When you care about things like fair trade, labor rights and the environment, you may find that these principles generally don't take the day off just because Hallmark, Hershey's and De Beers would prefer it. This thoughtful post digs into the reality behind some of the more traditional Valentine's Day gifts and finds that we can do better:
"While I don’t hate Valentine’s Day, I certainly have criticisms. I think marketers use the holiday to perpetuate unrealistic expectations about relationships and romance for their own financial gain. And if that’s not seedy enough, the gifts most associated with Valentine’s Day — cut flowers, chocolate, and diamond jewelry — are often produced under conditions that harm the workers, their families, and the environment."
Image credit: 1la via Flickr, Creative Commons.