My wife has informed me that I am getting her a nice Valentine's day present this year. (heaven knows she deserves more than I will get her) However I want to do so while being a good American and a good person. (But of paramount importance is being a good father)

I know I am going to be a bad consumer because it is going on plastic. But if I buy her a diamond trinket that I can afford I risk supporting terrorist activity because of the organized crime that controls much of the Central African diamond trade. (A European report connected Burkina Fauso (sp?) to the funding of terrorism.) Now Mother Jones raises questions about sending roses because the booming rose business in Equador is exposing workers to pesticides.

Do I get the diamonds and roses anyway?

I wouldn't sweat it. Any product we buy today can somehow or another be linked to terrorism if you wanted to get silly about it.

Although, I found my wife enjoys a hand made gift more than anything. Such as remodeling a room, or a handmade step stool or bench. I know it's to late but you can go to home depot and enroll in classes that teach you how to do such things.

Give it a try next year. It's a hoot

Sleeper

Knowingly supporting terrorist activity would be a bad thing, IMO, but you can buy a diamond or roses without supporting terrorist activities, if you ask the right questions. Why not buy California roses? Why not ask the diamond company that you are purchasing from if they are actively involved in the Kimberly process?

What, Eeyore, no fur coat?

Not even I am that PC.

Yeah cyan, but that California rose, was grown by a farmer that has trucks that uses tires and oil. Which can fund terrorism...

While I would love to do the Home Depot project I think it is going to be a diamond heart pendant. I just am not sure if the clerk at JC Penneys has any idea where the diamonds come from. It sure is a lot easier not knowing, not caring, or not asking.

You're right Sleeper. I think no matter what you consume, a link could probably be made to terrorism in one way or another, but isn't it good to do what you can? I mean is my PC attitude towards making an attempt at being a responsible consumer really that naive?

Since anything you buy will support terrorism, have you considered buying some rock as opposed to a rock for your sweetheart?

Or, alternatively, you could buy her a big bag of marijuana and a bunch of chocolate.

Any way you look at it, you're going to be supporting some form of terrorism.

At least with my suggestions, you'll be helping out the local drug dealer at the same time!

Mike

I think we have all looked a little too deep in this whole funding terrorism thing. Terrorists are bad people, and no matter what good people do, these bad people will continue doing wrong no matter how they get their resources.

Sleeper

Mike thanks for voicing what I was having a hard time not including in my suggestions. A rock and pipe or a baggie of pot really do say something to that special someone. And obviously from recent commercials we know that not only will I be guaranteed of funding terrorism, but I will have the option of having my way with my unsuspecting wife as bonus. (Ok methinks I may have gone too far but cannot bring myself to backspace)

And I can't buy the chocolate because that just means I am sabotaging her efforts to lose weight. That could lead to tension on the home front

You're probably right about that too Sleeper. In fact I the idea of the drugs = terrorism campaign and the SUV = terrorism campaign were both a little over the top, IMO, but I still think it's necessary to try to consume as ethically as possible, and that isn't just in relation to terrorism. Blood Diamonds are bad news, and I don't really know much about Ecuadorian roses except from the perspective of the floral industry. I worked in it for three years on the wholesale end of things. South American roses are less expensive than California Roses. They are larger, and they last longer, so from a business perspective, they are a better choice, but the business side of things is not always ethical, so it's up to the consumer to make that choice.

skip the diamonds and roses, buy her a vacuum, just ask oreck, all women want one!

truthfully, the easiest way is this: find a jeweler that doesn't deal in "blood" diamonds (you can probably find out online somewhere) and if possible find someone that doesn't do business with the debeers diamond company. (they control like 80% of the diamond trade though, so it may be tough) as for the roses, try to find a local nursery that is growing roses, so as not to have to have them ship across country (I don't know what the weather is like in tennessee though, so...) remember, if you MUST support some terrorist group somewhere, do it as little as possible, because anymore today, it is almost impossible to not give money to terrorists SOMEWHERE!