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Eighth Grader To Lead Kids In Delivering 15,000 Petition Signatures Demanding Hershey's School Stop Exploiting Children

Eighth Grader To Lead Kids In Delivering 15,000 Petition Signatures Demanding Hershey's School Stop Exploiting Children

Published 02-13-12

Submitted by Green America

Pennsylvania Eighth Grade student, Jasper Perry-Anderson, will deliver more than 15,000 Valentine’s Day petition signatures collected in less than ten days to the Hershey School Trust, demanding the school stop profiting from the exploitation of children in West Africa.

When: Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, 10:00am ET

Where: Hershey School Trust Headquarters, 100 Mansion Road East, Hershey, PA 17033

What: Pennsylvania 8th Grader, family and friends will deliver more than 15,000 petition signatures and valentines to Hershey School Trust demanding they stop profiting from the exploitation of children in West Africa.

Jasper Perry-Anderson launched a campaign on Change.org after Hershey’s recent promise to improve the lives of West African children forced to harvest cocoa for Hershey’s failed to meet the standard set by competitors.

“Mr. Hershey established the Milton Hershey School and School Trust to provide full-time education and care for disadvantaged children,” said Jasper. “As the majority stockholder of Hershey’s Chocolate Company, the Hershey Trust also needs to do more to take care of the children in West Africa it’s exploiting for profit.”

The petition drop is coordinated by Raise the Bar, Hershey!, a coalition of organizations fighting ongoing labor abuses such as child labor, forced labor and trafficking in the cocoa industry.  The campaign has involved over one hundred thousand consumers who voiced their concerns to Hershey about the company’s child labor practices.

Jasper’s petition is live at:  http://www.change.org/petitions/hersheys-trust-stop-exploiting-children-to-grow-cocoa-beans. As of February 10, signature totals exceeded the goal of 15,000.

Journalists interested in contacting Hershey’s public relations staff should try:

Andy McCormick, Vice President, Public Affairs

(717) 534-5739

amccormick@hersheys.com

Kirk Saville, Spokesperson

(800) 468-1714

ksaville@hersheys.com

Contact information for petition signers in your area can be arranged upon request:

Amanda Kloer

Director of Organizing, Change.org

amanda@change.org

The Raise the Bar, Hershey! Coalition is led by the following organizations:

GREEN AMERICA is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. www.GreenAmerica.org

GLOBAL EXCHANGE is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. www.GlobalExchange.org

INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS FORUM is an advocacy organization dedicated to achieving just and humane treatment for workers worldwide. www.LaborRights.org

For more information on Change.org, please visit:

http://www.change.org/about

Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

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Green America

Green America

Green America is United States' leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America's green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses. To receive Green America's popular publications, including the Green American and the National Green Pages™, participate in Green Festivals, or to get its free e-newsletter, providing the latest green news, green discounts, and opportunities to take action for a green economy, visit http://www.GreenAmerica.org, email info@GreenAmericaToday.org, or call at 800-58-GREEN.

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