Hershey Investing $10 million in West Africa.

I think its insulting when you hear about some corporation 'investing' to fight child labour and to improve a community. They are there because they can make alot of profit and no other reason. I am sick of these blatant pr stories.

I am sick of people defending corporations like Apple by pointing to Bill Gates and Apples charity write off's. Its free advertising and they treat us like idiots.

They have even partnered with a 'conservation group' (advertising company) called Rainforest Allaince. This 'conservation group' even has a 'corporate grant giving' blurb

TextCorporate Grant Giving ButterflyCorporations can support the Rainforest Alliance in many valuable ways. A monetary or in-kind gift to the Rainforest Alliance shows your clients, colleagues and employees that you care about the environment, support sustainable production and practices, and want the world's rich biodiversity and beautiful landscapes to last for generations to come. For more information, contact the development team at the Rainforest Alliance

A very savvy 'conservation group'.

If Hershey is 'investing' $10 million over five years I would like to hear what profit margins they are squeezing them for.

CNN

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com...

www.rainforest-alliance.org...

www.ra.org...

And the 'conservation group' brings you to SAN (sustainable agriculture network)

sanstandards.org...

They seem to be climate change propagandists amongst other things. They offer certificates for the 'SANS Sustainable Agriculture Standards' .. I wonder if they get in on any of the $10 million.

Isn't Bill Gates in Microsoft? And I think one can hardly compare the charitable efforts of Gates to this PR campaign by Hershey, IMO.

I live in Hershey, PA, and the chocolate company has had a love/hate relationship with the people in the town. Essentially, they get what they want in the town, "or else!" Slowly, over the years, they have been moving workers out of the town to cut down on labor costs. Nonetheless, my read on this - on the conservative end - is that they are buying PR. On the conspiratorial end, it probably has something to do with laying the foundation for GMO crops, cocoa beans, sugar cane, etc., directed by the evil cabal.

I don't eat the chocolate, as it isn't really chocolate.


Anyway, interesting topic, OP.

reply to post by theubermensch


They even offer Rainforest Allaince 'seals' to slap on your products to comfort your hippy customers. They seem to be great at promoting a corporations 'green credentials'

TextMarketing Your Commitment to Sustainability You've done the hard part... You've made the commitment to support sustainability and are working with the Rainforest Alliance to achieve your goals. (Not working with us yet? Learn how to engage your food or beverage, wood or paper or tourism business today.) The next step is to build a communications and marketing strategy to promote your green credentials. And we're here to help. Here you will find tips for: Using our marks - the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal, Rainforest Alliance Verified mark, and Rainforest Alliance logo Raising Awareness among consumers, employees, the media, and your online community Talking about our work and your affiliation with the Rainforest Alliance Still don't see what you’re looking for? Email [email protected] with questions.

www.ra.org...

Hershey has been struggling the last few years. They have had quite many layoffs the last few years. The competitive costs are driving them overseas. Milton Hershey would be rolling in his grave. I usually get to Hershey park every year, pretty neat how he built the whole town around his company.

Originally posted by micmerci
Isn't Bill Gates in Microsoft? And I think one can hardly compare the charitable efforts of Gates to this PR campaign by Hershey, IMO.

Im not comparing. Im just saying these are tax write offs and free advertising. Its pr to distract us.

reply to post by micmerci


I agree. For one, Bill Gates is an individual who has given away a substantial amount of his personal fortune for a cause he believes in. Hershey is a corporation trading money for PR, like has been said here already. I'm not a fan of that sort of practice as there's always an ulterior motive, usually in the name of profit.

reply to post by theubermensch

I think the likes of Gates and Warren Buffett are true philanthropists and they should be commended for their efforts. Hershey is truly buying into a PR campaign.

reply to post by Mapkar

TextHershey is a corporation trading money for PR, like has been said here already. I'm not a fan of that sort of practice as there's always an ulterior motive, usually in the name of profit.

Yeah,and it really gets me that these conservation groups are just fronts looking for big contracts. Its insulting.

reply to post by the ubermench,
reply to post byMapkar

"TextHershey is a corporation trading money for PR, like has been said here already. I'm not a fan of that sort of practice as there's always an ulterior motive, usually in the name of profit.

Yeah,and it really gets me that these conservation groups are just fronts looking for big contracts. Its insulting. "

reply to post by theubermensch

Have any of you not heard of the impending collapse of the coco plantations in the Ivory Coast and other west African nations? I say good on Hershey, Cadburyand the Coco Campaign. Their investment and intervention will foster a sustainable coco industry in the area that is on the verge of a catastrophic collapse due to poor farming techniques and gross mismanagement by unscrupulous plantation owners. The plan is for these firms to purchase these plantations and return them to the worker families, offering training in sustainable crop farming and administration and ensuring fair trade wages for these same workers and their families. So if these big companies didn't fork over the cash and programs would the lives of these children change? No they wouldn't... At least now there is a chance for these children and their families to better their lives and working conditions.

You people really get to me sometimes... You bitch and whine that big corporations use and abuse, incite boycotts to force them to change their ways, but when they do you all just bash them again for doing it as a marketing gimmick. Who really cares what their motivation is as long as their doing it. That fact that the boycotts worked just means that the bitch worked. Say thank you for listening instead. Or give yourselves a pat on the back if it makes you feel better

Originally posted by palg1
reply to post by theubermensch

 

Have any of you not heard of the impending collapse of the coco plantations in the Ivory Coast and other west African nations? I say good on Hershey, Cadburyand the Coco Campaign. Their investment and intervention will foster a sustainable coco industry in the area that is on the verge of a catastrophic collapse due to poor farming techniques and gross mismanagement by unscrupulous plantation owners. The plan is for these firms to purchase these plantations and return them to the worker families, offering training in sustainable crop farming and administration and ensuring fair trade wages for these same workers and their families

I guess it isnt the most negative thing in the world. One thing I have noticed is since OWS corporations seem to be spending alot more time advertising that they are giving back and have a social conscience. .

Originally posted by palg1
reply to post by the ubermench,
reply to post byMapkar

 

You people really get to me sometimes... You bitch and whine that big corporations use and abuse, incite boycotts to force them to change their ways, but when they do you all just bash them again for doing it as a marketing gimmick. Who really cares what their motivation is as long as their doing it. That fact that the boycotts worked just means that the bitch worked. Say thank you for listening instead. Or give yourselves a pat on the back if it makes you feel better

edit on 1-2-2012 by palg1 because: (no reason given)

With Hershey's history of child labor abuses in West Africa this $10 mil is the equivalent to Colonists turning slaves into indentured servents. There is no good intention in any of it. Don't kid yourself!

reply to post by palg1


I have to say good for you. I stumbled across a LOT of information last year when I was working on my survival garden. I wanted to plant cocoa trees, and did some research, and found out that there has been a LOT of help in assisting cocoa farmers in other countries, including Africa.

They sent groups of volunteers to live with them for weeks and teach them and their families how to farm cocoa trees, how to inspect them for disease, and how to treat the trees for insects and disease. It has done a lot to help them create incomes and better their situations, and build schools for the kids.

I ended up learning a lot more about cocoa than I ever set out to know, but it was wonderful knowing things like this were happening, and even though you didn't hear about it on the news, and no one was bragging, it went on anyways.

I did end up buying my cocoa pod, and growing my cocoa trees. Out of 31 seeds, all 31 sprouted. I have, this winter, a bathroom full of beautiful 2 ft high cocoa trees eagerly awaiting springtime.

www.worldcocoa.org...

I went on from this website to learn a *lot* more.

The worlds largest producer of cocoa is Africa, and it is bringing things to them they never thought possible. Whole families, even whole towns, work together to better their lives.

reply to post by palg1

TextYou people really get to me sometimes... You bitch and whine that big corporations use and abuse, incite boycotts to force them to change their ways, but when they do you all just bash them again for doing it as a marketing gimmick. Who really cares what their motivation is as long as their doing it. That fact that the boycotts worked just means that the bitch worked. Say thank you for listening instead. Or give yourselves a pat on the back if it makes you feel better

Capitalist cheerleaders like you really get to me. If you remove the capitalism/imperialism you remove the need for 'charity'.

And you want me to say thanks to these imperialist pigs?

People like you are too easily pleased. So you feel "heartened" like the braindead activists do you? Well thats just special. Thank god for the 'job creators'. What would we do without them?

Originally posted by Mapkar
reply to post by micmerci

 

I agree. For one, Bill Gates is an individual who has given away a substantial amount of his personal fortune for a cause he believes in. Hershey is a corporation trading money for PR, like has been said here already. I'm not a fan of that sort of practice as there's always an ulterior motive, usually in the name of profit.

Oh don't worry, Gates is making a big statement about how he feels about people when he says that he likes vaccines for zero population growth. He is CoR which is behind UN Agenda 21. Very Elite. How nice of him to slip those vaccines laced with sterlilants to unsuspecting women thinking they are fighting some disease like measles.

reply to post by theubermensch
Wow, Sounds like I struck a cord...
For one thing, the overall intention of the chocolate manufactures is indeed ensuring a ready source of product. Yes I acknowledge this and the fact that unscrupulous cocoa buyers were largely to blame in the first place. I wonder though, if you are so jaded that you can't see the good that comes out of the support, financial and otherwise, that is being used to change the dire conditions that was in fact killing these poor people. The fact that I applaud the firms that are taking action is a purely humanitarian reaction on my part. I think those manufacturers are liable for what had taken place in the past, but I sure as hell won't vilify them for the support, even the smallest actions, that they undertake in order to help rectify the harm done.



PS: I feel really bad for those who resort to name calling when they do not have the ability to form an intelligent argument to support their opinions. Maybe all of you who feel targeted by this remark should think before speaking next time.

Originally posted by palg1
reply to post by theubermensch

 

Wow, Sounds like I struck a cord...
For one thing, the overall intention of the chocolate manufactures is indeed ensuring a ready source of product. Yes I acknowledge this and the fact that unscrupulous cocoa buyers were largely to blame in the first place. I wonder though, if you are so jaded that you can't see the good that comes out of the support, financial and otherwise, that is being used to change the dire conditions that was in fact killing these poor people. The fact that I applaud the firms that are taking action is a purely humanitarian reaction on my part. I think those manufacturers are liable for what had taken place in the past, but I sure as hell won't vilify them for the support, even the smallest actions, that they undertake in order to help rectify the harm done.



PS: I feel really bad for those who resort to name calling when they do not have the ability to form an intelligent argument to support their opinions. Maybe all of you who feel targeted by this remark should think before speaking next time.

PostScript- If you look at my first response I threw you a bone. I know there is no sense arguing with a defeatist. Then after your obnoxious edit I thought I may as well call you out for the capitalist cheerleader that you are. I feel sorry for those that feel the need to act obnoxious when they are attempting to form an intelligent argument to support their cheerleading capitalist opinions. And Im talking to you.

reply to post by Libertygal


Hello! Where or what parts of the world can grow cocoa? Where did you buy the seeds from? It sounds interesting.