so join us in the debt. already made in the shallows. child trafficking down forced labor those are the allegations found in a lawsuit against some of the world's largest chocolate producers we heard disturbing testimony. last month tara uses for your clothes were not given to those are visible scars from machete accidents. a dutch court declares the government's covert curfew to be illegal ruling that ministers misused emergency powers. french lawmakers approved a 90 separatism bill which critics say would unfairly target muslim opponents to the legislation have been rallying for days in paris. and as u.s. democrats announce plans for a 911 style commission into the capitol riots we are asking if they're planning

a mccarthy era witchhunt. every well welcome to you it's midday here in moscow and you're watching r.t. international with me becky airing our top story the unsavory business practices of some of the world's biggest chocolate produces have been placed under the spotlight that's off the international ryan sounds because filed a lawsuit alleging that it's not giants including models at nestlé and hershey's forced children as young as 11 to make their products. looks into the not so sweet story behind your favorite chocolate bar. one chocolate cannot get more dark i'm not talking about the percentage of milk but rather how much child labor is used in

production human rights activists are suing a number of food giants on the u.s. market including the likes of mars the reason claims of knowingly benefiting from selling cheap cocoa harvested by child slaves these companies are working together through the world cocoa federation these companies are profiting handsomely from the very cheap cocoa that they get from using child slaves children who were kidnapped from mali and brought to cold war and floors to work. they came to hold of war between the ages of 11 in 14 and each of them ended up working for several years before they managed to escape so the activist are sounding the alarm over ivory coast a fact to think of the country exports more cocoa than anyone else on the planet now providing about 2 thirds of the world's supply which makes it very likely that the regular chocolate bar you eat tastes of illegal child labor while you're

chilling just picture what slavery is like here's what the activist heard from kids who escaped after years of misery ease of was told he would be fed and paid his wages at the end of the season he cleared brush with a machete apply pesticides and herbicides without any safety instructions or protective gear he slept on the plantation alone and a ragged top he was exposed to in 6 in snakes he was given very little food and was often hungry at the end of the year he was not paid repeated stories of disastrous safety food work and living conditions all to end up being fooled with pay. whose main tara and his suv baguio co was about 6 to 7 hours to the small isolated village of samara duca they were not given any food and they were only able to drink water down to the river they did everything on the plantation without any

protective gear but visible scars from machete accidents and american government study found the number of children harvesting cocoa in west africa has gone up year on year and is now about $1600000.00 more than 95 per cent are engaged in hazardous work companies in the big chocolate business admit there's an issue with child labor and pretty much all claim they're doing their best to tackle it but in their defense they're trying to tell the critics how hard it is to monitor such a massive industry some businesses have built schools in africa many have come up with programs to avoid child abuse the activists however claim the programs could actually be used as schemes to create a positive image but hide the scale of slavery horrors good arrests and the role of these fake programs that sound good on paper the cocoa action plan the nestle cocoa

plan and it's all just a lie what they're actually doing is continuing to change nothing except they create a small model program that monitors a tiny fraction of their supply chain so they can convince some consumers at least that they're making progress according to the lawsuit only 30 percent of the plantations are subject to scrutiny the rest are the so-called free zones where there's claim to be 0 monitoring so even if the food giants efforts are indeed aimed at the right thing the reality of the cocoa business is darker than the darkest chocolate bar you've ever tasted. the chocolate giants we reached out to are yet to respond to our request for comment on the allegations. a court in the hague has ruled that the dutch government's controversial covert curfew is illegal after it said that all thora teams had misused emergency powers

the curfew will however remain in place until the government's appeal on friday here's artie's peace to all of a with more. well this 9 pm curfew that's been in place in the netherlands to try and stop the spread of covert nineteen's been one of the most controversial measures that's been put in across the european continent on tuesday a court in the hague said it was illegal the curfew is a far reaching violation of the right to freedom of movement and previously and indirectly limits among other things the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration the curfew is based on a law for emergency situations where there's no time for debate with parliament there was no such pressing need in this case no such pressing need seems to be one of the key phrases in the ruling it relates directly to the fact that the number of covert cases in the netherlands has been declining steadily since mid december we did see demonstrations against this curfew demonstrations that turned violent

