nothing says “i love you” quite like a big bouquet of guilt

Thinking of giving your sweetheart some flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day? Why not just give her a child slave doused with deadly pesticides instead? (Well, if you’re Lynne Cheney, because you already got that last year, but that’s another story.)

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has kicked off its “Unchain Your Love” initiative, part of an ongoing series designed to suck the fun out of every holiday by pointing out that conditions in some countries are not as good as they are here (which partly explains why the United States is not in the midst of an illegal emigration crisis). More importantly, a number of companies that don’t give money to the OCA actually import goods from these very same countries.

What can you, as a citizen who is gravely concerned about the welfare of foreign laborers do?  Put them out of work by purchasing from companies that do give money to the OCA.

Consider it a kind of “tough love.”

On the top of OCA’s list of alternative vendors is one flower grower that will also (and this is purely a lucky happenstance) “donate” 12% of its proceeds to the OCA. (You can call it affiliate marketing if you like, we prefer to think of it as a communal sharing of the wealth for the betterment of all.) Or, you can dispense with flowers altogether and give some organic essential flower oils. (“Glass vials? For me?!)

But the OCA is about more than just making you feel guilty about holidays. It is dedicated to pursuing a multi-point plan of high moral purpose:

1. Get the government to give money to companies that support the OCA.
2. Limit the competitors of companies that support the OCA.

Also, universal health care and energy independence, which is related to organic food because, well, just because.

The OCA broadly rejects the intensive agri-business approaches to modern food production preferring instead a return to the more traditional farming techniques of our ancestors which if adopted worldwide would lead to something of an earth-friendly extreme weight-loss program for the masses (like being on Atkins only without the meat).

So, while it may be too late to change your plans for Valentine's Day,  you can start looking ahead to Easter.

And cancel the chocolate bunny of brutality.

J.