Let's boycott flowers this Valentine's day

[sharptoothlemonshark]

Why are we still indulging in this outdated misogynistic behaviour of men giving women flowers and women accepting them?

The industry is rotten to the core, with women in Africa getting their lungs burnt out by pesticides so women in Western Europe can look at something useless but "pretty" ( - if you consider the forced, unnaturally bred genetically mutated exaggerations "pretty").

The environmental damage done by transporting them from country to country is immeasurable, never mind the sacrifice of land that could be used to grow food and lower food prices.

And how is it people who object to pesticides being used to grow food are ok with soil being smothered in the stuff to grow flowers? It all enters the same water course.

And what a waste of money it is! Surely your partners could use the money or something more personal and thoughtful?

YABU - I like receiving forced, genetically mutilated, unnatural instruments of environmental damage and disabling of women.

YANBU - lets inform our partners these are not acceptable Valentine's day gifts.

The only way to live completely ethically is in some sort of self-built shack made from self-gathered materials, off the grid, Amish-style. The fact that you've got a smartphone, second hand or not (do you think that just because someone else paid for it that the labour used to make it no longer matters?) does demonstrate a bit of hypocrisy - you might not buy flowers but who made your clothes? Who made the carpet in your home? Who picked the fruit and vegetables in your fridge? Can you be 100% sure that every single component of your home is ethical? If not then I don't think you can lecture people about sending flowers.

Yes, doesn't everyone know this?
However, Mothering Sunday in the UK is linked to the church which is why the date changes every year. It's always the 4th Sunday of lent.

What other Saints days or church holidays do you want to change? Where I live we celebrate Whit Friday and we have to take a day off work because the schools close. Let's get that moved to a Saturday for a start 😂😂😂

Are you talking about women from Kenya, perhaps Ethiopia or even South Africa?

Are you in one of these countries yourself? How are you directly seeing the health issues these workers face?

I am in one of these countries, and if the rest of the world boycotted all exports from 3rd world countries, how do you think those people would survive? People die from starvation in these countries too.

Yes it is brutal. But it doesn't stop at flowers. There are many many items exported which have been farmed using hard labour and not the best conditions. Are you boycotting all of these too?

On a positive note one of my rose bushes has flowered this weekend. I can see it from my bedroom window.

But...but...I live in a flower growing area of Europe. Fields and fields of a particular kind of very beautiful flower, grown for bouquets. In Western Europe. I see the process of care and harvesting of these flowers close up. There are definitely no slaves involved!! Or poisons or whatever you're going on about. The cultivators are part of the community and when the harvest starts in May, they sell bunches at the farm gate to locals. So basically I just don't recognise your description of this industry at all. `It's bizarre.

Thank you for mentioning this. I had no idea about the damage. We really should be doing more to protect the planet and people in it so I will think of alternative gifts on mother's day. Flowers are ridiculously expensive when ordered online and don't last long anyway.

@sharptoothlemonshark

https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/farmers-and-workers/flowers/

I'm sure Fair trade isn't the default, but this report completely disproves your "immeasurable damage" claim.

Sent from a mobile phone/computer using lithium batteries mined by peasants of colour whilst wearing Primark sweatshop produced tat imported by postage subsidised companies halfway around the world, transported by high sulphur marine diesel burning ships.

The w word comes to.mind, and it's not "woke".🍆

You may find them expensive, others don't and enjoy them for the days that they last.

A phone lasts at least a few years, not a week like flowers. Why assume a poster is wearing primark tat?

There's no such thing as high sulphur marine diesel, and never has been. Marine diesel engines run on exactly the same diesel as HGVs and off highway vehicles. Only smaller vessels up to 50m or so will run diesel, definitely very very few over 100m.

Commercial ships don't run on diesel and never have done.

The majority of ships trading worldwide have switched from heavy fuel oil to very low sulphur fuel oil since the updated IMO regulations in 2020.

I totally do understand your point on the ethics, and that’s something I’m willing to look into re. the flowers I buy. But the misogyny thing; I don’t see that. I buy my DH flowers on Valentine’s Day too. He really likes them

I'm going to enjoy my flowers🙂. The likelihood of caring about those who aren't into it is 0.00%🌹

ElaineMBenes
My mums favourite flower was the daffodil. She died 16 years ago. During this time of year I fill my house with daffodils as they remind me of her. No, they don't last but they bring me joy for a short amount of time

@ElaineMBenes How lovely. Im glad this brings you joy

Does anyone want to tell OP where we import our flowers from? That poor African country called the Netherlands.

I just don't like flowers and would prefer edibles any day, and my SO knows about that so guess I'm boycotting 😂OP, just live and let live, it's really not that deep. Just say you don't want flowers and would prefer a box of chocolates and a smartshow 3d video instead of a store bought card, and you're good. No need to make a fight out of nothing.

How is it a fight about nothing? It is a fight to stop poor women being left permanently disabled providing a pointless luxury for rich women

YABU as it is difficult to read your posts as you are coming over quite aggressively so I haven't bothered to read them

It is a fight to stop poor women being left permanently disabled providing a pointless luxury for rich women

This is where you lose people. Assuming it is only rich women who enjoy flowers.
You need to check your own misogyny tbh

Sorry, but your fight as one person not buying flowers is not doing to make even the slightest dent in a worldwide industry.

If it makes you feel better, fine boycott it though.

Btw it's not only rich people who like flowers.

of course it is only the rich and privileged that have flowers! They are a luxury item.

Agricultural land is given over to growing flowers because that is how the land owners makes the most profit.

if noone indulged in this industry, then the land owners would be growing food instead.

Can I be one of those women who has depth while liking pretty things 😢?

But are you really? Do you value being able to look at a temporary pretty thing more than you value the health of another woman? Or the health of the atmosphere?

I really am. All while valuing all the things you listed.