clashes between protesters and police bordering on full blown riot in cities like amsterdam and rotterdam earlier this year but despite the court ruling on tuesday that curfew remains in place the reason for that is markedly to the dutch prime minister and his government they applied for an emergency injunction against the court ruling to allow the the curfew to remain in place so it could be debated further that injunction was granted mark routers says the curfew is necessary to get covert numbers down and keep them down. the curfew is a means not a girl i can't emphasize that often enough the aim is to bring the virus under control so we can regain all our freedoms the reason the curfew was introduced and thus not changed. well mr it is government working on ways to put in place new laws that would essentially allow the curfew to be rendered legal what we are

seeing though when it comes to people on the streets in the netherlands is there's a fairly mixed opinion right now to whether this curfew needs to be gotten rid off or whether it needs to stay. that curfew makes absolutely no sense what they've done now they try to keep those students in but if those students go somewhere before 9 pm and only go out again in the morning that's fine too the curfew it was no use they have to ground those planes so that people can't travel because as long as people continue to travel they will continue to travel. i notice that people who don't have much to do with it have less trouble with karana i've had chronic myself so i know how bad it can be my mother died of it recently we also noticed that there are fewer flu symptoms fewer cold complaints also because people have less contact and stick to the rules in a better manner i think the responsibility should lie with every individual i

didn't like the curfew myself but they didn't think they had to protest against it either it doesn't bother me personally because i'm not coming out of work after 9 pm anyway but i mean it matters for people like my brother who come back from work at a 9 well this is all very messy legally it may well have huge repercussions for the more than 50000 people who've already been 100 fines for breaching the curfew by the police we are expecting more to come on 'd this it's up for debate on friday in the netherlands we'll see whether that curfew remains whether it goes or the route comes back in some different type of for. it's what israelis refusing to get a coronavirus job placing fund themselves on a government blacklist at least 1000 what the israeli prime minister has suggested raising concerns over possible privacy violations and discrimination israel has a world leading vaccination program but its recent loss of momentum has has worried

prime minister benjamin netanyahu the government is now considering taking a series of measures to boost uptake among the population they include launching a campaign against this information introducing a law aimed at people refusing to get the job as well as giving immunity passports to those inoculated. the reason to go and get vaccinated is that we are now launching the green passport plan has been vaccinated will be able to go enjoy the stats of the cinema sports events flights abroad restaurants and more. the new measures sparked protests outside the prime minister's residence in jerusalem with hundreds demanding netanyahu is resignation accusing him of mishandling the pandemic and corruption the proposal to share the names of unvaccinated people with all thora t's has raised concerns over privacy violations

and possible discrimination and be met with a mixed reaction among israelis. the government should. convince the people but not like you force them to do that this manner you have to be very vigilant for the. privacy of the citizens but over public health all measures should be taken of course you can't force someone to be vaccinated because what you care. for believe him to enter to enter into closed places close areas where he can infect other people it's ok to do it to protect the safety and health of all the people around violating one right to protect all the others people. after weeks of heated debate the french national assembly has voted in favor of a bill against separatism it was proposed to curb radical islam after

a series of killings including the brutal beheading of a history teacher last october but critics say it unfairly targets the country's 5700000 muslims lawmakers adopted more than 300 amendments to the bill and many m.p.'s are still all happy with the finished product. sid it's not it is upset silence an absence in other words the existing separate as they call it is not the same for everyone richard it takes a pretty aim of this bill is precisely to reinforce our legislative arsenal to combat separatism and to allow the republic to act within the rule of law not a group or court to defend the principles of the republic leave verjuice religious extremism and its dramatic consequences is a serious challenge of our time well this law is aimed at in trying to found the use of the french for public it includes a tightening of rules around things such as religious teaching to online hate and

it will also see chance sentences doctors who perform the genesee tests now the idea of this war was to stop islam ists from creating communities that reject the country secular dentity and also values of equality between men and women this is how the country's interior minister put it the bill provides concrete responses to the development of radical islam an ideology hostile to the principles and values on which the republic is founded this is the law was debated for wilson allison the national assembly with m.p.'s impulse and going through every section of it more than a 100 hours was spent on that in fact and there were more than $5300.00 amendments made that despite all ringback of that talking this view is seen by some as being ringback king to a witch hunt against muslims are secular in each presidential election particularly muslims are the focus of debates leave us alone leave islam alone. for the more

