Environmentally Responsible Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day Sofi and I "adopted" a Koala on behalf of her friends, printed out a picture of "him" hugging a tree and made thank you cards for all of her friends.

Other years we have knitted flowers from local yarn and used sticks from the backyard as "stems" or created felt mice from hearts folded in half with knitted tails. There is always something creative you can do for holidays! And here are some good reasons to be creative...

From The Organic Consumers Union

Tis that time of year when more than 20 million Americans are buying sweets and flowers for their loved ones on Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, these tokens of love aren't as sweet or pure as they may appear. Over 40 percent of the world's conventional chocolate (i.e. non-organic and non-Fair Trade) comes from Africa's Ivory Coast, where the International Labor Organization and US State Department have reported widespread instances of child slavery. Meanwhile, commercial flowers, most of which are produced in countries such as Colombia, are the most toxic and heavily sprayed agricultural crops on Earth. In order for you to deliver your bouquet to your beauty, poorly paid workers in Third World countries put in up to 18 hour work days for poverty wages during peak flower buying times such as Valentine's Day. But don't let the bad news squelch your Valentine's plans. Show your love by choosing Fair Trade and organic flowers and chocolate for your Valentine's Day gifts. Check out OCA's Buying Guide, watch an entertaining flash movie and take action against the 5 major chocolate and flower corporations: http://www.organicconsumers.org/valentines/