As Valentine’s Day approaches, lot’s of people have chocolate on the brain. (Hopefully Fair Trade chocolate!) This year, to mark the occasion I decided to host a San Francisco screening of the film Dark Side of Chocolate, the documentary that goes undercover to reveal the bitter truth about child slavery in the cocoa industry.

Here’s why:
1. The Global Exchange Fair Trade campaign makes its easy to host this event (see below for just how easy.)
2. Many of my friends are unaware of what’s happening in the cocoa industry or what Fair Trade is all about. Hosting this screening seems like a great way to raise awareness with them and others who attend.
3. It doesn’t cost much (the film DVD and event toolkit cost just 6 bucks when you order online.)

Details for Dark Side of Chocolate Screening in San Francisco:

Flyer Design: Doran Shelley www.doranshelley.com

When: Sunday, February 6th 2011 at 8:00 pm (Super Bowl fans welcome!) Event Begins: 8pm Film Starts: 8:30pm
Where: Doc’s Clock 2575 Mission Street (Bet 21st & 22nd) San Francisco, CA
Price: $5-$25 sliding scale; no one turned away for lack of funds (must be 21+ years old with proper ID)
Event Highlights:

  • Film Showing of Dark Side of Chocolate
  • Fair Trade chocolate tasting courtesy of Alter Eco
  • Make Your Own Valentines — supplies will be provided including color-your-own Valentines asking Hershey to go Fair Trade
  • Fair Trade Introduction by Global Exchange Fair Trade Campaign Director Adrienne Fitch Frankel
  • Stiff drinks courtesy of Amesia, bartender extraordinaire and Fair Trade advocate
  • Proceeds benefit the Global Exchange Fair Trade Campaign

To Host Your Own Film Screening:

Now is THE perfect time to host a screening of your own. The National Week of Action for Dark Side of Chocolate screenings runs from February 4-14, 2011. So if you’d like to host your own screening all the info you need is provided on the Global Exchange website. You’ll be able to order the dvd plus download the Dark Side Toolkit.

Hosting a Dark Side of Chocolate film screening is not only a great way to raise awareness and action, but it is also a great way to raise critical resources for the Global Exchange Fair Trade campaign and help put an end to child labor and trafficking on cocoa farms. And I can tell you from experience, once you decide to host a screening, people will come out of the woodwork to help!

Dark Side of Chocolate movie trailer: