♪ ♪
[APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK
TONIGHT."
I'M JOHN OLIVER, THANKS SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
ISRAEL'S WAR WITH HAMAS
CONTINUED, WITH HUNDREDS OF
HOSTAGES STILL
UNACCOUNTED FOR, WHILE THE
COUNTRY CONTINUES ITS RELENTLESS
BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN GAZA.
MEANWHILE, IN WASHINGTON,
REPUBLICANS FINALLY CHOSE A
NEW HOUSE SPEAKER, MIKE JOHNSON,
A MAN WITH RESTING
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FACE.
VERY LITTLE WAS KNOWN ABOUT
JOHNSON BEFORE THIS WEEK --
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS EVEN SAID,
"I WAS GOING TO GOOGLE HIM THIS
MORNING."
BUT WHEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY STARTED
DOING THAT, THE RESULTS WEREN'T
GREAT.
>> BEFORE ENTERING OFFICE,
JOHNSON CALLED ABORTION "A
HOLOCAUST" THAT
HAS BEEN REPEATED EVERY DAY FOR
32 YEARS, SINCE 1973'S
ROE VERSUS WADE.
AS A CONGRESSMAN, HE'S
CO-SPONSORED AT LEAST THREE
BILLS THAT WOULD BAN THE
PROCEDURE NATIONWIDE.
JOHNSON IS ALSO STAUNCHLY
ANTI-GAY RIGHT.
IN 2004, HE CALLED HOMOSEXUALITY
"INHERENTLY UNNATURAL" AND VOTED
AGAINST LEGALIZING SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE.
>> John: WOW.
ALTHOUGH, LET'S FACE IT, IT'S
NOT LIKE THE NEW REPUBLICAN
SPEAKER "WASN'T" GOING
TO HAVE A LAUNDRY LIST OF
HORRIFYING OPINIONS.
IT'D BE "MORE" SURPRISING IF HE
THREW A COUPLE OF GOOD ONES IN
THERE, TOO.
"HE BELIEVES ABORTION IS A
HOLOCAUST, THAT FRIDAY SHOULD BE
PART OF THE WEEKEND, GAY
MARRIAGE IS INHERENTLY
UNNATURAL, WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN
STEM AND THERE SHOULD BE PARKS
WHERE ADULTS CAN RIDE DOWN THE
GIANT INFLATABLE SLIDE
THEY USE WHEN PLANES CRASH."
AND I'M SURE THERE'LL BE MORE TO
SAY ABOUT JOHNSON GOING FORWARD,
BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE GOING TO TURN
TO ARGENTINA.
BIRTHPLACE OF BOTH THE POPE, AND
THE ACTUAL GOD.
ARGENTINA IS SUFFERING A SEVERE
ECONOMIC CRISIS -- WITH
INFLATION RUNNING CLOSE TO 140
PERCENT.
IT HELD ITS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION LAST SUNDAY, AND AS NO
CANDIDATE WON
OUTRIGHT, THERE'LL NOW BE A
RUNOFF BETWEEN THE TOP TWO
CANDIDATES.
ONE IS THE CENTER-LEFT FINANCE
MINISTER
WHOSE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WIDELY
BLAMED FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL
CRISIS.
AND THE OTHER, JAVIER MILEI --
WHO, YES, DOES LOOK LIKE THIS
-- WELL, I'LL LET INTRODUCE
HIMSELF.
>> "HI!
I AM GENERAL ANCAP.
I COME FROM LIBERLAND."
"MY MISSION IS TO KICK THE
EVER-LOVING SHIT OUT OF
KEYNESIAN AND COLLECTIVIST
FUCKERS TRYING TO RUIN
OUR LIVES."
>> John: YEAH, JUST A CLASSIC,
RUN-OF-THE-MILL
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, DRESSED
LIKE MR. PEANUT DRESSED AS A
WIZARD DRESSED AS
BATMAN, PLEDGING TO KICK THE
SHIT OUT OF "KEYNESIANS."
IF I HAD ONE NOTE FOR THAT
SUPERHERO, IT'S
THAT JOHN MAYNARD KANES PROBABLY
ISN'T THE MOST COMPELLING
SUPER-NEMESIS.
FEW ECONOMISTS ARE.
THERE'S A REASON THE AVENGERS
FOUGHT THANOS AND NOT ALAN
GREENSPAN.
BUT MILEI IS A LOT.
"CAPTAIN ANCAP" IS PRESUMABLY A
REFERENCE TO HIS POLITICAL
PHILOSOPHY OF
ANARCHO-CAPITALISM -- "A STRAND
OF LIBERTARIANISM THAT SEEKS TO
ABOLISH THE STATE IN FAVOR OF
UNFETTERED
FREE MARKETS."
AND HE CAMPAIGNED ON HEAVY CUTS,
SUGGESTING SLASHING PUBLIC
SPENDING BY 15% OF GDP
AND ELIMINATING MOST TAXES.
HE ALSO HAS A CONTROVERSIAL PLAN
TO SWAP THE COUNTRY'S CURRENCY
FOR THE US
DOLLAR, HAS SAID HE WANTS TO
"BLOW UP" THE CENTRAL BANK, AND
HAS EVEN SMASHED MODELS OF IT IN
CAMPAIGN VIDEOS AND ALSO IN
PINATA FORM IN TV
APPEARANCES.
HE'S ALSO SYMBOLIZED HIS DESIRE
TO SLASH THE GOVERNMENT BY
WAVING CHAINSAWS AROUND, AN
IMAGE HIS SUPPORTERS HAVE RUN
WITH, WEARING CHAINSAW MASKS TO
VOTE FOR HIM, AND EVEN WHILE
DOING INTERVIEWS.
>> THE FIGHT CONTINUES FOR
JAVIER MILEI, FAR-RIGHT POPULIST
WHO WANTS TO SEE SPENDING
SLASHED.
THE CHAINSAW HAS BECOME A SYMBOL
OF THIS PLEDGE.
>> MILEI IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT
THAT HASN'T BEEN TESTED BEFORE.
>> John: OKAY!
NOT TO BREAK MY ONE RULE AND
ARGUE WITH A GUY DRESSED AS A
CHAINSAW, BUT, LOTS OF IDEAS
HAVEN'T BEEN TESTED BEFORE.
WE ALSO HAVEN'T TRIED
ALL-TRAMPOLINE RETIREMENT HOMES,
OR LETTING RACOONS BE CHIEF OF
SURGERY.
