Smart Health Talk
Join Us:
  • Home
    • Suggest Topics
  • Show Schedule
    • US EPA Glyphosate Assessment 1984
    • Top Organic Product Recommendations
    • Sign Up for Alerts
    • Organic and Non GMO Resources
    • March Against Monsanto Global
    • March Against Monsanto States A-M
    • March Against Monsanto States N-Z
    • Say No GMOs Miscellaneous
    • Say No GMOs Global
    • Say No GMOs A-G
    • Say No GMOs H-Q
    • Say No GMOs R-Z
    • Say No GMO Various Organizations
  • Howard Vlieger - MAAM Interview
    • Moms Across America March Zen Honeycutt
    • Jay Feldman Beyond Pesticides
    • Farmed Salmon Infected With Viruses
    • Vermont Rep. Kate Webb on GMO Bill
    • Howard Vlieger Slide Show
    • SB 1381 Label GMOs California
    • GMOs for Dummies
    • GMOs, phthalates, antibiotics making us fat!
    • GMO French Study
    • Russian GMO Worldwide Reality Show
    • Vandana Shiva on GMOs
    • Genetic Roulette Movie
    • Opponents of Prop #37
    • GMO Produce Labeling Myth
    • Dr. Benbrook Interview
    • Pesticides in Our Food
    • PESTICIDE RISK
    • Elle Cochran and Kate Webb
    • Elle Cochran Hawaii GMO Labeling
    • GMO Videos Hawaii
    • Venus Williams Videos
  • Podcast Vanishing Bees
    • Judy Hoy on Potato Pesticide Related Mutations
    • Antibiotic Resistance & Organic Meats >
      • Bacteriophages
    • Honey Bee Extinction
    • Kettle Pop Expo West
    • Sue Nesbitt Olympic Coach
    • Sue Nesbitt Press Release
    • Podcast GlobalGardensOnline.com
    • Videos GlobalGardensOnline.com
    • Press Release GlobalGardensOnline.com
    • Theo Stephan Pecan Pie Recipe
    • Dr. Tarique Perera Mental Health
    • Dr. Al Plechner Top Veterinarian
    • Heartburn Remedies and Gypsy Tea
    • Kevin Sorbo for Kids
    • Roasted Chicken Gluten Free Meal
    • Sustainable Seafood & Organic Shopping
    • David Binkle LAUSD Foodservice
    • Dr. Michael Hansen & Vegan Eating
    • Local Urban Foragers-Alvarado Bakery-Elle Cochran
    • Tyson Flick-Chef Rene-Eric Hoffman-Katrina Frey-Starkie Sowers
    • Dan Bahou Recycling-LAUDS Foodservice
    • Goodbelly-Vanishing of the Bees-Seasnax-Tasty Brand-Really Raw Honey-Nature's Path
    • Sustainable Seafood-Three Sisters Farm
    • Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Goes GMO
    • Numi Non GMO Teabags vs GMO Corn Plastic Teabags
    • Tieman's Coffee-Veggie Grill-Waldorf Salad-Highland Springs Ranch-Stacy Hall-ElaineCSA-Mozzarella Salad
    • Highland Spring Ranch-CSA
    • Stacey Hall-Elaine McFadden Intro to Show
  • Gardening
    • Two Minute Gardening Tips
    • More Gardening Ideas
    • Companion Planting
    • What's in Season
  • News
    • Expo West
    • Rodale Institute Coach Mark Smallwood
    • Coach Smallwood from Rodale Research Institute On The Road
    • LA Green Festival
    • Expo West 2014 New Product Highlights
    • TransPacific Partnership Agreement
    • Dr. Benbrook Press Release
    • Blog
    • Public Health
    • Christmas Holiday Recipes
    • Kid Fun Christmas
    • Organic Recipe Blog
    • Organic Product Blog
    • EPA Mercury Announcement
    • Everyday is Earth Day >
      • Earth Day Quiz
      • Earthcasts
      • Earthcasts from Space
      • Earth Children
  • Resources
    • More Resources
    • Organic Stocking Stuffers
    • Fast Organic Holiday Ideas
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Green Halloween Treats
    • Organic Treats
    • Favorite Organic Valentine Treats >
      • Valentine Organic Chocolate Gifts Large View
    • Easter Organic Chocolate Gifts
    • Organic Easter Baskets
    • Organic and Vegan Chocolate Favorites
    • Organic Hard Candy Chewies & Gummies
    • Keepin' It Hot Chicken Dinner >
      • Cooking the Meal
      • Prepare "Keeping it Hot Chicken"
    • Seafood Resources >
      • Sustainable Seafood Resources
      • Sustainable Seafood Shopping
      • Seafood Recipes
      • More Seafood Recipes
      • Seafood Nutritional Benefits
      • Seafood Education
      • Farmed Salmon Viruses Explained
    • 10 Smart Health Resolutions >
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #1
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #2
      • Calories Burned During Activities
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #3
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #4
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #5
    • 10 Smart Health Resolutions Con't >
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #6
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #7
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #8
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #9
      • 10 Smart Health Resolutions #10
    • Signs of a Heart Attack
    • America Recycles Day Broadcast 2014
    • Recycling Information >
      • 15 Tips for Recycling Day Anniversary
      • Recycling Tips
      • Recycled Products
      • Recycling Centers
      • What You Can and Cannot Recycle
      • Waste Reduction
      • Plastic Pollution-Expert Advice-Aly the Albatross
    • Sulfite Containing Foods
    • Aspartame Risks
    • GMO Tryptophan Verified - Energy Drinks and Kids
  • About Us
    • Listen Live on the Radio
    • Listen 24-7 With Podcasts
    • Listen Live on Your Computer
    • Listen Live on Your Cell Phone
    • Smart Health Talk Theme Song
    • Contact Us

