This Valentine's Day we have many opportunities to show our love for not only our loved ones, but our communities and all God’s people and places around the world.
Ironically, on a day set aside to express love, going the traditional route with gifts may unwittingly cause suffering that we do not intend. From child labor in West African cacao fields to lead-laced fumes from Peruvian smelters, our decisions may be more far-reaching than we know.
Consider the following ideas or create your own!
FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE
- The Presbyterian Coffee Project is more than fair trade coffee—it’s tea, cocoa, chocolate and snacks, too. Equal Exchange offers several types of chocolates for a variety of palates.
- Divine Chocolate offers great films of cacao farmers talking about the benefits of Fair Trade, as well as recipes, product descriptions and a search engine for stores in your area.
DINNERS
- Use Local Harvest's Organic Restaurant Finder to find local, organic and sustainable restaurants and markets.
- Cook at home and check out Greening Your Food & Drink.
FAIR TRADE GIFTS
- Partners for Just Trade offers fair trade crafts from Peru, educates about fair trade, and was founded with help from the Presbyterian Hunger Program.
- SERRV carries a wide variety of items in a range of prices that will please both your sweetie and your pocket book.
- From chocolate to earrings to silk ties, Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Store has something for everyone.
D-I-Y
The group New American Dream offers creative suggestions for Giving Freely While Spending Frugally.
YOUR OWN IDEAS
We’d love to share your ideas with others. We are creating an online guide to sustainable celebrations for Valentine's Day (much like our other Just Living holiday materials). We'd love to publish your ideas. Submit ideas by commenting on this post, or emailing us. You will be given credit for your submissions.