I'm sure many people are aware that slavery still goes on, however, how many have heard about its connection to the chocolate industry?

More here...

I'd been aware that slavery was still going on, of course, but I'd never heard of it being so widespread in the chocolate industry. Thanks for posting the link, Lanni.

I was puzzled by the end of the story - the filmmakers insist that a boycott of chocolate would not be effective. What is one supposed to do? What other pressure can consumers bring to bear on chocolate companies?

Wherever possible I try to buy Fair Trade goods. The producers get a much fairer share of the profits, and the middle men don't get richer at their expense.

Fair Trade goods worldwide can be sourced here

Here in Britain some chocolate firms, notably Cadbury's (of Cadbury Schweppes), are making a point of only buying cocoa that has not been grown with the use of child labour. They seem to know which sources of cocoa are OK from this point of view and which not. However, corporations that buy on the London commodity market, rather than direct from source, presumably have no way of knowing. This suggests to me that the international commodity markets need to clean up their act.