CLOSE UP by Brian Rudnick

Valentines Day roses - does love hurt?

[Alexandra Serfass, Robertson's Flowers greenhouse employee]

In the 2004 movie, “Maria Full of Grace,” a pregnant young woman trades the harsh conditions of a flower packing operation in Colombia to come to the United States with a friend as a “drug mule.” It doesn't turn out well.

The flower export business is big business. Large, drab greenhouses, like those in Ecuador where “Maria” was filmed, can stretch for miles. From my bus window, I knew the eerily transformed landscape would not be on any picture postcard I would be sending home to the U.S.

Beauty has its cost to both the environment and people, however, according to “The Secrets Behind Your Flowers,” a February 2011 Smithsonian Magazine report. Because it may take three gallons of water to grow just one rose bloom, groundwater supplies become depleted.  The low-paying work is tedious and straining. In traditional growing operations, workers are exposed to the dangerous pesticides and fungicides that keep insects from taking the slightest nibble from an otherwise picture-perfect flower.

Public outcry in recent years has led to the introduction of fair trade practices.  Nicole Serfass, flower buyer at Robertson’s Flowers greenhouses in Wyndmoor, showed off the Veriflora label on the roses they import from South America.  Veriflora is one of a handful of certifying organizations that try to ensure that their growers are using sustainable agricultural methods and providing equitable, healthy conditions for their workers.

At Robertson’s showcase Chestnut Hill store, Sandy Robertson says they source their flowers locally  from New Jersey,  domestically from Florida when they can and even sees growing customer interest in organically or sustainably grown flowers. Serfass has been asking their growers about organic but believes it’s not yet economically worth it for them to invest the years required for organic certification.

“Aren’t they gorgeous?” Donna Beardell of  Chestnut Hill asks,  exiting Robertson’s with a brilliant bunch of pink tinged roses, destined for her nieces competing in a gymnastics meet. On Valentines Day, she’s hoping she’ll be the recipient.

watch video here

[Sandy Robertson]

 

[Donna Beardell of Chestnut Hill]

[Nicole Serfass Robertson's Flowers greenhouse, Buyer]

Vancouver librarian volunteers in Galapagos

Sally Taylor, a university reference librarian from Vancouver, Canada is finishing up an 8-month stint as a volunteer librarian at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos. She spoke via Skype from her home in the town of Puerto Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz about her work which includes finding materials for staff and volunteers and emptying the dehumidifier. She’s also had the opportunity to do touristy things like a cruise to see flora and the albatrosses nesting on the island of Española. The station is advertising for a volunteer librarian to succeed her. Sally blogs about her adventures on the equator at http://blogs.ubc.ca/galapagos/

Watch Skype interview here.

Leaf Blowers Roar in Chestnut Hill

In the tree filled neighborhoods of Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill, autumn brings the gentle, rustling sound of fallen leaves but, just as commonly, the roar of leaf blowers used to collect them.

PA Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate protests Marcellus shale drilling

“I’m running for U.S. Senate on the Green Party ticket.” CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN? “I just started to campaign now. Our new brochure is out. We’re the only party and I’m the only senatorial candidate in this state who’s standing against the corporations - against Marcellus Shale drilling and for fair play for all people. Our economy right now has been completely taken over by the banksters and there’s no redress for the average people. We have five million homes being foreclosed, we have 30 million people unemployed with no help in sight and we don’t see an end to this economic crisis.” WHAT ARE SPECIFIC ISSUES YOU’RE TAKING ON LIKE THE MARCELLUS SHALE ISSUE? “The ones we just talked about which is the unemployed issue; we need to end all the wars now. These endless wars have got to stop, it’s just taxing us incredibly. We need to start bringing all the troops home and start using that money to create public sector jobs” AND HOW’S THE CAMPAIGN GOING? “It’s going fine. You have to understand we just started the campaign. A lot of people just now are involved in the primaries” YOU CAME IN FROM PITTSBURGH TODAY? “I came in from Pittsburgh to join this protest against Marcellus shale drilling and I will also stop down to Temple University Hospital picket line today; the strike needs a great deal of support and from there I’ll be going to speak at Cheyney University. There is a political candidate debate tonight.” Mel Packer, Pennsylvania Green Party Candidate for U.S. Senate, outside Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regional office, Norristown. Watch video interview here.

Polar bears cannibalizing each other according to Greenpeace Frontliner

 

“I’ll use my microcosmic example with my friend the polar bear here. So, as a result of the warming of the globe, arctic ice is melting and because of that, the polar bears who hunt from this ice, are resorting to cannibalism for the first time in recorded history.” Kat Johnston. Greenpeace frontliner outside Wachovia Bank, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA. Watch video interview here.

Vassar Student Canvasses for Clean Energy

I'm out here canvassing [for] the League of Conservation Voters. We're currently working on getting a house resolution passed called HR2454 (American Clean Energy And Security Act of 2009). The bill would have funds and grants for solar and wind energy and would create millions of new jobs across the U.S. and two hundred thousand jobs immediately in Pennsylvania." Sarah Evans, Vassar College student from Media. Click here to watch video interview.