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Uncovering cocoa farming’s biggest challenges – and what’s being done to tackle them

One of the world’s biggest chocolate producers is working to address the root causes of farmer poverty, child labour risks and the impact of climate breakdown on cocoa farming communities

Unlike other crops grown for global consumption, cocoa production doesn’t take place on large-scale plantations. Instead, 95% of the world’s cocoa comes from smallholder farms just two to five hectares in size, with 70% produced across western Africa in countries including Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

“Cocoa is traditionally a low-yield crop,” says Darrell High, head of Nestlé’s Cocoa Plan – an initiative committed to a more sustainable approach to cocoa farming. “Each farm produces, on average, about 400kg of cocoa per hectare. It means most farmers are generating just over a tonne of cocoa each year, which, unfortunately, doesn’t bring in a lot of income.”

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Having a quick break? Seven ways to make it more sustainable

Small steps can help lead to big changes. With these top tips, you can go about your daily routine while being a bit kinder to the environment

Some of our daily routines are so ingrained we do them on autopilot – often not even aware we’ve done them (how many times have you wondered whether you’ve actually locked the front door?). But when we’re not consciously aware of what we’re doing, we’re also less conscious of the impact it has on the environment. And this can be particularly true when we’re taking a routine break, doing something we’ve done hundreds, if not thousands, of times before. So here are seven easy tips to help you make more mindful choices. And these small changes won’t cost you a thing – apart from a bit of attention.

Using your daily breaks to try to be more sustainable is easier than you might think. By incorporating small actions such as the ones we’ve highlighted, we can all do our bit without sacrificing enjoyment, time and money. Every mindful choice adds up and can help make our world that bit brighter.

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From birdwatching to forest bathing: eight relaxing ways to have a break with the environment in mind

Need to escape the noise of life? It’s easier than you think – and you’ll be doing a world of good while you’re at it

In the midst of life’s chaos and noise, finding a moment of peace can be hard. And when we spend so much time scrolling – and, often, shopping – online, it’s becoming ever more difficult to make conscious choices that tread more lightly on our planet.

Sorry if that seems a heavy opener, but despair not. In this article, we’re exploring eight ways you can find a moment of tranquillity, disconnect, or bring a little positive impact to your community and your headspace.

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Cognac to Bordeaux: treat your senses with a tour of south-west France

Check out castles, caves, wine and cheese on a journey across Nouvelle-Aquitaine, whether in summer or autumn

Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France’s largest region, is a fabulous mixture of the country’s best sandy beaches, vibrant cities, wonderful gastronomy and prehistoric caves. Located in south-west France, with 450 miles (720km) of Atlantic coast, it’s the perfect destination for a holiday, with chateaux to explore, museums to visit and great outdoor adventures.

While driving south from St-Malo after the overnight ferry, keep an eye out for Saintes, about 17 miles (28km) west of Cognac. Famed for its Roman arch and amphitheatre, it is a great place to stop, not least to try the Pineau des Charentes, its locally produced fortified wine. The Château de la Roche Courbon in Saint-Porchaire, a magnificent 17th-century castle, is nearby. As well as attractive turrets and a moat, it has its own prehistoric caves and also hosts escape room games.

The Roman arch in Saintes, erected to honour Emperor Tiberius and his sons Drusus and Germanicus. Photograph: Alamy

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My mission? A two-day voyage along the Norfolk coast to deliver potatoes for a chip shop

One man is trying to revive zero-carbon cargo routes by sailing produce along England’s eastern seaboard – and taking paying passengers along for the thrilling ride

The water glitters, rippled by a rising wind, and Victorious glides silently on three huge, maroon sails. We’re the only boat in sight, surrounded by grey sea and vast sky. Every direction offers a subtly different picture: patches of blue and fluffy clouds, billowing blue-black clouds, occasional rays of sunshine beaming into the Wash. A flock of Brent geese flies across our bows.