THAT'S BECAUSE SOME IDEAS ARE
JUST BAD, AND I'D ARGUE MAYBE
GIVING CONTROL OF
THE THIRD LARGEST ECONOMY IN
LATIN AMERICA TO A GUY WHO LOOKS
LIKE HE WAS ESCORTED
OUT OF A COMIC-CON PANEL FOR
ASKING SCARLET JOHANNSON TOO
MANY QUESTIONS
MIGHT BE ONE OF THEM.
AND IT'S NOT JUST HIS COSTUMES
AND PROPS THAT ARE COLORFUL --
TAKE THIS TALK-SHOW
INTERVIEW, WHERE HE GOES INTO
MORE DETAIL ABOUT HIS SEX LIFE
THAN YOU ARE
POSSIBLY EXPECTING.
>> IN TANTRA, LESS THAN 45
MINUTES IS CONSIDERED PREMATURE
EJACULATION.
>> LESS THAN HOW MUCH?
>> 45 MINUTES.
EACH MAN HAS HIS OWN DYNAMIC.
IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, I
EJACULATE ONCE EVERY THREE
MONTHS.
>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
>> John: IS IT INCREDIBLE?
I THINK IT MIGHT ACTUALLY
BE EXTREMELY CREDIBLE.
BECAUSE I COMPLETELY BELIEVE
THAT THE GUY WE SAW SCREAMING AT
DEAD ECONOMISTS, SMASHING
MINIATURE BANKS ON TV, AND
WAVING A CHAINSAW IN THE STREETS
MAY BE A LITTLE, AND I'M SORRY
FOR SAYING THIS,
BACKED UP.
AND THEN THERE'S MILEI'S
OBSESSION WITH
HIS DOGS.
HE'S CONSTANTLY POSING FOR
PHOTOS WITH
THEM, OR HOLDING UP PORTRAITS
GIFTED BY HIS SUPPORTERS.
JUST WATCH AS THIS INTERVIEW ON
A TALK SHOW GETS TOTALLY
DERAILED WHEN HE SEES A PHOTO OF
HIS DOG CONAN.
YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S
BEING SAID HERE -- I PROMISE,
YOU'LL PICK UP
THE GIST OF IT.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> John: THAT IS PRETTY
LIKABLE.
IT IS HARD FOR ME TO CRITICIZE
THAT BECAUSE THAT IS HOW I
RESPOND IF I EVER SEE A PICTURE
OF CONAN.
IT'S CONAN!
THE POINT IS, WE ALL LOVE THINGS
TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY
COMPLETELY DISTRACT US,
WHENEVER THEY --
IT'S CONAN.
IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT HE
FAILS TO PAY ATTENTION.
>> QUIT STARING AT ME, JOHN!
I'M NOT A PIECE OF MEAT!
>> John: NO, OF COURSE YOU'RE
NOT.
I'M SORRY, CONAN.
I TRULY APOLOGIZE.
ANYWAY, LIKE I SAID: THE THINGS
WE LOVE CAN BE DISTRACTING.
SO IT'S CLEAR: MILEI LOVES HIS
DOGS.
BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW: WHILE I'VE
BEEN SAYING "DOGS," I REALLY
SHOULD HAVE JUST
SAID "DOG," BECAUSE ALL OF THEM
ARE GENETIC COPIES OF HIS ONE
FORMER DOG, CONAN.
AND THE STORY GETS EVEN WEIRDER.
BECAUSE CALLS HIS CLONED DOGS --
OF WHICH THERE ARE AT LEAST FOUR
"THE BEST STRATEGISTS IN THE
WORLD", AND
ACCORDING TO ONE BIOGRAPHER,
TRUSTS THEM TO A GENUINE FAULT.
>> THE DOGS HE HAS NOW
ARE DIVIDED INTO A SORT OF
CABINET.
HE ALSO BELIEVES THAT CONAN, THE
DOG THAT DIED, HAS REINCARNATED
IN ONE OF THE CLONES.
THAT DOG HELPS
HIM, AND I QUOTE, "WITH THE
GENERAL STRATEGY."
THEN MURRAY ADVISES HIM
IN ECONOMICS, AND LUCAS IS THE
ONE THAT HELPS HIM SEE THE
FUTURE AND
LEARN FROM HIS MISTAKES.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN OFFICIAL
CABINET.
>> John: OKAY.
AT THIS POINT I FEEL THE NEED TO
TELL YOU.
WE DIDN'T INVENT THIS MAN FOR
THIS SHOW.
I GET HOW AN
"ANARCHO-CAPITALIST,
CHAINSAW-BRANDISHING,
DOG-CLONING PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE WHO LOOKS LIKE A
WATERLOGGED BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
AND SEES HIS DOGS AS SOME SORT
OF CLAIRVOYANT, REINCARNATED
FORCE FUNCTIONING AS A POLITICAL
CABINET" --
COULD SEEM LIKE HE WAS
TAILOR-MADE, IN A
LAB, SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS SHOW.
BUT HE WASN'T.
HIS DOGS WERE, BUT HE WASN'T.
THIS IS A DISTRESSINGLY REAL
PERSON.
AND WHILE THERE IS SOMETHING
VERY FUNNY
ABOUT A POLITICIAN WHO WORKSHOPS
HIS IDEAS WITH HIS FOUR DOG, IT
GETS LESS FUN
WHEN YOU SEE WHAT THOSE IDEAS
ARE.
BECAUSE HE'S CALLED FOR
EXPANDING GUN OWNERSHIP AND
OUTLAWING ABORTION, REFERRED TO
GLOBAL WARMING AS A "SOCIALIST
LIE", HAS CALLED TRUMP
ONE OF THE BEST PRESIDENTS IN
THE HISTORY
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND
DESCRIBED THE
POPE AS AN "EMBARRASSING
COMMUNIST," A "PIECE OF SHIT,"
AND A "POTATO."
AND LOOK I KNOW WE WEREN'T
EXPECTING
THE MAN WITH A BUNCH OF CLONED
DOGS AND A ONCE-PER-QUARTER JIZZ
SCHEDULE TO
HAVE "GOOD" OPINIONS.
BUT THOSE ARE STRIKINGLY BAD.
AND MILEI HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT,
PARTICULARLY FROM YOUNG MEN.
AND THE THING IS, A DESIRE FOR
SOME SORT OF RADICAL CHANGE IS
UNDERSTANDABLE,
GIVEN THE DEPTHS OF ARGENTINA'S
FINANCIAL CRISIS.
PEOPLE'S EARNINGS AND SAVINGS
HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT, AND AROUND
40 PERCENT OF ARGENTINES ARE
LIVING IN POVERTY.
THINGS ARE REALLY BAD THERE.
AND REMEMBER: MILEI'S OPPONENT
IS THE CURRENT FINANCE
MINISTER, SO HE'S TIED PRETTY
CLOSELY TO IT.
