IT MATTERS: Why is there a gorilla on the front of this Eco MaG made from an empty chocolate bar package? Please notice that the wording on the packaging states “Fair for Life” and “Quality Assurance International Certified Organic”.

The next time we have a craving for that delicious confection, please consider the following:

--"Gorillas are the largest and most vulnerable of humankind’s three closest relatives, the African apes." One of the gravest threats facing gorillas is destruction of their rainforest habitat through logging, mining, and slash-and-burn agriculture.   Western lowland gorillas' primary habitat is Southeast Nigeria, Cameroon, Rio Muni, Gabon, and Congo in Angola. (1)

--Slash-and-burn cacao farming has stripped the world of hundreds of thousands of acres of rainforest. Farming of crops like cocoa, cassava and oil palm has resulted in widespread deforestation and degradation of West Africa’s tropical forest area. Cocoa production in West Africa and the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon account for 70 percent of global cocoa supply. (2)

--Despite the fact that the U.S. alone spends $13 billion a year on cocoa products, many cacao farmers are impoverished.

What we can do about it:

Next time we buy a chocolate bar, look for products that are certified Fair Trade chocolate and are certified organic.

"When farmers and laborers are paid a fair price for the products they produce, rather than being exploited for cheap labor, that is considered 'Fair Trade.' Because they are paid a fair wage, producers can avoid cost-cutting practices that sacrifice quality and are destructive to the environment.

For example, Fair Trade chocolate is typically organic and shade-grown, meaning it is grown under the canopy of the rainforest rather than in a clear cut field." (3) Organic agriculture means produce grown without the use of toxic pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides, and is GMO-free.

Fair Trade products include coffee, tea, rice, fresh fruit, juices, sugar, honey, sports balls, wine, flowers, and cocoa. Fair Trade chocolate certification is based on the standards set forth by Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International, (4) a consortium of trade groups throughout the world who establish the criteria for all Fair Trade products, including Fair Trade chocolate.

Quality Assurance International (QAI) is a U.S.-based international organic certification company that is authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “a USDA-accredited certifying agent that operates globally to certify organic operations to National Organic Program standards.” (5)

Eco MaGs by mayah are mini-art pieces made out of reused/recycled materials from my own home, then backed with magnets so they can hang on the 'frig. This MaG is made from reused: Fair Trade/Organic chocolate bar packaging; photo of gorilla from World Wildlife Federation (6) advertising catalog; corrugated and other cardboard; scrap paper. Nontoxic glue, magnet backing.

Everything we do as consumers makes a difference. It Matters.

Related Blogs:

Art: Plastic Wreath http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1971675 Eco Art with a social conscience: plastic bags are dumped in landfills and end up in the ocean by the BILLIONS each year across the United States.

Art: Protect the Spirit Bear http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1880039 Spirit Bears only live on the coast of British Columbia. Their habitat is endangered by the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline that would carry 500,000 barrels a day of oil from the Alberta tar sands directly through the home of the Spirit Bear.

Art: Rain Forest Toucan http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1928511
More Eco Art with a social conscience: Rainforest Alliance

Art:"North Meets South" http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1941272  Eco MaG with a social conscience: Ice melting in Northern/Southern hemispheres threatens animal species and indigneous people's way of life.

Resources :

(1) Western Lowland Gorillas  http://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/great-apes/western-lowland-gorillas.aspx

(2) Slash-and-Burn Hurts African Eco-System: http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2011/04/11/slash-and-burn-threatens-african-...

(3) Fair Trade Chocolate: http://www.facts-about-chocolate.com/fair-trade-chocolate/

(4)FairTrade International: http://www.fairtrade.net/

(5) Quality Assurance International: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_Assurance_International

(6) World Wildlife Federation: http://worldwildlifefederation.org/ 

More Recent Eco Art by mayah:

New: Art: "Vision"  http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1939830
This art piece is an example of "shamanic art", when the energy of Spirit is felt very strongly and a message is given.

New: HomeMade Art http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1939828   Eco Art with frames from Goodwill Industries--I like the idea of reusing frames rather than buying brand new ones. Maybe my art will end up at Goodwill some day too; hopefully, someone will come along and reuse the frame and make something new out of the art work like I have!

New: Art: Fall Leaves http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1939820  
Yeah, I know, it's Spring but these are two Eco Art pieces I worked on this Mother's Day weekend that recycle my own art! Happy Mother's Day, Mother Earth!!


"Shaman's Journey" http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1927087

"The Inner Workings of Time" http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1925614

"Spirit Owl" and "Meditation" http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1924826

"Three Buddhas" http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1924123

"Car Nation": http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1923757

"Life's a Gambol" and "Leaf Baby" http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1921920

"In Memoriam" Anniversaries of Gulf Oil Spill/Fukushima http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1921911

"Corn Goddess" http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1921901

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