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Movie Reflection - The Dark Side of Chocolate - Documentary

The documentary 'The Dark Side of Chocolate' reveals the severe exploitation in the cocoa industry, including child trafficking, slavery, and government corruption, particularly in the Ivory Coast. It highlights the disconnect between consumer perceptions of chocolate as a luxury and the harsh realities faced by child laborers who are manipulated by marketing and economic inequalities. The film calls for awareness and action against these injustices, emphasizing that the chocolate industry is intertwined with global political issues and capitalism.

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Naw Win Wuthmon Thein
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© Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivs (BY-NC-ND)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
25 views2 pages

Movie Reflection - The Dark Side of Chocolate - Documentary

The documentary 'The Dark Side of Chocolate' reveals the severe exploitation in the cocoa industry, including child trafficking, slavery, and government corruption, particularly in the Ivory Coast. It highlights the disconnect between consumer perceptions of chocolate as a luxury and the harsh realities faced by child laborers who are manipulated by marketing and economic inequalities. The film calls for awareness and action against these injustices, emphasizing that the chocolate industry is intertwined with global political issues and capitalism.

Uploaded by

Naw Win Wuthmon Thein
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivs (BY-NC-ND)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Movie Reflection: The Dark Side of Chocolate - Documentary

I have heard stories about cocoa exploitation through the media for many years. It has
commonly occurred in regions where cocoa plants thrive, such as Africa and Latin America.
However, I rarely eat chocolate, and since these issues do not affect me directly, I do not feel
concerned or guilty even though I am aware of this kind of exploitation. After watching this
documentary, I was surprised. My prior knowledge was limited to exploitation, but I did not
know it involved child trafficking, slavery, and government bribery. When we think deeply, it is
not just a problem within the cocoa industry but connected to global politics. I believe this is
the main point the documentary leaves me to reflect on. In addition, the first thing that came
to my mind as a consequence was mass consumerism. It raises the question: Are other
products, such as tea, coffee, sugar, salt, dairy, edible oil, and others, also dealing with the
same exploitation issues?
Chocolate has had global demand for many decades, but in recent years, I have noticed
many trends through social media platforms with various marketing ideas, such as chocolate
being romantic, making you happy, improving mental health, and being an essential food for
women during menstruation. To be exact, those who can afford chocolate are targeted with
the message that eating chocolate makes their lives much better. This shows that the
chocolate industry not only exploits workers but also manipulates consumers through
marketing. It's like telling someone their life is made happier by chocolate, while child
workers on cocoa plantations are enslaving their lives.
As I observed, this documentary focuses on child trafficking in African countries to work on
cocoa plantations in the Ivory Coast, which is the world's largest producer of cocoa raw
material. Furthermore, I found that this documentary was created through a challenging
investigation. As I saw in the interview with Mariam, she said she was lured into working with
the promise of being paid because her family was poor. This shows that the socioeconomic
conditions in that area are poor. One child trafficker shared his experience, saying, "If the
person on the border says they don't traffic children, they are lying". So, I believe there is a
large trafficking operation at the border, involving collaboration with border police and
government employees. Bribery and money laundering associated with cocoa plantations in
the Ivory Coast are also briefly mentioned in the documentary. So, I interpret that there are
likely many more and bigger illegal activities involved.
Since this documentary focuses on child slavery in the cocoa industry, we must assess
whether there is any bias. To be fair, the documentary is presented with a balanced
perspective. All the cocoa industry spokespersons denied that there is any illegal child labor
or exploitation. And, the Ivorian government ignores these problems. In an interview with the
man officially in charge of fighting child labor, he said it is not a problem. He claimed they
know what is happening and how to deal with it, and that it is no longer a problem. He also
countered that children found at the border gates may be there for vacation, as there is no
crop processing from July to September. This is the most ridiculous response I have ever
encountered. In contrast, evidence has emerged showing that missing children and child
workers do not appear to be on vacation and do not speak the local language in the
plantation areas.
Capitalism is also highlighted, as a single chocolate bar costs more than a laborer's entire
day's wages. Even so, there is a demand for child laborers who do not receive a single
penny but are subjected to inhumane treatment. I wonder why locals engage in such child
trafficking, which ultimately benefits Western capitalism. According to some research,
chocolate production companies from wealthy countries buy or seize land in poor countries
through corrupt governments. As a result, locals lose ownership of their land and are unable
to run their businesses. They are forced to work on cocoa plantations for low wages, leading
to a demand for laborers, including children. There is a theory called Conflict Theory.
Especially in terms of class, power, and economic inequality, Conflict Theory suggests that
capitalism drives the powerful to become even more dominant, while those on the other side
are increasingly oppressed with less ability to resist. So, in this case, it is not surprising that
children, who have little power, easily become victims.
So, as I reflect on this, I have some insights into who the real culprits are. However,
chocolate producers deny owning cocoa farms or having direct control over cocoa farming
and labor practices. They gain the most advantages and benefits from chocolate production,
yet deny responsibility. If they refuse to take accountability, then who should be held
responsible? That’s why I suggest that this is a global political issue that we need to be
aware of and take action on. Imagine—it's worse than the fact that a sip of Milo from Nestlé
costs more than the blood and tears of child labor. Therefore, the best time to take action is
now. Nevertheless, it would be a challenge since everyone loves chocolate. However, the
world only needs chocolate that is just, fair, and produced with equality. To conclude, I
wonder where the children who have been trafficked are right now, and I wish for their
freedom so they can reunite with their families. I hope for a world where there is no more
child labor, not only on cocoa plantations but everywhere.

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