Home

Talk Show Schedule

Show Health Topics

Podcast

Gardening

Suggest a Topic

News

Blog

About Us



Picture
Keeping it hot GMO and Gluten Free this Valentine's Day.

Picture

Why Buy Organic Flowers?

· Whenever you touch or inhale the scent of your non-organic flowers, you are likely touching or inhaling poisonous chemicals. When you buy organic flowers, you will not have to worry about chemicals on your flower bouquets being toxic to your children, other members of your family,
or yourself.

· The main goal of organic agriculture is to farm in ways that do not harm the environment, while there is no such motive for most non-organic farms.

· Buying organic flowers helps support local organic farming communities and organizations, which often have charitable, philanthropic motives for selling their flowers.

· Organic flowers, according to many people, last longer than non-organic ones.

· On a spiritual, holistic level, organic flowers have been farmed in such ways that they retain the essence of flowers, as Mother Nature intended them to have.

· Organic flowers are a natural part of a healthy, natural lifestyle.

· Pesticides and other toxic chemicals used on flowers affect the health of farm workers and florists. The toxic chemicals spread onto the clothes and into the bodies of farm workers and their children. Florists who handle non-organic flowers have been known to develop dermatitis on their hands.

· According to an article on newdream.org, studies have shown that 50 % of workers in the Costa Rica flower industry have symptoms of pesticide poisoning. Areas surrounding flower farms there have higher miscarriage and birth defect rates than do other areas.

· The toxic chemicals used on flower farms poison groundwater and the soil. These chemicals also become part of the food chain, as animals such as birds will eat the sprayed plants. In the course of their seasonal migrations, these birds will spread these chemicals globally.

· Through evaporation, toxic pesticides and fertilizers that are sprayed on flower farms end up in the atmosphere. They then travel to other global areas to fall as rain or snow.

· Every flower counts: Increasing sales of certified organic flowers gives the market notice that more organic flowers need to be grown, which makes more flower farms convert to using organic agricultural methods.

A list of companies selling Fair Trade and Organic flowers and chocolate and paperless / recycled cards and gifts. Whenever possible, buy local (many of these sites can lead you to local, independent retailers)

Order a Global Exchange Valentines Action Kit

Flowers
  • California Organic Flowers (100% Certified – Next Day Delivery Guarantee Nationwide)
  • Diamond Organic Flowers (Prices listed include overnight delivery)
  • Organic Bouquet (Request organic flowers – most of their products are not organic)
  • Florverde Certified flowers a program that improves the living standards of floral farm workers and their families. Not organic, but a big step in the right direction. Look for the certification.
Chocolate
  • Equal Exchange
    774-776-7400
  • Divine Chocolate
    608-251-3766
  • Rapunzel
    800-207-2814
  • Ithaca Fine Chocolates
    607-257-7954
  • La Siembra /
    Cocoa Camino