IT'S FRANKLY NO WONDER THAT SOME
ARGENTINES -- LIKE THIS WOMAN
VOTING LAST SUNDAY -- ARE PRETTY
DEPRESSED ABOUT THE OPTIONS IN
FRONT OF THEM.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A
REALLY GOOD OPTION.
I DIDN'T CAME
HERE AND SAID I KNOW WHO I'M
GOING TO VOTE.
I WAS LIKE I DON'T REALLY
KNOW BECAUSE NOTHING -- NOTHING
IS AND I BELIEVE THAT NOTHING IS
GOOD.
>> John: YEAH, WHEN YOUR OPTIONS
ARE MORE OF THE SAME OR EMO
EDGELORD TUCKER CARLSON
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE TO BELIEVE
THAT NOTHING IS GOOD.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE WORSE
THINGS GET, THE EASIER IT IS FOR
MILEI TO MAKE THE CASE THAT ANY
CHANGE --
NO MATTER HOW UNTESTED OR
DANGEROUS --
IS BETTER THAN THE CURRENT
SYSTEM.
SO WHILE I AGREE ARGENTINES
DESERVE SOMETHING NEW, I ALSO
THINK THEY DESERVE
A LOT BETTER THAN THIS
CHAINSAW-WIELDING, BACKED-UP
SUPERHERO AND HIS XEROXED DOG
QUARTET.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Interpreter: AND NOW SHE
SEEMS LIKE SHE IS A FUN KID.
>> I WAS A GIRL SCOUT.
I WAS KICKED OUT AND GIRL SCOUT.
I WAS VERY VOCAL.
I WOULD SHARE MY STORIES ABOUT
BEING IN A GIRL SCOUT IF I HAD
NOT BEEN KICKED OUT OF THE
GIRL SCOUT.
I WAS KICKED OUT THE GIRL SCOUT
FOR BEING TOO MOUTHY.
I GOT KICKED OUT OF THE
GIRL SCOUTS.
EDIT I DID NOT THINK IT WAS ALL
THAT COOL AND MAYBE GO TO A
JIMMY CARTER SPEECH WHEN HE WAS
PRESIDENT.
I BITCHED ABOUT IT.
I WAS VERY VOCAL ABOUT THAT.
I GOT KICKED OUT OF THE
GIRL SCOUTS BECAUSE I FUSSED
ABOUT THEM MAKING ME GO TO THAT
JIMMY CARTER SPEECH WHEN HE WAS
THE PRESIDENT.
JUST A QUICK CONFESSION.
THE THING ABOUT SLEEPING LIKE
THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID OF
VAMPIRES BITING YOUR NECK, I
STILL DO THAT.
♪ ♪
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
CHOCOLATE.
THE STAR ATTRACTION IN
NEOPOLITAN ICE CREAM.
NOTHING AGAINST VANILLA AND
STRAWBERRY, IT'S JUST THAT ONE
IS A EUPHEMISM FOR BORING SEX,
AND THE OTHER IS FRUIT, AND
FRUIT IS SIMPLY NOT DESSERT.
CHOCOLATE IS THE GREATEST --
JUST WATCH AS THIS BABY GETS A
FIRST TASTE OF IT.
>> ARE YOU READY?
>> YEAH, BABY!
SAME!
AND I HOPE IT SAVORS THAT
CHOCOLATE HIGH.
BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL KNOW --
THE REST OF
HUMAN EXPERIENCE IS PRETTY MUCH
DOWNHILL FROM THERE.
EVERYONE LOVES CHOCOLATE --
THAT'S WHY
WE USE IT FOR EVERYTHING -- FROM
BEAUTY PRODUCTS, TO SCULPTURES,
TO BREAKFAST CEREAL.
ALTHOUGH SOME ARGUABLY LOVE IT A
LITTLE TOO MUCH, LIKE THE HOST
OF THIS COOKING SHOW.
>> THERE'S A COMPONENT, A
SUBSTANCE IN
CHOCOLATE CALLED
"PHENYLETHYLAMINE" AND WHAT THAT
FANCY WORD DOES IS IT SLIGHTLY
ELEVATES YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND
YOUR HEARTRATE, AND THEY TELL ME
THAT ITS A SENSATION THAT'S NOT
UNLIKE HAVING AN ORGASM.
I DON'T KNOW!
MAYBE THATS WHY PEOPLE
LOVE CHOCOLATE SO MUCH, BUT,
ANYWAY, LET ME GET BACK TO OUR
STEP HERE.
>> John: OKAY, FIRST, WHAT A
LONG, WEIRD WAY TO
TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE NEVER
HAD AN ORGASM.
SECOND, I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S
A CHEMICAL
THAT MAKES YOUR BRAIN HORNY AND
THEY NAMED IT
"PHENYLETHYLAMINE."
THAT'S NOT A SEXY
NAME.
"EROTISOL.
SEDUCTILUST.
DAT-ASSOLINE."
ALL
AND JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR;
OF THOSE ARE FREE AND AVAILABLE.
EATING CHOCOLATE IS NOTHING LIKE
HAVING AN ORGASM.
UNLESS YOU COUNT THE FACT THAT
WHEN BOYS DO IT, IT'S MESSIER.
BUT CHOCOLATE ISN'T JUST MAKING
PEOPLE HORNY, IT'S ALSO MAKING A
LOT OF MONEY.
GLOBALLY, IT'S A $140 BILLION
DOLLAR A YEAR INDUSTRY,
AND AT THIS POINT, YOU MIGHT BE
SITTING AT HOME THINKING, "HOLD
ON -- I'VE SEEN THIS
SHOW BEFORE."
THIS FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE
ONE OF THE FUN STORIES, BUT IS
IT ABOUT TO TAKE A TURN?
I'VE GOT A JUMBO BAG OF FUN-SIZE
SNICKERS I'M GOING TO BE HANDING
OUT TO TINY IRON
MEN, ELSAS AND LUIGIS IN 48
HOURS.
ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THAT WEIRD
FOR ME?
YES, I AM.
AND ALSO, DON'T BULLSHIT ME.
HALF THAT BAG'S GONNA BE GONE BY
HALLOWEEN, AND YOU KNOW IT.
BUT THE REASON THIS IS ABOUT TO
TAKE A TURN IS, FOR ALL THE
MONEY AND HAPPINESS
SURROUNDING CHOCOLATE, THERE'S
ONE GROUP THAT DOESN'T GET TO
SHARE IN IT,
AND THAT'S THE FARMERS WHO GROW
COCOA IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE MAJORITY HAVE NEVER EVEN
TASTED CHOCOLATE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
REPORTERS AND DOCUMENTARIANS
LOVE TO TRY AND REMEDY ON
CAMERA, PERHAPS
NONE AS PATRONIZINGLY AS THIS.
