Friday, March 16, 2007

Just don't say it with flowers ...

It's Mothers' Day this weekend and about £200 million will be spent on cut flowers, much of this in supermarkets.

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Ever wonder where they come from?

The answer is they are grown on flower farms in developing countries where the workforce is invariably also women.

But those women won't be receiving gifts on Sunday - they'll be receiving horrific health problems as a result of the cocktail of toxic chemicals used to produce that lovely bunch of flowers.

This Sunday, as every other day, they'll be suffering from skin lesions, allergies, respiratory problems, headaches, fainting spells, eye problems, asthma, miscarriages and premature births.

Those flowers don't smell so good now, do they?

See here for further info.

Make mine some chocolate instead please. Fairtrade of course!

17 comments:

The Wandering Author said...

My mother always said she hated the idea a flower had to die, anyway, and preferred live flowers. That might promote a few more people moving away from flowers - "Don't give Mum a bunch of dead flowers for Mother's Day - give her something better!"

Unknown said...

Puts a whole other slant on it, doesn't it. I think Wandering Author's comment is spot on! Well said!

Meloney Lemon said...

I was going to do a blog on exactly this subject - but you beat me to it. Energetic person that you are!

I'll be going for the choccy too. By the way - thanks yet again for yesterday. xxx

Debi said...

WA - clever mum!

Hi Aty.

Mel - what goes around comes around. (Apart from your germs hopefully!) Wanting choccy is a good sign you're on the road to recovery.

Unknown said...

I have left large hints about the house for piles of chocolate to appear tomorrow. I am also not keen on indoor flowers.
The fields around here are filled with daffodils grown to be cut, but they do look rather beautiful en masse.

Anonymous said...

Cunning ladies! You nearly fooled me. I was in the post office ready to send the chocolates (big, expensive) , when I realised in spain, March 19th is FATHER'S day! So I'm going to gobble 'em myself (just in case I ever become a father).

Unknown said...

Just how big, Steve? And exactly how expensive?
Are you in need of a 'chocolate mistress' by any chance?

Jan said...

Thankyou. Exactly the sAme thoughts of me and friends in a conversation yesterday.
Happy Mothers DAy.

Anonymous said...

Is it ok to buy living plants?...or do I have to throw them away....shouldn't it be parents day in this day and age?.........

Debi said...

Well I got neither choccy, living plants or flowers ...

But I did get 2 gorgeous home made cards and some top quality cuddles ...

Just a shame they had to be delivered before 7am ...

Confucious Trevaskis said...

What's 7am?

Unknown said...

7 am on a Sunday morning! Aaah. I just phoned my Mum instead! She was most surprised, I'd remembered. "It's not Mother's Day in France." ... Now does that mean I'll have to phone her again?

david santos said...

Hello, Debi!
Very nice. Thamk you
good week

Saaleha said...

Was not Mother's Day here. But I think a beautiful potted plant would be great if one really loves flowers. I've seen brilliant ornamental chilli plants. The chillies seem to hang upside down. And they could come in handy witha foul mouted child. Actually maybe they're poisonous??!

Anonymous said...

Tarnation! A chocolate mother was exactly what I needed, but by the time I saw the minx-message I had...um... eaten the lot. You see, here in Spain, we've just had TIB Day: Totally Ineligible Bachelor's Day, and we need to cheer ourselves up.

Original post, by the wya., Yes,I once knew something about the flowers situation, but must admit I had almost forgotten to point of being unaware of it. Healthy reminder.

Debi said...

Hi and welcome, Jan and David. Thanks for the comments.

Minx and Steve - Is a chocolate mother related to a sugar daddy?

Saaleha - whatever are you suggesting???

As for the 7am start - don't worry, Confy & V. I smiled, I cuddled, I kicked them out ... and I went back to sleep for another 3 hrs. 'Tis a gift.

John said...

Believe me, it's the last thing I want to say, but if you think the flower trade is bad, check out the cocoa industry. I can't sayit's stopped me eating chocolate, but I always feel guilty...