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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

How can you make Valentine's day green?

Trying to be a good global citizen and a good lover? Not as easy as it seems. You might think that forgoing exotic flowers and buying your bouquet from the local greenhouse instead is an eco-friendly option, but the UK's international development minister says you'd be mistaken. He's said that flying flowers from Kenya results in just one-fifth of the greenhouse gas emissions needed to heat and light greenhouses in Holland (but what about the use of water - much more precious in Africa than Europe?).

Treehugger recommends you opt for organic flowers, and eco-perfume. Cards, unless recycled, are probably a no-no - of course you could always use your left-over covers of New Scientist to cobble together your own.

EasierLifestyle reckons giving your loved one a tree sapling is better than a mere flower -- though you should remember that the tree's effect on the climate will depend on where it's planted. If you were to take the scientists' research literally, you might end up flying to the tropics to give it a better chance of fighting global warming. I recommend you just enjoy the view of it out your back door.

As it happens, global warming might just lend you a helping hand with your eco-valentine: thoroughly confused flowers are blooming early. So for a truly green valentine, pick a bouquet from your garden and head to London's National Portrait Gallery (if you're in the neighborhood). They've got a number of engravings by 18th century engraver Valentine Green in their collection.

Any other ideas for a green Valentine's day?

Monday, March 12, 2007

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