>> THESE FARMERS HAVE BEEN
GROWING BEANS FOR DECADES.
THEY'RE ABOUT TO GET THEIR
FIRST TASTE OF CHOCOLATE.
>> YOU HAVE NEVER TRIED
CHOCOLATE?
>> NO.
>> MM!
>> THAT IS YOUR COCOA!
>> John: WELL, TO THOSE WHO
THOUGHT I'M THE
MOST ANNOYING VERSION OF A LOUD
MAN
ON TV WITH A BRITISH ACCENT,
LOOKS LIKE
YOU OWE ME AN APOLOGY.
BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY
CONDESCENDING.
"ATTENTION, FORMER SUBJECTS, WE
NOTICED
THAT YOU HAVE NOT ONCE TASTED
THE FRUITS
OF YOUR INTERMINABLE TOIL, SO
ALLOW ME TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE
GENEROUS GIFT OF A SINGLE
KIT-KAT.
THAT IS YOUR COCOA!"
AND THE REASON MOST FARMERS
HAVEN'T TRIED CHOCOLATE BEFORE
IS, THEY CAN'T
AFFORD IT.
MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF COCOA
COMES FROM JUST TWO WEST AFRICAN
COUNTRIES -- IVORY
COAST, AND GHANA.
AND RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THAT,
IN THOSE PLACES, BETWEEN 73 AND
90 PERCENT OF COCOA
FARMERS DO NOT EARN A LIVING
INCOME, WITH 30 TO 58 PERCENT
EARNING BELOW THE
WORLD BANK'S EXTREME POVERTY
LINE.
AND THERE IS SOMETHING A BIT
WEIRD ABOUT A PRODUCT SO
SYNONYMOUS FOR SPREADING
JOY, AND GIVING BABIES WHAT'S
BASICALLY A COCAINE RUSH,
ABANDONING THOSE WHO GROW ITS
KEY INGREDIENT TO
GRINDING POVERTY.
BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU HAD A SENSE
THAT COCOA PRODUCTION HAD
ISSUES, THE TRUTH
IS, FROM THE LAND ITS GROWN ON,
TO THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF
THOSE WHO HARVEST IT, IT'S WORSE
THAN YOU MAY
REALIZE.
SO GIVEN THAT, AS WE PREPARE FOR
OUR ANNUAL TRADITION OF STUFFING
AS MUCH OF IT IN OUR FACES AS
HUMANLY POSSIBLE,
TONIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT
CHOCOLATE.
AND LET'S START WITH THE FACT
THAT COCOA IS MOSTLY GROWN ON
VERY SMALL, FAMILY-RUN PLOTS.
THERE ARE ABOUT HALF A MILLION
OF THEM IN IVORY COAST, AND
ANOTHER 800,000 IN
GHANA.
HARVESTING COCOA PODS IS LABOR
INTENSIVE, AND DONE ENTIRELY BY
HAND.
AND BY THE WAY -- WHAT'S INSIDE
THEM MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU'RE
PICTURING IN YOUR
MIND.
>> IVANS KANUBE CRACKS OPEN THE
PODS TO EXTRACT THE SWEET, SLIMY
BEAN, WHICH AT THIS STAGE HAS A
FLAVOR LIKE LYCHEE FRUIT.
ONCE THE COCOA IS
COLLECTED, IT'S LEFT TO FERMENT
UNDER BANANA LEAVES FOR ABOUT
SEVEN DAYS.
>> John: YEAH, THAT SLIMY BEAN
SOUP IS COCOA.
CHOCOLATE STARTS OUT AS GLUEY
WHITE INSECT LARVA THAT COMES
OUT OF A BIG TREE
EGG, AND IT'S ONLY AFTER A LONG
PROCESS THAT THAT FERMENTING
FOREST JIZZ BECOMES SOMETHING
MORE APPETIZING.
OR IN THE CASE OF A MOUNDS BAR,
EVEN LESS APPETIZING.
FROM THE FARM, THE COCOA THEN
PASSES THROUGH A NUMBER OF HANDS
ON ITS WAY
TO THE CHOCOLATE COMPANIES --
FROM THE PEOPLE WHO COLLECT THE
BEANS, TO THE
WAREHOUSES WHO STORE THEM --
EACH OF
WHOM GETS PAID FOR THEIR PART IN
THE CHAIN.
BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, THEY ALL
FEED INTO ONE NARROW BOTTLENECK,
AS THIS EXPERT
EXPLAINS IN AN ALMOST
UNNERVINGLY SOOTHING WAY.
>> IN A WAY, THE STORY OF
CHOCOLATE IS A
LITTLE BIT LIKE AN HOURGLASS,
WHERE YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF
SMALLHOLDERS
GROWING COCOA AT THE VERY
BEGINNING OF THE STORY, AND AT
THE END OF THE STORY, YOU HAVE
MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS EATING
CHOCOLATE.
BUT RIGHT AT THE CENTER OF THE
HOURGLASS ARE A HANDFUL OF
EXTREMELY POWERFUL COMPANIES.
THESE COMPANIES ARE THE COCOA
TRADERS.
>> John: OKAY.
THAT WAS A VERY GOOD DESCRIPTION
OF HOW THE INDUSTRY WORKS, FROM
WHAT I CAN ONLY ASSUME IS A NINE
HOUR YOUTUBE
VIDEO TITLED, "WOMAN EXPLAINS
COCOA SECTOR INEQUALITY ASMR
FALL ASLEEP NOW HIGH
QUALITY HEADPHONES ON".
BUT IT'S TRUE -- THE INDUSTRY IS
DOMINATED BY JUST A HANDFUL OF
COCOA TRADING
COMPANIES, THE MOST POWERFUL OF
WHICH ARE THE SO-CALLED BIG
THREE -- CARGILL, BARRY
CALLEBAUT AND OFI, WHICH
TOGETHER BUY AND
PROCESS ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE
WORLD'S COCOA.
THEY THEN SELL TO A HANDFUL OF
MAJOR CHOCOLATE COMPANIES:
MARS, MONDELEZ -- WHICH OWNS
CADBURY
-- FERRERO, NESTLÉ, AND HERSHEY,
WHICH TOGETHER SELL OVER HALF
THE WORLD'S CHOCOLATE.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY
FARMERS, AND SO FEW BUYERS, THE
BUYERS CLEARLY HAVE A BIG
ADVANTAGE.
THAT'S WHY ONLY ABOUT 6 PERCENT
OF THE VALUE OF A CHOCOLATE BAR
MAKES ITS WAY BACK TO THE
FARMER.
