The good folks at Grendel in the Underworld linked to a report by Global Witness about how cacao is funding the civil war in Ivory Coast. This monster report (70+ pages of meticulously researched detail) discusses how both sides in the war are taxing cacao growing and transport, and how cacao is being smuggled through Togo and other countries to disguise its origins and evade government blockades. Cacao farmers face paying taxes to the government, and “escort taxes” to rebel groups to allow them through the maze of checkpoints set up throughout the country.
Depressing.
Next up: postings on making Batch 10, a cream powder based milk chocolate!
