7 Ways to Have a Socially-Responsible Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is about celebrating love, so why not spread the love by planning a socially-responsible Valentine's Day. Here are seven ideas to help you get started.

* Choose fair-trade sweets for your sweetie. That way you'll know the people who grew the cacao and made the chocolate were paid fairly and treated justly. Visit http://store.gxonlinestore.org/valentineskit.html for their Fair Trade Valentine's Day Action Kit.

* Choose organic flowers for your friend. You really want to give flowers not pesticides right? Ordering organic flowers means that not only is your honey safer but so are the folks who grew and harvested the flowers. The same rationale holds for organic chocolates. Visit http://www.organicconsumers.org/valentines/ to view their Valentine's Buying Guide for flowers, chocolates, wine, cards, and gifts.

* Choose locally-grown food and flowers. Transportation uses a lot of oil and gas and creates climate-altering pollution. Reduce the impact of your Valentine's celebration by choosing locally-grown flowers and food. You'll also support your local economy, and get fresher, tastier food in the process. Visit http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/237936/resources_to_find_great_local_foods.html to find locally-grown food in your area.

* Choose cards made of recycled paper. No sense killing a tree to help your love grow. Visit http://www.organicconsumers.org/valentines/ to find out how to order. Or try this, send seeded cards from Bloomin' (http://www.bloomin.com/). These cards can be planted to grow flowers for a gift that keeps on giving. Ecards can also be nice.

* If you are going to propose, choose environmentally responsible rings from a company like GreenKarat (http://www.greenkarat.com). You can also use an heirloom ring. These not only reduce waste and energy usage, but can have wonderful sentimental value and meaning. Congratulations!