AND LOOK -- I'M NOT SAYING THOSE
COMPANIES AREN'T ADDING REAL
VALUE TO THEIR PART OF THE
PROCESS.
THEY ARE!
THIS HALLOWEEN, TRY OFFERING A
SPIDERMAN A KITKAT OR A HANDFUL
OF STICKY WHITE BEAN LARVA AND
SEE WHICH THEY PREFER.
BUT THERE ARE CLEARLY MASSIVE
DISPARITIES IN WHO REAPS THE
BENEFITS OF THIS
EXTREMELY PROFITABLE INDUSTRY.
AND I WILL SAY -- THERE ARE
MECHANISMS IN
PLACE TO AT LEAST HELP STABILIZE
THE AMOUNT FARMERS EARN.
BOTH GHANA AND IVORY COAST SET
MINIMUM PRICES THAT FARMERS
RECEIVE FOR THEIR COCOA.
THE PROBLEM IS, THOSE PRICES ARE
NOT ONLY DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE,
BUT CRUCIALLY, THEY'RE NOT
ENOUGH TO COVER THE
COSTS OF FARMING.
AND SO SOME FARMERS, MOST OF
WHOM ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME
POVERTY, HAVE RESORTED TO TRYING
TO INCREASE THEIR EARNINGS BY
GROWING MORE COCOA ON
LAND THAT'S PROTECTED BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
WHICH IS ILLEGAL, BECAUSE IT CAN
DO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL
DAMAGE.
>> DESPERATE
FARMERS SUPPLEMENT THEIR CROP BY
GROWING COCOA TREES IN A
PROTECTED FOREST, WHERE THE
UNCULTIVATED SOIL IS MORE
FERTILE,
AND STOLEN LAND IS, IN EFFECT,
FREE OF CHARGE.
WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND IS KNOWN AS A
SKELETON FOREST.
>> John: OKAY, LET'S FACE IT:
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE THE PHRASE "SKELETON
FOREST" APPEARED ON THIS SHOW.
BECAUSE IF THERE'S A SINISTER
COMBINATION OF WORDS OUT THERE,
WE'RE GONNA STUMBLE OVER IT.
TUMOR ELECTIONS?
GHOST ABUSE?
MURDER POLLUTION?
STAY TUNED.
ALL THOSE ARE COMING UP.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTAL
DAMAGE -- THERE'S ALSO
SIGNIFICANT HUMAN COST IN
COCOA FARMING, WHICH HAS BEEN
WELLKNOWN FOR A WHILE.
AROUND 20 YEARS AGO, A SERIES OF
NEWS STORIES AND A DOCUMENTARY
FOUND THAT YOUNG
CHILDREN -- SOME OF WHOM HAD
BEEN ENSLAVED OR TRAFFICKED --
WERE WORKING ON COCOA FARMS THAT
SUPPLIED MAJOR CHOCOLATE
COMPANIES.
AND IN THE WAKE OF PUBLIC HORROR
OVER THIS, COMPANIES DIDN'T DO
THEMSELVES ANY FAVORS WITH HOW
THEY RESPONDED.
JUST LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS THAT
THIS DUTCH JOURNALIST GOT WHEN
HE ASKED NESTLE ABOUT WHETHER
CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN MAKING
ITS CHOCOLATE.
>> CHILDREN ARE WORKING IN
VIRTUALLY
EVERY SINGLE AGRICULTURAL SETUP
AROUND THE WORLD.
>> YES.
>> OKAY?
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I
WAS 11 OR 12 YEARS OLD, I WENT
TO HELP A FARMER.
>> I DID NOT GET PAID -- PAID
FOR IT.
I DID IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT
WAS -- IT WAS FUN.
THAT WAS CHILD LABOR.
A CHILD WORKING.
>> AND THAT'S THE SAME.
>> IT'S NOT THE SAME.
EVIDENTLY.
I DIDN'T
NEED TO DO THAT.
OKAY?
>> YEAH.
>> John: RIGHT.
NOT TO STRESS THE MOST OBVIOUS
POINT IN THE UNIVERSE, BUT --
DOING SOMETHING FOR FUN ISN'T
THE SAME THING
AS DOING IT TO SURVIVE.
IT'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN BEING IN AN ESCAPE ROOM,
AND BEING IN A SAW MOVIE.
SURE, THEY'RE BOTH EQUALLY BAD
FIRST DATE IDEAS, BUT THAT'S
WHERE THE SIMILARITIES
END.
AND LOOK -- I WILL GIVE HIM
THIS: A LOT OF
CHILD LABOR DOES CONSIST OF KIDS
WORKING ON THEIR OWN FAMILIES'
COCOA FARMS.
THOUGH EVEN IN THOSE CASES, THEY
CAN BE DOING SO IN HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS.
AND ALSO -- WATCH AS THAT NESTLE
SPOKESPERSON ACCIDENTALLY WALKS
INTO A PRETTY DAMAGING ADMISSION
OF EXACTLY
WHY THEY MIGHT BE HAVING TO DO
THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> FOR A POOR
FARMER IN -- IN AFRICA,
OFTEN THE HELP THAT HE GETS FROM
HIS CHILDREN
IS VITAL IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF THE
FAMILY.
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE -- THEY --
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE SO
DESPERATELY POOR.
>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET
PAID ENOUGH BY NESTLÉ, OR BY THE
COMPANIES THEY WORK FOR.
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> John: WOW.
IT'S VERY FUNNY TO ME THAT HE
THOUGHT ENDING THAT CALL WHEN HE
DID WAS SOMEHOW "AVOIDING"
IMPLICATING HIMSELF.
"LOOK, THE FARMERS HAVE TO MAKE
THEIR CHILDREN WORK FOR THEM,
BECAUSE THEY ARE SO POOR,
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PAID A
LIVING WAGE BY NESTLE, THE
COMPANY THAT I -- YOU KNOW WHAT?
NICE TRY, YOU'RE BREAKING UP,
I'M GOING INTO A TUNNEL.
GOODBYE!
WHEW, THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE.
BUT I THINK I GOT AWAY WITH IT."
AND, AGAIN -- IT'S NOT JUST KIDS
WORKING ON THEIR FAMILY FARMS.
CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BE
FORCED, OR TRAFFICKED, TO WORK
IN COCOA PRODUCTION.
AND WHILE, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE
OF THIS CRIME, EXACT NUMBERS
AREN'T KNOWN, ONE
SURVEY ESTIMATED THAT IN IVORY
COAST, OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD,
2,000 CHILDREN WERE VICTIMS OF
FORCED LABOR, WHILE IN GHANA, IT
WAS 14,000.
AND BACK IN THE 2000S, OUTRAGE
OVER THIS ACTUALLY SPURRED US
LAWMAKERS TO TAKE ACTION.
