環(huán)球英語 — 63：Organic Chocolate

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Hello. I’m Marina Santee.

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And I’m Elizabeth Lickiss. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

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Milk chocolate.

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Dark chocolate.

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White chocolate.

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Fruit or nuts covered with chocolate.

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Chocolate milk.

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Hot chocolate milk.

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Chocolate biscuits.

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Chocolate cake.

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Chocolate ice cream.

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There are many different ways to enjoy chocolate. People all over the world enjoy a chocolate treat.

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. Farmers spend many hours looking after and harvesting their crop of beans. Many farmers use chemical fertilizers to help their crops grow. They use other chemicals to kill the insect pests that attack the plants. But some farmers in Venezuela are choosing another way to farm cocoa beans. They are going back to traditional methods. They are growing their beans without using chemicals. This makes the job much harder for them. It is a risky business. The farmers have to spend a lot more time looking after their crops. They have to protect them from disease and insect pests. But these farmers believe that this natural way of farming is best. It is called organic farming. Today we look at the organic farming of chocolate and ask - why is organic farming becoming so popular?

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So where did the world’s love of chocolate first originate? Experts say that the ancient Aztec communities in South America first used cocoa beans. They paid each other using cocoa beans. They used the beans like we use money. The beans were very popular. The Aztec people used the beans to make a special drink. In ancient times people believed that chocolate was linked to power, religion and love. Some ancient people believed that chocolate made a person more fertile. They believed that chocolate helped them think more clearly. Some people even believed that chocolate had special healing powers.

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Spanish sailors arrived in South America in the sixteenth [16th] century. They observed how the Aztec people used the cocoa beans. They heard them speak about the special powers of the cocoa bean drink. The Spanish sailors decided to bring some beans back with them to Spain. The Spanish people also made a hot drink with the beans. But they decided to add sugar. The sweet ‘chocolate’ was very popular. Soon everyone in Europe and America were enjoying it.

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There were many stories concerning the sweet chocolate. Some people believed that chocolate would cure heart disease. Others said that it made the skin look better. A group of chocolate-makers made an even more surprising claim. They said that their chocolate would stop people from getting old! There were many untrue beliefs about chocolate. But one thing was true. And it is true today. Almost everyone likes chocolate. Give a child a chocolate and they will smile. Offer an adult a chocolate and they will smile too!

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So what is it about chocolate that makes people happy? Doctors and scientists believe they have the answer. They have identified special chemicals in chocolate. These chemicals react with a person’s brain. They make them feel happier. Maybe that explains why chocolate remains one of the worlds most popular treats.

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In fact so many people like chocolate that it has become big business. Cocoa farmers work hard to provide the world with enough cocoa beans.

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Deep inside Venezuela’s forest Jose Lugo looks after his cacao trees. He spends five hours a day, every day, taking care of them. These trees will provide him with the special cocoa beans. So he protects them against pest, insects and bad weather. He never uses any chemicals. Jose is an organic farmer. Organic farming is hard work. It takes two times as long to farm this way. So why are the farmers doing it?

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It may be hard work by Jose believes it is worth it. He gets four times more money for his organic cocoa beans. Everyone in the chocolate industry wants organic cocoa beans.

Normally farmers sell their beans to a ‘middle man’. This man then sells the beans to the factory. The ‘middle man’ takes some of the profit from selling the beans.

But the organic beans are in great demand. Jose can sell his beans straight to the chocolate factories. He does not need a ‘middle man’. The factories give him a good price for his beans.

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The government of Venezuela is happy to encourage organic farming. Growing more cocoa beans will further protect the forest. Cocoa beans do not grow well without the protection of the forest trees. So the more cocoa bean farming that takes place the better. It will ensure that the forests are kept and developed. They will not be cut down for other crops. Organic cocoa bean production also helps to develop Venezuela’s export industry. It increases the countries economic wealth. The government has given around ten million dollars [$10,000,000] to encourage organic farming. The government has used this money to give farmers training in organic farming methods. Now farmers like Jose are prepared. They have the knowledge they need to produce good strong organic crops. Jose sells his beans to several major chocolate manufacturers in Italy, France and America. They consider his organic beans to be the very best.

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So why do people want organic produce? Why is there such a demand for organic chocolate? Organic food costs more to produce. So it costs more to buy. But some people are concerned about the effects of chemicals. They worry that the chemicals are bad for the environment. They also worry that the chemicals are bad for their bodies. They believe that organic food is better for people and the environment.

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It is strange to think that when we purchase food we have power. We have the power to influence how it is produced in the future. But it is true. The desire for organic food has led to more changes in farming methods. These farming methods are better for the environment. They may also prove to be better for people’s health. But do we really consider the story behind all the things we buy? Not just food but other items. For example, do you know who made your shoes? Was the person who made them paid a fair price? What are the shoes made from? Are they made from the skin of a rare animal? Many people are starting to think more seriously about these issues.

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But not everyone has enough money to make these choices. They have to buy what they can with the money they have. Jesus Christ said that people who have much have a greater responsibility. Responsibility comes with power, position and wealth. If those who are able take their responsibilities seriously they can make life better for everyone.