The Pump Handle

Green Valentine Gifts

Posted by on February 14, 2008
(4)
More »

Reporters and bloggers are using the occasion of Valentine’s Day to explore the health and environmental aspects of typical gifts and recommend worker- and Earth-friendly alternatives.

• Jennifer Sass at NRDC’s Switchboard blog describes how typical greenhouse practices harm flower workers, and offers some healthier Valentine’s Day suggestions.
• The Green Guide at Grist suggests some green options for flowers and chocolate.
• Terra Sigillata alerts us to a romantic tune that can be downloaded to benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
• The LA Times’ Margot Roosevelt reports on prominent jewelry retailers’ opposition to the Pebble Mine proposed for the site of the world’s largest sockeye salmon run; it’s part of the broader “No Dirty Gold” campaign.

My own Valentine plans include dinner at a local organic restaurant and Fair Trade Divine chocolate (disclosure: I’m friends with Divine USA’s CEO). Anyone else have green V-Day gift ideas to share?

(4)
More »

Comments

  1. #1 BrettB
    February 14, 2008

    Digital Valentines Day without the chromium for me. I’m not in a relationship but I bought a domain name for a forward email for mom. I figure I can use this for years to come and never tell her the forward addresses don’t cost anything.

    Unfortunately she doesn’t have a computer at the moment, but thats not really the point!(the one we got her for christmas died a fast death ala vista)

  2. #2 markcatlin
    February 14, 2008

    The Pebble Mine would damage one of the most beautiful and productive places, Alaska’s Bristol Bay.

    Worker and environmental problems abound at the Red Dog Lead and Zinc Mine north of Nome (2008 Anchorage Daily News article at http://www.adn.com/money/industries/mining/story/289258.html )

  3. #3 Liz
    February 14, 2008

    Good thought, BrettB — hooray for digital gifts!

    markcatlin, thanks for the link, and I also recommend folks to read the Seattle P-I special report on mining in the West, by Robert McClure and Andrew Schneider. It’s from 2001, but still very relevant today, I’m afraid.

  4. #4 nameastar
    March 5, 2008

    Here’s a great gift idea:www.wish-uponastar.co.uk