Hello all Chinese Whisperers,

Isn't it wonderful that Spring has arrived so early here in Portugal to energise us all in our work and studies? However, there is also the more concerning aspect, that possibly this is a sign of the Climate Change that is affecting our planet. In the autumn we worked on Ecotourism as a response to some of the planet's problems and now, exploring Francesca Beard's Chinese Whispers has raised yet another area to think about and consider changing in our lives - ethical consumerism. Having watched the programme about the cocoa trade, chocolate has become for us a symbol of the complex issues involved as you can explore in the links below.

I'm looking forward to hearing some of your views on the subject, but to get you thinking, go to the British Council's learnenglish central. Read the articles, do the activities and try the games! Try BBC's learningenglish on 'calls for conflict-free cocoa', watch the clip from award-winning Bittersweet, visit Blood Diamond to make the ethical link with another favourite luxury procured at great human cost...then come back and blog your views...

'bye for now! Ms.Melvin :)

British Council

Bitter Sweet Cocoa trade video

Calls to ensure conflict free cocoa

'Child cocoa workers exploited on the Ivory Coast', BBC news article

Contribute to the BBC Learningenglish Blog too!

Blood Diamond - the film - review it?