa beans that make chocolate.
The retailer needs to know that their customers will change what they buy to force the chocolate industry to change their practices.
The chocolate manufacturers need to realise that this is the time to:SIGN THE CHOCOLATE PLEDGEKEEP THEIR ORIGINAL PROMISESAnd GIVE US TRAFFIK FREE CHOCOLATE NOW
WHAT TO DODrown your town in coupons! Download our coupon by following this link. Give this to the retailer when you pay for your chocolate. Carry the coupons around in your wallet, purse or bag and every time you buy chocolate—give it in. Let all the chocolate retailers in your neighbourhood know why you are buying fair trade chocolate and encourage them to sign the pledge, join the campaign and provide chocolate that is TRAFFIK FREE.
Follow this link for further chocolate campaign actions
BREAKING NEWS—A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
On 10th October 2007, major global players in the food industry initiated a programme for a more sustainable cocoa supply chain in the Ivory Coast, to improve social and environmental practices. This is a key decision that could lead to ending the trafficking of children into slavery on cocoa farms.
One of these global players is Cargill, an international provider of food and other products and services in 66 countries, and a major buyer and processor of cocoa beans from Ivory Coast. (This could affect many of the chocolate products that you buy in your supermarket)
At the beginning of 2008, a draft farm level certification code will be tested in pilot projects in Ivory Coast. Local stakeholders including farmers, charities, government bodies, and others will be involved in its development. By the end of 2008, the first independent certifiers will have been trained and the final code will be implemented. Throughout 2009, the project will certify the first 10,000 farmers in Ivory Coast, and pilot projects will be carried out in other producing countries to customise the programme to their specific circumstances.
THIS IS BIG NEWS
This is a first step … and STOP THE TRAFFIK welcomes this new initiative by Cargill and calls to see this become a reality.
It is critical we keep pressure up on this issue. We are making a difference. We will not stop until the trafficking has been STOPPED.
TOP
THE COCOA PLEDGE
We want our chocolate to be Traffik Free. We have developed this into a Cocoa Pledge for use by the industry. Read it by going to the link at: www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolateDownloads/stt_pledge.pdf
We are calling all chocolate manufacturers and retailers to SIGN the pledge.
TOP
GLOBAL CATCH UP
The Chocolate Campaign is global. All over the world from Australia to America, Belgium to Burnley there has been a grassroots movement of thousands of people fighting hard to raise awareness and fight for Traffik Free chocolate. Every day it is growing.
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
Do you remember the ICI (International Cocoa Initiative)? This is the body that was set up in 2001 as part of the Harkin-Engel protocol, to help fight human trafficking in the cocoa supply chain. Although the ICI has worked to establish community projects to fight trafficking, Industry has not supported them enough to make a significant impact. Industry has also failed to deliver on certifying that only farms free from trafficked labour can supply the cocoa that makes our chocolate. Now Industry only talks about making a survey and reporting progress—a far cry from the certification that they promised. We are placing our Cocoa Pledge, which has growing international support (see the web site), as the best response to a failed industry protocol.
posted by Bradley Matson # 8:33 AM
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