FIRST, THEY CONSIDERED MANDATING
LABELS FOR CHOCOLATE, INDICATING
WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS MADE WITH
CHILD SLAVE LABOR.
BUT THE CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY THEN
LOBBIED THAT DOWN TO A VOLUNTARY
AGREEMENT TO ELIMINATE THE
"WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR",
PROMISING TO GET
IT DONE BY JULY 2005.
THAT AGREEMENT LATER BECAME
KNOWN AS THE HARKIN-ENGEL
PROTOCOL, AFTER THE
TWO LAWMAKERS WHO'D PUSHED FOR
IT -- BUT WHEN THE DEADLINE
ROLLED AROUND,
SENATOR HARKIN HAD THIS
UNFORTUNATE UPDATE.
>> THOUGH I WAS DISAPPOINTED
THAT THE JULY 1ST DEADLINE WAS
NOT FULLY MET BY THE INDUSTRY,
THEY HAVE GIVEN US A COMMITMENT
-- A COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVING A
CERTIFICATION SYSTEM WHICH CAN
BE EXPANDED ACROSS THE COCOA
GROWING AREAS OF WEST AFRICA,
AND WHICH WILL COVER 50% OF THE
COCOA-GROWING AREAS OF IVORY
COAST AND GHANA IN THREE YEARS'
TIME. I'M VERY PLEASED WITH
THIS COMMITMENT.
>> John: ARE YOU?
BECAUSE IF SO, I'M GENUINELY
JEALOUS OF YOUR INFINITE
CAPACITY FOR TRUSTING
OTHERS.
"AH, I SEE FROM THE FIRST PANEL
OF TODAY'S PEANUTS COMIC THAT
LUCY IS FINALLY GOING TO LET
CHARLIE BROWN KICK
THE FOOTBALL.
WHILE I WAS DISAPPOINTED
BY HER ACTIONS IN THE PAST, IT
SEEMS THAT A NEW DAY HAS BROUGHT
A SENSE OF INTEGRITY WITHIN THIS
YOUNG GIRL, AND I
AM VERY EXCITED TO MOVE MY GAZE
DOWN THE PAGE AND SEE THIS
COMMITMENT HONORED IN --
WHAT?
SHE DID IT AGAIN?
AND PREDICTABLY, THE COMPANIES
DIDN'T MEET THAT NEW DEADLINE
EITHER.
ONCE 2008 ROLLED AROUND, THEY
KICKED IT TO 2010, THEN PUSHED
IT "AGAIN", TO 2020 --
WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DOWNGRADING
THEIR GOAL TO JUST GETTING A 70
PERCENT REDUCTION IN CHILD
LABOR, RATHER THAN ELIMINATING
IT ENTIRELY, THEN
MISSED THAT DEADLINE TOO.
AND THE COMPANIES ALMOST
CERTAINLY
KNEW THEY WOULDN'T BE KEEPING
THEIR PROMISES.
AS THE FORMER HEAD OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COCOA INITIATIVE
PUT IT, "WAS THERE ANY CHANCE OF
CHILD LABOR BEING ERADICATED BY
THE ORIGINAL 2005
DEADLINE?"
NO, NEVER.
AND AT THAT POINT, WHY BOTHER
SETTING A DATE AT ALL?
IF YOUR FRIEND AGREES TO MEET
YOU FOR DINNER AT 7, THEN PUSHES
IT TO 7:30, THEN 8, AND FINALLY
SAYS "BE THERE IN 20 -- YEARS
NOT MINUTES,"
IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE THEY NEVER
HAD ANY INTENTION OF GETTING
DINNER IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
AND I WILL SAY -- IT'S NOT LIKE
THE CHOCOLATE COMPANIES HAVE
DONE NOTHING.
THEY ALL STARTED FLASHY-LOOKING
PROGRAMS WITH "COCOA"
IN THEIR NAMES THAT PROMISED TO
BE VIGILANT ABOUT MONITORING FOR
CHILD LABOR, AND PRODUCED
IMPRESSIVE-LOOKING ADS FEATURING
HAPPY FARMERS, AND WEBSITES
SHOWING HOW CAREFULLY THEY
MONITOR THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN.
BUT THE REALITY HASN'T REMOTELY
LIVED UP TO THE RHETORIC.
LAST YEAR, SOME JOURNALISTS
LOOKED AT A MAP OF FARMS ON
MONDELEZ'S "COCOA LIFE"
WEBSITE, THEN SENT A CAMERA CREW
TO GHANA TO CHECK SOME OUT, AND
YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT THEY
FOUND.
>> IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO FIND
CHILDREN WORKING ON A FARM
MATCHING THE COORDINATES LISTED
ON THE COCOA LIFE WEBSITE.
THE TEAM FILMED TWO
YOUNG BOYS AGED 10 AND 11,
HARVESTING COCOA PODS USING LONG
STICKS WITH SHARP HOOKS AND
WEARING NO PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.
>> John: YEAH, THEY WENT TO JUST
ONE OF THE FARMS LISTED ON THEIR
SITE -- A SITE FILLED WITH
CLAIMS THAT CHILD LABOR IS
COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE -- AND
INSTANTLY FOUND
CHILD LABOR.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT STATEMENT
MONDELEZ CAN RELEASE IN THE WAKE
OF THAT, OTHER THAN MAYBE,
"HONESTLY DID NOT THINK ANYONE
WOULD ACTUALLY CHECK."
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING,
"OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T TRUST
COMPANIES TO MONITOR
THEMSELVES -- THAT'S WHY THERE
SHOULD BE A THIRD PARTY
INVOLVED."
THE THING IS, THOSE HAVE ALSO
EXISTED FOR YEARS -- CHOCOLATE
COMPANIES HAVE LONG
PURCHASED AT LEAST SOME OF THEIR
BEANS FROM THIRD-PARTY
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THESE, WHO
CERTIFY THE FARMERS WHO
SUPPLY THEM HAVE MET CERTAIN
CHILD LABOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN ONE OF THESE
LOGOS ON A CHOCOLATE BAR AND
FELT REASSURED BY IT.
BUT WHILE ADVOCATES SAY SOME OF
THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
IMPROVED CONDITIONS SOMEWHAT,
THESE LOGOS JUST
AREN'T THE GUARANTEE YOU MIGHT
WANT THEM TO BE.
FOR A START, WHILE THE
ORGANIZATIONS PAY
FARMERS A SMALL PREMIUM FOR
MEETING THEIR STANDARDS, THOSE
PREMIUMS MIGHT
NOT EVEN COVER THE COST OF
COMPLYING WITH THE PROGRAM.
