CNN: Teaching Fair Trade Practices to Kids

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com

CNN: Working in Cocoa Fields at 10

 

 thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com

CNN: A "Divine" Effort

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com

CNN: How to Help - Slavery in the Supply Chain

This week's CNN focus has been on chocolate (I don't know about you, but chocolate is very near and dear to my heart!).  I don't doubt part of their focus comes at a time of the year when chocolate sales start to soar as we get closer to Valentine's Day.  If you can, check out "Chocolate's Child Slaves" (CNN International, Friday, January 20 - check local listings for a time) and:

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/17/how-to-help-slavery-in-the-supply-chain-2

CNN: Weatherill on Tackling Child Labor

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com

CNN: Who Consumes the Most Chocolate?

Taken from:
thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/17/who-consumes-the-most-chocolate

World CONSUMPTION of cocoa: 2008/09
Europe – 49.32%
North America – 24.22% (United States only – 20.19%)
Asia and Oceania – 14.49%
South America – 8.68%
Africa – 3.28%

Annual per capita CONSUMPTION of chocolates: 2008
Germany – 11.39 kg
Switzerland – 10.77 kg
United Kingdom – 10.31 kg
Norway – 9.8 kg
Denmark – 8.57 kg
Other Countries:
Belgium – 6.8 kg
Australia – 5.96 kg
US – 5.09 kg
Brazil- 2.48 kg
Japan – 2.15 kg

Net world Cocoa EXPORTS: 2008/09
African region – 76.8%
Asia and Oceania – 16.9%
Americas – 6.19%

Top 5 countries, Net world Cocoa EXPORTS: 2008/09
Ivory Coast – 37.01%
Ghana – 19.16%
Indonesia – 15.33%
Nigeria – 8.71%
Cameroon – 7.03%

Net world Cocoa IMPORTS: 2008/09
Europe – 58.87%
America – 27.25%
Asia and Oceania – 12.12%
Africa – 1.7%

Top 5 countries, Net world Cocoa IMPORTS: 2008/2009
United States – 20.96%
Germany – 13.20%
Belgium – 6.28%
United Kingdom – 5.63%
France – 5.47%

Rise ~ Shawn McDonald

Yes I will rise

Out of these ashes rise

From this trouble I have found

And this rubble on the ground

I will rise

Cause He Who is in me

Is greater than I will ever be

And I will rise

Sometimes my heart is on the ground

And hope is nowhere to be found

Love is a figment I once knew

And yet I hold on to what I know is true

Yes I will rise

Out of these ashes rise

From this trouble I have found

And this rubble on the ground

I will rise

Cause He Who is in me

Is greater than I will ever be

And I will rise

Well I keep on coming to this place

That I don't know quite how to face

So I lay down my life in hopes to die

That somehow I might rise

Yes I will rise

Out of these ashes rise

From this trouble I have found

And this rubble on the ground

I will rise

Cause He Who is in me

Is greater than I will ever be

And I will rise

CNN: Chocolate's Child Slaves

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com

Do Something Now.

Continuing from yesterday's post - from dosomethingnow.com:
"We love music and have been privileged to bring many new songs to people around the globe. But we are convinced that worship is about more than music; worship is love in motion. It's clear that the kind of worship God wants most requires more than words, calling us to love the world in Jesus’ name. The desire of Do Something Now is to open the door as wide as we can, inviting everyone to join the movement. You don’t have to be university-aged or attend one of our events to impact those in need. You’re here, and you can join the movement wherever you are. This is hope of a brand new life for people who cannot help themselves. None of us can do it alone. Follow your heart.  Do Something Now." [I added the bold]

CNN: Students Gather to End Modern Slavery

 

 thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/05/college-kids-vow-to-end-slavery

A Hero's Journey

I love cards - giving them, getting them, spending too much time in the store looking for the perfect one that puts words to the feelings in my heart.  I found this one the other day from a company called Tree of Life Inspirations out of B.C.:

"The adventure of love is calling us on a hero's journey. . .

. . .to walk the path of the heart.

Braving vulnerability for connection.

Exchanging fear for insight.

Risking change for vision.

. . .A world where friendship

flows from the eyes of strangers,

and every hand is held with love."

God's Will

This is a long excerpt from my devotional, Our Journey, but I thinks it's incredibly important as I/we look ahead to the new year before me/us:

"I remember asking questions about God's will as a college student - persistent, distracting questions about ministry and direction and even a lifetime partner.  I was confused about what to do and where to get answers.  I sincerely wanted to do God's will, but I was not sure how to discover it.  People often gave conflicting answers and pious platitudes.  'Pray and wait, brother; God will show you,' as if God's will could only be found by putting my motor in neutral.  'Let go and let God, young man,' as if God's will could only be found by abandoning my search for it.  I became very discouraged in my attempts to locate this elusive thing called 'THE WILL OF GOD.'

"Are you at a place like that?  Maybe you want to move out of state, but you're not sure if it's God's will.  Perhaps you have been offered a new position but don't want to make a career move until you are certain that God is behind it.  Are you struggling with a difficult relationship and desperately need to know whether God wants you to walk away?  Everywhere people are wrestling with the same kinds of questions, and often it comes down to this:  'How can I know God's will for my life?'

"This may come as a surprise to you, but the Bible doesn't spend a lot of time on that stuff.  As I've said before, God's will is 98% about who you are.  God's focus isn't so much on the externals; He wants to change the inner you.  He says, 'If I can change you into the person I want you to be, you'll know where you're supposed to go, where you're supposed to work, and who you're supposed to marry.'  Paul said it plainly:  'For this is the will of God, your sanctification' (1 Thessalonians 4:3)."

The Story of Broke

I'm a little behind with the latest movie from The Story of Stuff.  Check out The Story of Broke at www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-broke.

learn ~ live ~ hope

"learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

the important thing is not to stop questioning."

~albert einstein~