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Being Conscious/Grateful on Valentine's Day

by HijabMan :: posted 14 February 07

So, by now you’ve gotten your chocolates, your diamonds, and even your flowers. And, you are grateful. You smile warmly at the gift-giver, and you are humbled as the receiver of such beautiful gifts.

Last night, I spoke with my beautiful friend, Ashley. Our conversation zig-zagged from serious to silly, and it eventually settled on a collective reflection of our relative wealth and good circumstances. Later, her words struck me just as Tariq Ramadan’s have.
They had asked, “What about the poor, the oppressed? What is your relationship to them?”

Relevant questions, don’t you think? I’ve been asking myself that question a lot lately. Sure, I give my money every now and then, but what about my thoughts? My time?

Today, I want to remind myself of where those diamonds, chocolates, and flowers came from (even though I didn’t get any*).

Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now was all about this today, and so I’d like to pass it on.

Before I post the information, however, I’d like to say that people often don’t want to read/listen to this kind of thing because it makes them “feel bad.” I’m not so sure that that is the best approach. I feel like it should make us more conscious and grateful. It should push us to find alternate sources for these goods. The only way the raping of the earth and the people on it will stop is if we demand it, and if we choose fair trade/organic products. It is vital that we support companies who choose good over profit.

Child Labor: The Hidden Ingredient to the Billion-Dollar Chocolate Industry?

Alternative sources of chocolate: Equal Exchange , Divine Chocolate ,

The Diamond Industry is Failing to Live Up to Its Promises

“When you go into a jewelry store, if you really want to buy a diamond, the four questions are: do you know where your diamonds come from? Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds? Can you show me a written guarantee from your diamond suppliers that states your diamonds are conflict-free? And, fourthly, how can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds? – Charmian Gooch

Alternatives to Blood Diamonds: GreenKarat , Dejoria , Lab Created

To download the guide on conflict diamonds for consumers created by Global Witness and Amnesty International, click here. (PDF)

Valentine’s Day: Labor Conditions at US-Owned Plantations Show Hidden Realities of Flower Industry

Remembering Where Your Flowers Came From:

“...as long as the repression remains intense, consumers have much more freedom to demand flower justice than do the flower workers. In Europe, a flower certification program has taken hold that tells consumers whether flowers were grown on farms or plantations that respect minimal environmental and labor conditions.”

Fairness in Flowers Campaign

So. Remember. Be Conscious. And remember to say “I Love You.”

I love you, but I’m not buying you any chocolate, flowers, or diamonds. How about you come over my house for some good conversation and a warm cup of chai? It don’t cost anything, and it’s a helluva lot more fulfilling than chocolate.

————-

*Feel free to fix this

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1. huda at 14 February 07 :: #

   Remembering that other people have it worse than we do should only make us that much more grateful to God… definitely something I learned this year.

   And really, good conversation trumps (almost) all. ;-)

2. Shazeea at 14 February 07 :: #

   i think you’re so cool. can i say that without sounding like a dork?

3. b. at 15 February 07 :: #

   I’m always more thrilled by the prospect of good conversation and a warm cup of chai than I am by any gift. :) Can’t put a price on friendship.

4. HijabMan at 15 February 07 :: #

   Umm. Does anyone plan on “fixing” my situation?

   Hello?

   Umm… Hello?

   :-)

5. katiktuni at 15 February 07 :: #

   Great post. I didn’t know that— about the flower industry. It makes me think that I need to do a lot more questioning, really, before I buy anything. Funny Valentine’s story— The neighborhood cat, Mungbean, brought my school of 4 year old children a half-dead red cardinal and proceeded to play with it in front of them. :)

6. kaleidomuslima at 18 February 07 :: #

   good point. i haven’t seen the movie “blood diamond,” but i figure it’s easier to live my life if i simply find beautiful substitutes for diamonds…how about turquoise? a hand-crafted ring by an artisan?

   i’m sure millions of women haven’t realized that perhaps they only want a diamond because television, magazines, and books tell them so. time to rethink and be unique ladies! :)

7. Nakia at 20 February 07 :: #

   I knew about chocolate and diamonds, but the flower issue was new to me. Does anyone have resources for ethically produced flowers, besides growing one’s own?