    613-225-6122
  • Omanhene
    414-744-8780
  • Sweet Earth Chocolates
    805-544-7759
  • Shaman Chocolates
    877-990-3337

Gifts
  • Local Harvest find your nearest co-op or natural food store
  • Global Exchange
  • Fair Trade Federation
  • Ten Thousand Villages
  • Dr. Bronner’s organic, aromatic soaps and lotions
  • A Greater Gift
  • Indigenous Designs natural fiber and Fair Trade clothing
  • Organic Style
  • Mountain Rose Herbs
Organic Wine
  • Frey Vineyards
  • Frog’s Leap
  • Ceago Vinegarden
  • Robert Sinskey Vineyards
  • Summerhill Pyramid Winery
  • The Organic Wine Company
  • Organic Vinters
  • Organic Wine Press
  • Biodynamic Monthly Wine Club
Valentines Cards
  • Tree Free Greetings
    866-873-3373
  • Paporganics
    800-340-4631
  • Green Field Paper
    888-402-9979
  • Bloomin’ Flower Cards
    303-443-3591
Ah, love. Each Valentine’s Day, lovers take pause to recognize that special someone in their lives. Pink and red hearts ornament retail locations, and flowers, chocolates,jewelry and other gifts are purchased and exchanged. Hands are held, sweet nothings are shared and love is in the air.

But what if these tokens of romantic affection mean something more sinister than the celebration of love and friendship? What if the production of these goods comes at a grave cost for the people directly connected to them?

The term “blood roses” might not mean much to the many Americans who will purchase long stem red roses by the dozen this Valentine’s Day. But, to those laborers involved in the growing, cleaning and shipping of cut flowers in Ecuador and Columbia, the term represents the adverse health effects and environmental degradation that have become synonymous with the regions’ cut flower industry.

The U.S. imports the bulk of its cut flowers from Ecuador and Columbia, where toxic pesticides are used heavily. The laborers (60 percent of whom are women) handling these flowers, whether in the fields or when getting them ready for transport by bathing them in chemicals to kill off insects and mildew, are in direct, daily contact with toxic pesticides.

A 2006 study conducted in northern Ecuador and published in Pediatricsconcluded that prenatal pesticide exposure was linked to lasting neurotoxic damage and malnutrition of children in developing countries. Other studies have shown that women exposed to pesticides have a much higher rate of pregnancy loss than that of unexposed women.

Frequently reported symptoms of pesticide inhalation and exposure include headaches, dizziness, rashes, nausea, blurred vision, infertility, low sperm count, diarrhea, birth defects and still births.

Not right, right?

But, there is a solution:  Use your American dollar to demand improved working conditions for these laborers and buy organic flowers.

Increased demand for organic flowers that are grown in suitable working environments by adult laborers could lessen adverse environmental and health  impacts suffered by many cut flower laborers. Recently, Europe has created a demand for organic cut flowers and, as a result, more sustainable farming and flower production practices are developing in major flower producing provinces. So far, however, the U.S., which imports one-third of its cut flowers from Ecuador alone, has not demonstrated any substantial demand for organic cut flowers or called for better working conditions for the laborers who produce the beautiful flowers that Americans treasure.

In the case of Ecuadorean and Columbian cut flowers, which grow easily in the Andean climate, demand trumps supply. If the American people follow the Europeans’ lead in demanding organic, fair trade flowers, and don’t mind paying an extra or dollar or so a dozen, then a shift toward a less “bloody” and a more sustainable future might exist for the people involved in the production of the beautiful flowers that have come to represent a token of affection to most Americans.

Today: Pass this information along to a friend, lover, colleague or stranger in the grocery store.

This Week: Buy your special someone organic, fair trade Valentine’s flowers (and chocolate!)

This Year: Learn more about the production issues surrounding cut flowers and other imported products that you and your family consume regularly.

Oh, and have a Happy, Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day!!

Learn how you can make a difference for the planet with sustainability videos on GaiamTV.com.



Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Home

Talk Show Schedule

Show Health Topics

Podcast

Gardening

Suggest a Topic

News

Blog

About Us



Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.