difficult if we really want to fight against terrorism what's going on today has nothing to do with this fight on the contrary it will only make it worse. it scares me it scares me for the youth because the problem is yes we wear a veil yes we are muslim so what because we are muslims it doesn't mean that we're islamists it is necessary to make the distinction. now the bill has also sparked diplomatic problems and tensions with other countries you might remember but there was critical coverage in the english language media at the lead to present my point of personally intervened said he was unhappy about apps and it's also starting ties with countries such as pakistan and turkey don't forget there were protests held across the muslim world there were even effigies of president map on the bill burton such as the discontentment with this crackdown and the suggestions about

this rule but analysts say it doesn't go far enough there is dissatisfaction and this you didn't include a ban on women wearing these are make head scarves in areas such as university so it does seem that nobody was really happy with that spike in fact this bill passed or that this 1st reading this bill had been in the works spoke very long time over year ago president it talks about creating a bill like this but it really came and sharp focus following a spate of islam at a terror attacks in france last year it was of course the brutal beheading of history teacher samuel patty and then 3 people being slain as a church in nice really a time before it's to reflect and decide how it was going to target this issue that keeps rearing its head time and time again so you'd be really interested to see how this plays out larry let's not forget though this is just the 1st hurdle yes it's been represented by the deputies in the national assembly but it now has to go to

the senate where there is a suggestion that it will be strengthened even more. still to come it's our support for life 3rd political party in the us reaches an all time high we are both if this thing if they are to the us political crisis this story and more coming up after this short break. thanks to a. join me every. time i'm sure and i'll be speaking to us from the world of sports i'm sure i'll see you then.

welcome back to our 2 parties thrashing it out in the recent u.s.

election wasn't enough for you you may be in luck as a new poll shows support for a 3rd american political party has reached an all time high according to the study significantly more than half of americans now support the idea it's the highest rate since the question 1st started being asked nationally by the gallup polling group 18 years ago 46 percent of democrats say a 3rd party is needed down from 52 percent in september interestingly a record high of republicans favor a 3rd party but trump supporters are still willing to help him unite the ranks and i said mr president this magnum movement needs to continue we need to unite the party truck closest the way back in 2022 when earlier we discussed the current state of u.s. politics with a panel of experts. i think that in the republican party you have 2 factions you have a conservative approach from faction and then you have the establishment side yes

doubtless from inside has really not been favorable to conservatives who see what's going on right now legislative lead america tantamount to basically having a you know party you basically have 2 progressive parties that are for big government they're for reckless spending and growing the size of government and all of these things that conservatives and libertarians have traditionally been against so i think that we're president's trumps basically his expulsion if you want to call it that from the mainstream g.o.p. used the system is rigged against libertarians and green party and others the democratic and republican party do collude they do share the same philosophy they're both part of the same warfare welfare state they stare the same view toward power the real problem is that government that politics has playing too big of a role in the lives of americans has become our national sport the democrats often the green new deal that's a green party policy. universal health care those are green party policies free

college tuition those are great public party policies but they get co-opted by the democrats but the democrats really can't implement those policies because of their allegiance to their donor base and that's the problem with both parties that whether or not a 3rd party is actually good for their cause is debatable because generally 3rd parties are seen mostly as a spoiler in america building a movement of people who are non partisan who are beyond partisan what transpires and the best way to break up some of the monopoly that's held and shared by the republicans and democrats who are completely completely corrupt state parties governor governor races even here locally city council mayor races so we're going to start from the bottom up we also have some lobbying that we have to do and i know 3rd parties don't want to do that but there's legislation that needs to be changed to make it make us elections more fair for everybody and if order voters

more choices at their ballot. the former u.s. president might have been acquitted it's but his supporters may not be off the hook and it's not the democrats announced plans for a $911.00 style commission to investigate the capitol riots artie's dawdled quarter asks if a mccarthy era witchhunt is on the horizon. repression want to one you got to know how to tell friend from foe back in the mccarthy era when people accused of being a communist were being arrested left and right cold war conservatives had a system for how to find a red under the bed if a person defends the activity of the communist nations well consistently attacking the domestic and foreign policy of the united states she may be a communist now it seems the descendants of those hunters have become the hunted the democrats may have failed to impeach donald trump for a 2nd time but they are far from giving up their crusade against the former president and anyone who dares to support him our next step will be to establish an