BUT ALSO, INSPECTIONS FOR THE
LABELS ARE REQUIRED
OF FEWER THAN 1 IN 10 FARMS
ANNUALLY.
AND JUST WATCH WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN REPORTERS WENT UNDERCOVER
AS CHOCOLATE COMPANY EXECUTIVES,
AND VISITED A CONTRACTOR WHO DID
AUDITS FOR "UTZ", ONE OF THOSE
THIRD-PARTY ORGANIZATIONS.
BECAUSE HE EXPLAINS TO THEM
EXACTLY WHY HE'S CONFIDENT THAT
HE WON'T FIND CHILD
LABOR ON ANY FARM HE VISITS.
>> WHEN YOU GO TO THEM YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO SEE ANY CHILDREN.
>> John: IT'S TRUE -- AUDITORS
GIVE ADVANCE NOTICE OF
INSPECTIONS.
WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.
BECAUSE THAT'S NEVER GOING TO BE
RELIABLE.
IF YOU TELL YOUR TEENAGER "I'M
CHECKING YOUR BACKPACK FOR
CIGARETTES NEXT TUESDAY,"
THEN GREAT NEWS, YOU'RE
NOT GONNA FIND ANY.
NOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, UTZ
MAINTAIN AND HOLD AUDITORS TO
THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.
DO NOT SEEM TO HIDE TO ME.
AS FOR MONDELEZ, WHO, REMEMBER,
-- AS HIGH TO ME.
TURNED OUT TO HAVE CHILD LABOR
AT ONE OF ITS SUPPLIERS IN
GHANA, IT SAID THAT IT WAS
"DEEPLY CONCERNED" BY THESE
INCIDENTS, AND, OKAY THAT MAKES
TWO OF US, MONDELEZ.
IT ALSO WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT
IT HAS A CHILD LABOR MONITORING
SYSTEM IN PLACE TO PREVENT THIS
KIND OF THING FROM HAPPENING.
WHICH IS VERY REASSURING, UNTIL
YOU REMEMBER IT ONLY TOOK A
DOCUMENTARY CREW ONE FLIGHT TO
GHANA TO PROVE THAT
SYSTEM IS, AT BEST, DEEPLY
INADEQUATE.
AND THAT'S THE THING -- ALL
THESE COMPANIES WILL SAY THEY'RE
CONCERNED ABOUT CHILD LABOR, AND
THAT THEY'VE SPENT A LOT OF
MONEY TRYING TO FIX IT.
BY ONE ESTIMATE, AS OF 2019,
THEY'D SPENT
MORE THAN $150 MILLION TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
BUT THAT'S OVER 18 YEARS, AND
WHILE THEY WERE COLLECTING $103
BILLION IN SALES ANNUALLY.
MEANING THAT OVER TWO DECADES,
THEY'VE SPENT JUST 0.1 PERCENT
OF ONE YEAR'S SALES.
AND COME ON!
M&M'S MUST'VE SPENT MORE THAN
THAT, FINE-TUNING EXACTLY HOW
FUCKABLE THE GREEN M&M IS.
AND FOR ALL THE COMPANIES'
CLAIMS OF CONCERN, THE FACT
REMAINS: ACCORDING TO
THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AN
ESTIMATED 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN
WORK IN COCOA PRODUCTION IN
GHANA AND IVORY
COAST, MANY OF WHOM ARE ENGAGED
IN DANGEROUS TASKS.
OR, AS A WASHINGTON POST
INVESTIGATION
CONCLUDED, "THE ODDS ARE
SUBSTANTIAL THAT A
CHOCOLATE BAR BOUGHT IN THE
UNITED STATES IS THE PRODUCT OF
CHILD LABOR."
IN FACT, THE PERSISTENCE OF IT
IN THE SUPPLY
CHAIN IS AN OPEN SECRET.
JUST WATCH AS SOME YOUNG WORKERS
END UP JOKING ABOUT IT, WHEN
ASKED BY
VISITING JOURNALISTS.
[LAUGHTER]
>> John: YEAH, WE ALL FONDLY
REMEMBER BEING 21.
SMALL FRAME, CHILDLIKE VOICE,
ANOTHER
GUY HAS TO CONSTANTLY REMIND YOU
YOU'RE 21.
JUST CLASSIC EARLY TWENTIES
STUFF.
AND I KNOW THEY WERE LAUGHING
THERE -- AND THAT CLIP WAS
HONESTLY KIND OF
CHARMING.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, FOR OTHERS,
THE STORIES ARE PRETTY HARROWING
-- LIKE THIS YOUNG GIRL WHO SAID
THAT AT THIS POINT, SHE'D
ALREADY BEEN FARMING COCOA FOR
FIVE YEARS.
>> I WAS BROUGHT
HERE BY MY AUNT, I WAS TOLD I
WOULD BE HELPING WITH THE BABY,
BUT INSTEAD I ONLY DO FARMING.
>> SHE SAYS SHE WANTS TO GO
TO SCHOOL, BUT HER UNCLE CAN'T
AFFORD TO SEND HER.
>> MY UNCLE SAYS HE STRUGGLES TO
PAY FOR HIS OWN CHILDREN, SO IF
I JOIN THEM, HE WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO BUY THE SCHOOL BOOKS.
>> WE ASKED IF SHE MISSES HER
FAMILY.
>> YES.
>> DO YOU HEAR FROM THEM?
>> NO.
>> HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BACK TO
VISIT THEM SINCE YOU CAME HERE?
>> NO.
>> John: THAT'S HEARTBREAKING.
AND THE TRUTH IS, THERE ARE A
LOT MORE CLIPS OUT THERE LIKE
THAT ONE THAN THERE
ARE OF KIDS JOKING AROUND ABOUT
BEING 21.
AND AT THIS POINT YOU MIGHT BE
WONDERING -- WHAT CAN WE DO
DIFFERENTLY?
WELL, I'LL ADMIT -- IT'S REALLY
COMPLICATED.
CHILD LABOR IN THESE REGIONS IS
CAUSED BY A MYRIAD OF ISSUES,
FROM POOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO
LIMITED ACCESS TO
EDUCATION.
BUT TO A SIGNIFICANT EXTENT, IT
IS CAUSED BY POVERTY.
A POVERTY THAT IS ACTIVELY
PERPETUATED BY THESE CHOCOLATE
COMPANIES.
AND IF THEY REALLY WANT TO
REMEDY THINGS, A GOOD FIRST STEP
WOULD SIMPLY BE
TO PAY FARMERS MORE.
AND COMPANIES MAY BALK AT THAT,
SAYING THEY DON'T SET THE PRICE,
THE MARKET DOES.
