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= Flowers around the globe =

Are you aware that the cut flower you buy in the supermarket or at your florist might have travelled thousands of kilometres to please you at home or in the office? Indeed, an increasing share of flowers which are sold in Europe is grown in countries close to the equator.

Do you wonder why? Around the equator conditions for growing flowers are more favourable than in Europe. Those countries don't have cold winters, they constantly have 12 hours daylight and they have fertile soil. Labour is cheap and, labour and environmental laws are not as strict as in Europe, or at least, they are not enforced.

Are you concerned about the latter? We, too, are. That's why we have started a campaign to raise awareness on labour rights, workers' health, and environmental protection in the flower industry.

Join us and be part of the change. Support Decent Working Conditions for Flower Farm Workers and Sign our Petition

Environmental protection
Flowers need a lot of fresh water to grow. For example, one hectare of rose production in Ecuador consumes between 10.000 and 30.000 litre per year. In Kenya, many large flower farms are located around the Lake Naivasha which is an internationally protected wetland. Scientists observe the drop of the water level which affects peasants and pastoralists who live in this area.

As flower production consumes a lot of fresh water it also produces a lot of sewage which is contaminated by pesticides. In many cases waste water is not treated and pollutes soils, rivers, lakes and in the long run even ground water.

Change! Action!
After watching at these information above, please don't think that you should stop buying flowers, the flower worker might lose their job that they need for their daily life, like shelter. But next time you buy flowers you can ask for flowers from socially and environmentally sound production. International trade unions and non-governmental organisations have joined forces and developed the International Code of Conduct for socially and environmentally responsible flower production (ICC) (add Link) and its guidelines for implementation. They contain rules on: Currently, there are two organisations which certify flower farms in compliance with the ICC: **FLO-Cert GmbH** **Flower Label Program** ** (FLP) **
 * 1) Freedom of Association and the Right of Collective Bargaining
 * 2) Freedom from Discrimination
 * 3) Living Wages
 * 4) Working Hours
 * 5) Occupational Health and Safety
 * 6) Pesticides and Chemicals
 * 7) Job Security
 * 8) Environmental Protection
 * 9) Prohibition of Child Labour
 * 10) Prohibition of Forced Labour
 * The higher the demand of flowers produced in compliance with the ICC the more flower farms will start to improve working conditions and environmental protection.**
 * Look for those labelled flowers when you buy flowers next time. You can do this as a consumer, as a trader and as an institution. And you will be pleased while supporting decent working and living conditions of the flower workers.**