“It just feels like she’s made for these waters. It’s magical,” purrs one of my five fellow sailors, . We’re taking potatoes from the Fenland channel of Fosdyke to make chips in Norfolk, and the hold of our immaculately restored 42ft shrimping smack will be packed with extra goods when we reach King’s Lynn.

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The FBI investigated David Copperfield for two years. The claim that he was ‘exonerated’ was widely embraced. Was he?

A woman alleged that the magician sexually assaulted her on his private island in 2007. His lawyers said he was falsely accused

Lacey Carroll headed straight to Harborview medical center after touching down in Seattle following a three-day stay on David Copperfield’s private island in the Bahamas. It was August 2007 and – according to police records – she had gone to get medical treatment for sexual assault.

The 20-year-old later alleged to Seattle police and in court filings that she had embarked on the long journey to Musha Cay – the islands in the Bahamas that Copperfield reportedly bought for $50m in 2006 – because she had been offered a chance to do promotional work and some modeling there along with a team of others. Instead, she claimed, she found herself alone with Copperfield and a few members of his staff. Copperfield, she alleged, raped and assaulted her multiple times.

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‘Magic David called’: David Copperfield repeatedly contacted Jeffrey Epstein

Phone messages and meetings suggest a friendship between Copperfield and the disgraced financier. His lawyers deny it

The message pads appear a little faded, but the handwriting on the spiral-bound notebooks is clear enough.

Staff at Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion in Florida’s Palm Beach used the pads to jot down the names of the people who had called the financier, and between 2004 and 2005, one well-known person appeared to be calling persistently.

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Former teen models accuse magician David Copperfield of misconduct

Some allege harassment, one claims she was sexually assaulted. His lawyers deny the allegations

Revealed: Magician David Copperfield accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women‘I honest to God believe I was drugged’: magician David Copperfield’s alleged victims speak out

It was September 1991 in New York and the grand finale of Look of the Year, a prestigious modeling contest that had helped launch the careers of the supermodels Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen.

The celebrity magician David Copperfield, one of the judges, watched from the front row as 58 contestants paraded across the runway in their branded hot pink and sorbet yellow swimsuits. Nearly all the contestants were teenagers; some were as young as 14.

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‘I honest to God believe I was drugged’: magician David Copperfield’s alleged victims speak out

The Guardian US investigated claims that the famed entertainer selected girls and women from his audiences and subjected them to sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior. Copperfield’s lawyers say the allegations are ‘false and entirely without foundation’

Revealed: Magician David Copperfield accused of sexual misconduct by multiple womenFormer teen models accuse magician David Copperfield of misconduct

For two 15-year-old girls in the early 1990s, meeting David Copperfield, the world-famous magician, seemed like the thrill of a lifetime.

Carla* says she remembers the way Copperfield gave her his phone number after a 1991 show in Georgia. About two years later in San Francisco, Lily* says, she felt giddy when the master illusionist picked her to join him on stage for a magic trick.

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‘A wild swimmer’s paradise’: the beach on top of a Yorkshire moor

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A new documentary, Wild Water, celebrates a hardy group of enthusiasts who hike up boglands to swim year-round in a remote mill pond built during the Industrial Revolution

Gaddings Dam was built as a mill pond in about 1833, when the Industrial Revolution positioned West Yorkshire and the north of England as the centre of the developed world’s cotton-spinning and weaving mills. It sits above the market town of Todmorden, out of sight on the moor of Langfield Common, with a sandy beach that claims to be the highest in England.

The Gaddings Dam Preservation Company bought the deeds to the reservoir in 2001 for £1,500, on the condition that it was preserved for the people of Todmorden. These days, with restricted access to water in lakes and reservoirs, Gaddings has become a much-valued and popular local swimming spot.

The Gaddings Dam Preservation Company bought the deeds to the reservoir in 2001 for £1,500 on the condition that it was preserved for the people of Todmorden

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