In Pure Spirit

For open minds

Do you really care? Ethical Valentine’s Day gifts

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Valentines Day 2016Is it easy buying someone a Valentine’s Day gift? You may well be very nervous.

There’s quite a bit to think about. If you buy something too expensive then you risk embarrassing them or coming on too strong. If you buy something too cheap then you look cheap. You might also want to avoid buying something commercial and mainstream. How much thought would have gone into that?

When it comes to Valentine’s Day you’ll certainly want to avoid any gifts that are associated with cruelty, wars or exploitation. That’s tough, right? How many shops do you know who absolutely stick to 100% ethical items? Many chain stores these days don’t even know where their clothes or food comes from.

It may well be worth checking out the Valentine’s Day collection at the Ethical Superstore. There are over 100 products here, a range of prices, and lots of good ideas. You can browse jewellery, skin care, scented candles and even organic wine.

Valentine’s Day gift ideas

iq-superfood-chocolateHere’s some suggestions to help begin your research.

Think of all that karma! Not to mention finding a great Valentine’s Day gift.

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What tips do you have for finding a good, thoughtful, Valentine’s Day present?

Last minute chocolate Valentine’s Day gift ideas

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Valentine’s Day is sneaking up. Whether you identify with it or not, whether you think it’s an evil that leads to hand holding and free sex or a commerical invention it may still be a good excuse to do something for your partner.

I happen to know that Cadbury’s has a direct gift website which offers next day delivery as an option. It’s Cadbury so expect chocolate but their Valentine’s Day range mixes and matches with roses and champagne. Handy!

Love chocolate & 24 roses

Love-Chocolate-24-Roses

More info here. £45 for this gift but cheaper options available.

Love Milk Tray with a bottle of Moet Chandon

Love-Milk-Tray-Gift

More info here. £43 for this gift but cheaper options available.

Valentine Heart Gift

Valentine-Heart-Gift

More info here. £8 for this gift and other options available.

Valentine Mini Treasure

Valentine-Mini-Treasure

More info here. £8.50 for this gift and other options available.

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Do you think you might grab any of these? Do you hope someone might order them for you?

Or are you not a fan? Why not make alternative suggestions in the comments below?

The science of chocolate might surprise you

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What’s the difference between chocolate, cocoa and cacao? The latter is appearing more often on the ingredients list of “chocolate bars”, after all.

In this video the SciShow digs into the truth of chocolate and you might be surprised. Cacao and cocoa, once the same, are now different. Can you believe some people thought cocaine in some types of chocolate snack?

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Are you surprised? Or did you know everything the SciShow managed to unearth?

Galaxy chocolate joins the Rainforest Alliance

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Galaxy Chocolate
Image by wendy_clarkqt via Flickr

By next year over  160 million Galaxy chocolate bars will carry the Rainforest Alliance mark in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Rainforest Alliance works to ensure biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods. It works with both consumers and businesses.  They offer an adopt-a-rainforest program which allows individuals to sponsor and support a environmental work to protect and repair rainforests around the world.

Mars, the owners of Galaxy chocolate, have committed to certifying its entire range of cocoa as Rainforest Alliance approved but the privately owned company will need until 2020 to achieve this.

Greenpeace have said the move was necessary. John Sauven, Greenpeace’s CEO, told the press that; “The global agricultural producers and buyers have to move to sustainable practices if we are to have any chance of saving the rainforests.”

This is not the first time Mars has worked to achieve Rainforest Alliance certification. In 2008 Mars Drinks was able to achieve the certificate for three of its Flavia coffee products.

Mars CEO, Paul Michaels, insisted that Mars was committed to sustainability. He said, “Our commitment to sustainability is serious and long-term, and this announcement is a major step towards our global commitment to purchase only cocoa that is certified as being produced in a sustainable manner,”.

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What do you think? Is this a step in the right direction for Mars or is this a splash in the ocean?

Does the company need more than ten years in order to get its cocoa supply in order?

Disclosure

This blog discusses ideas and causes. Urban myth and history combine here. In Pure Spirit covers stories from elsewhere on the web and may make fair use clippings and quotations from the original source.