BUT AS THIS ADVOCATE POINTS OUT,
THAT'S A
PRETTY LOUSY EXCUSE.
>> EVERY TRADER AND EVERY
MULTINATIONAL I SPEAK TO ALWAYS
SAY, BUT THAT'S THE WORLD MARKET
PRICE.
WE HAVE NO INFLUENCE ON
THAT AT ALL.
BUT YOU BUY A QUARTER
OF THE WORLD'S COCOA BEANS.
HOW CAN YOU NOT INFLUENCE THE
PRICE?
>> John: EXACTLY.
AND LOOK, I'M NO ECONOMIST,
DESPITE WINNING "MOST LIKELY TO
BE AN ECONOMIST,
BASED ON APPEARANCE" BACK IN
PRESCHOOL.
BUT IF YOU BUY THAT MUCH OF THE
GLOBAL SUPPLY IN SOMETHING, YOU
DEFINITELY HAVE SOME SWAY OVER
HOW MUCH IT COSTS.
AND THE THING IS, THERE ARE
MODELS HERE COMPANIES COULD LOOK
TO.
REMEMBER THAT DUTCH JOURNALIST
MAKING THE GUY FROM
NESTLE SQUIRM?
AS A RESULT OF THAT SEGMENT, HE
ACTUALLY CREATED HIS OWN
CHOCOLATE COMPANY,
TONY'S CHOCOLONELY.
IT WORKS HARD TO ENSURE ITS
SUPPLY CHAIN IS FREE FROM CHILD
OR SLAVE LABOR.
AND -- IMPORTANTLY -- ENSURES
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO GROW ITS
COCOA AREN'T IN
DIRE POVERTY.
HERE'S ITS FORMER HEAD OF
SUSTAINABILITY, EXPLAINING HOW
IT SETS THE PRICE FOR THE
BEANS THAT IT BUYS.
>> WE CALCULATE HOW
BIG THE GAP IS BETWEEN WITH THE
GOVERNMENT SET PRICE, AND THE
LIVING INCOME PRICE, AND WE PAY
THAT GAP AS AN EXTRA PREMIUM.
>> FOR THE SPRING HARVEST THE
PREMIUM WAS ABOUT $63 HIGHER
THAN WHAT'S SET BY THE
GOVERNMENT, MEANING TONY'S PAID
ALMOST DOUBLE FOR EACH BAG OF
BEANS.
>> John: THAT'S GREAT.
AND IT SAYS SOMETHING THAT
TONY'S WERE SOMEHOW ABLE TO PAY
FARMERS DOUBLE
THE GOING RATE, DESPITE BEING A
MID-SIZE DUTCH COCOA COMPANY
WHOSE LOGO, BY THE WAY, LOOKS
LIKE A CASUAL DINING RESTAURANT
OPERATED BY-AND-FOR
CLOWNS.
IF THESE GUYS CAN DO IT, THERE'S
FRANKLY NO REASON WHY THESE
CAN'T AS WELL.
AND TO BE FAIR, EVEN TONY'S OWN
WEBSITE ADMITS THE SCALE OF THE
CHALLENGE HERE,
SAYING, "WE HAVE NEVER FOUND AN
INSTANCE OF MODERN SLAVERY IN
OUR SUPPLY CHAIN, HOWEVER, WE DO
NOT GUARANTEE OUR
CHOCOLATE IS 100% SLAVE FREE.
WHILE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO PREVENT SLAVERY AND CHILD
LABOR, WE ARE ALSO REALISTIC."
AND I HAVE TO SAY, I APPRECIATE
THAT --
BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
RECOGNIZING HOW MUCH THERE IS TO
DO, AND SIMPLY NOT DOING ENOUGH.
AND I KNOW THESE ARE COMPANIES,
NOT CHARITIES, WHOSE JOB IT IS
TO MAKE MONEY,
NOT SAVE THE WORLD.
BUT THAT MEANS THAT THEY'LL ONLY
CARE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EXACTLY
AS MUCH AS THEY ARE FORCED TO.
SO IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT
GETTING CHILD LABOR OUT OF OUR
CHOCOLATE, WE CAN'T
KEEP RELYING ON PINKY PROMISES
AND THE HONOR SYSTEM -- WE NEED
TOUGH LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES
COMPANIES TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS THE
ONLY INDUSTRY
WHERE EXPLOITATION IN OTHER
COUNTRIES IS THE NORM -- I COULD
JUST AS EASILY HAVE
DONE THIS PIECE ABOUT COFFEE, OR
PALM OIL.
AND WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT
TRAFFICKING AND CHILD LABOR IN
THE US FARM SYSTEM THIS YEAR.
BUT EXPERTS THEMSELVES SAY OF
CHOCOLATE, IN FEW INDUSTRIES IS
THE EVIDENCE OF OBJECTIONABLE
PRACTICES SO CLEAR, THE
INDUSTRY'S PLEDGES TO REFORM SO
AMBITIOUS AND THE BREACHING OF
THOSE PROMISES SO OBVIOUS.
LOOK, WE'VE KNOWN FOR 20 YEARS
WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE HERE, AND
WE HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO FIX THEM.
BUT IF WE DO, THEN IMAGINE THIS,
ONE DAY, MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WE
CAN GET BACK TO A
POINT WHERE CHOCOLATE CAN ONCE
MORE GIVE US THE SIMPLE
UNCOMPLICATED JOY OF
THIS.
>> John: EXACTLY.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW, LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES GO ALL
OUT WITH THEIR SAFETY PSA'S.
>> HI, EVERYBODY.
THIS IS CANINE SAM WITH SOME
HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS.
>> SOME SAFETY TIPS FOR THE
UPCOMING HALLOWEEN.
IT IS GOING TO BE ON
OCTOBER 31ST.
WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE FROM
SIX TO 8:00 P.M.
>> NEVER, EVER --
>> ENTER THE HOME OF SOMEBODY
THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW.
>> USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM AND GO
TRICK-OR-TREATING WITH FRIENDS.
>> BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU ARE
CROSSING THE STREETS.
♪ ♪
>> WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING THE ROAD
MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOOKING BOTH
WAYS BEFORE YOU CROSS.
>> IF YOU SEE SOMETHING
SUSPICIOUS MAKE SURE TO GIVE US
A CALL.
[LAUGHTER]
>> PLEASE DO NOT INVITE THE KIDS
INSIDE THE HOUSE.
>> SOME THINGS THAT PARENTS CAN
DO WHEN TAKING THEIR KIDS
TRICK-OR-TREATING.
>> KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE AND HAVE A
GREAT HALLOWEEN.
♪ ♪
>> John: THAT IS OUR SHOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
GOOD NIGHT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪ ♪