outside independent $911.00 type commission to investigate and report in fact and cost us relating to the january 6th 2021 domestic terrorist attack upon the united states capitol complex a $911.00 type commission what does that mean that the same torture program an arbitrary detentions that washington deployed in response to that terrible attack it's still not clear but some democrats are suggesting that a commission is just not enough and they're going to be i believe in the department of justice and the white nationalism a task force to make sure that they are understanding that the earliest of ages out there be radicalized because after all the democrats see no difference between the people who stormed the capitol building and members of al qaida or the islamic state the threat of domestic terrorism preceded that terrible day the biggest terror threat in this country comes from radicals on the far right primarily white men threats of violence from homegrown extremists are growing in the wake of the

insurrectionist attack on the capital sound familiar when a great democracies destroyed it will not be from enemies from without but rather because of enemies from within the democrats are saying this is only the beginning this impeachment trial was just the start of holding donald trump accountable but that we need to make sure that we're doing accountability of anyone who incited encourage or committed acts of violence we haven't even gotten into the. of it and already some conservatives feel that they are in danger. children. are armed guards. or places with a democrat controlled government dead set on bulldozing its opposition many are having a hard time imagining a future that doesn't resemble the political paranoia of 1950 s. america that's the wrong to come. january 6th in front of a couple both to. look nice in afghanistan

but some of the lads it was executed through these are groups who are playing in the united states. over 3 pounds in. our. company 11. and. january 6 is. the public of democrats and we have made it but do we need to notify yes. nancy pelosi. and impeachment of president. 8 hours that. she didn't envision us we hope. without true investigation. around hall thought employees at the new york times don't feel comfortable expressing their views freely at the

newspaper that's according to a recent in-house survey 49 percent said they didn't feel able to speak their minds at the paper and follows a series of allegations that more moderate employees at the new york times were forced out the newspapers management has admitted that the situation could be better. although the majority of us feel well informed many indicated the differing viewpoints aren't sought or valued in our work related lee we saw some negative responses on whether there's a free exchange of views in the company and scored below the benchmark on this question the new york times has not yet responded to our request for comment earlier we spoke to legal and media analysts line about the issue wait a minute it's a what it's a respected you mean it he used to be a respected that was the heralded zhan kid that new york was the employees of the new york times it's not a factory it's not

a hospital it's not a sports team it's a celebrated again vaunted bastion of free speech you can speak up you can speak as a loudly and his vociferous lee as you want at any stratum in any industry so long as it comports with that which the radical left believes we live in a world this country right no particular no matter where you go is not somebody saying i disagree with you but i disagree with you and shut up and if you continue i'm not going to merely ask for your job but i want because of this cancel culture i want you to be obliterated and removed from every aspect of your existence it's not just president trump it's not just people he worked with it's everywhere it's seca feeding frenzy it's like this this in gorge to kick that is just sucking the

blood of free speech it's a it just can't get enough it's everywhere i've never seen anything like this at every single level not the thought police thought vigilantes. let's look at some world news in briefs now a riot police have clashed with demonstrators in castle lonia as thousands took to the streets to protest the arrest of rapper pablo how cell. i. believe. was. the musician is being charged with insulting the royal family by calling the former spanish king and thief as well as glorifying terrorism in his song lyrics and tweets however his supporters say he was only exercising his right to free speech.

that's now europe's most active volcano is spewing giant fountains of lava and sending ash more than a kilometer into the air the airport on the italian island of sicily household of flights because of the eruption which began on monday scientists claim there's no threats to nearby villages. and in the caucuses mountain range in russia's south of urgency services were forced to trigger a huge avalanche the precautionary step was taken after heavy snow storm forced local law thora teams to close all ski resorts. we have to get to check out our website r.t. dot com for plenty more stories we're back at the top of the hour with the latest.

i'm after attaching you're watching another log jam additional going underground 18 years since the largest peace demonstration in history when up to 30000000 people in 600 cities worldwide protested against the nato nation war in iraq orchestrated in this country by labor prime minister tony blair in part 2 will hear from the rapper looking to replace arguable iraq war supporters to the come as london mayor in may but 1st let's speak to the award winning author of a new book on political lying peter oborne is the author of the assault on truth boris johnson donald trump and the emergence of a new moral barbarism and he joins me now from wilcher peter thanks so much for coming back on the show you know f. scott fitzgerald said keeping 2 opposing ideas in your head at the same time still functioning that's a 1st rate intelligence how come in this new order your 40. cents i'm sorry. yeah all of his job was not alive then one minute boris johnson is impressing you with his intellect.