Yes, we are posting this blog a little late, but it seems continually apropos. We are now in a new year and a new decade, with hope and energy for the tasks ahead.

Launched by the United Nations in 2006 with Lech Walesa as the keynote speaker, Solidarity Day recognizes the need for unified action to effect positive global change. The man who put the word solidarity on the map, Walesa (electrician to President to Nobel Peace Prize winner) rallied Poland’s workers together, and inspired people throughout the world to join their voices. His simple message; Standing together will bring good change. Through cooperative effort hunger, disease, environmental destruction, and oppression can be eradicated.

“By simply being born into this world, we are of one inheritance and one stock with every other human being. This oneness expresses itself in all the richness and diversity of the human family: in different races, cultures, languages and histories. And we are called to recognize the basic solidarity of the human family as the fundamental condition of our life together on this earth.”
—Pope John Paul II

We reflect on this powerful quote to remember that we can all do better. We must strive to live out this eloquent message of “unity across diversity” without excluding any group. It is good to have persistent reminders that we all need to work on opening our hearts and minds to those who are different than us.

Intrigue Chocolates has a deep commitment to social justice through solidarity. We believe that individuals and businesses are responsible for bringing about positive change. As a small company we are not able to make monetary donations, but we will do what we are able and continue to be a part of charitable fundraisers whenever possible.

On December 10, 1948 in Paris, the United Nations adopted the now historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Holding title to the world’s most translated document, the UDHR says everyone has “the right to life, liberty and nationality, to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to work, to be educated, [and] to take part in government.”

Along with the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Human Rights (Navi Pillay), Intrigue Chocolates urges you to celebrate Human Rights Day by advocating non-discrimination (the focus for 2009). Too often ordinary citizens—not just governments and political leaders—are silent when faced with prejudice that interferes with the social, economic, civil, political, and cultural rights of others. It’s hard to know what one person can do for people that are miles and oceans away. We also miss the trees for the forest, losing sight of local issues because the problems seem too big.

Something you can DO: Raise awareness and reach out to your community by joining in Amnesty International’s global “write-a-thon”. Write a letter for Amnesty to send to the appropriate governments regarding real people being held for political reasons as “prisoners of conscience”. Read their personal stories at Amnesty’s website, and if you aren’t able to organize a group, make the commitment to write at least one letter as an act of compassion in the name of worldwide human rights. (http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon)

Each one of us can make a difference. And we believe that businesses—as well as individuals—are called upon to contribute. Though we don’t have the means to make major financial donations, we remain dedicated to evolving as a socially and ecologically conscious business. We give our pledge this Human Rights Day that we will keep economic justice, environmental responsibility, and the support of nonprofits for at-risk populations in our community at the heart of what we do here at Intrigue Chocolates (plus we are going to write an Amnesty Letter!)