Flowers, Diamonds, and Gold: The Destructive Public Health, Human Rights, and Environmental Consequences of Symbols of Love

Introduction

Gifts such as cut flowers, diamond, gold and jewelry are used on anniversaries and throughout the year as objects that symbolize affection. Their purchase is associated with the traditional belief of how important they are hence the maintenance of an aggressive market (Donohoe, 165). Most people value the beautiful objects as it is more of a custom than what the aesthetical products do to the environment. For sellers and the makers of the product means more business hence increase in profits while for scientists it is a way of damaging the environment, serious health problems, a contributor of violence and a source of forced labor. This article will review the environmental and health consequences and the abuse of human rights that is connected with the production of gold, diamond and cut flowers including the arguments that show the violation of truth through the selective argument of the unfair research in order to abide by the reconsiderable principle.

A worker in a flower farm a worker earns less than what a cut flower earns in an American market but they have subjected low pay and no job benefits. Floriculture farming is one of the most pesticide consumers which mean that workers in the greenhouses are subjected to very high levels of pesticides. As a result of the pesticides effects, the workers have to serve health complications as there are no proper handling and the removal of pesticides (Donohoe, 165). During important holidays such as mother’s day employees are forced to work for long hours of which they are not paid for overtime. When a worker becomes pregnant she is dismissed unfairly. People work in order to have some income and they rarely see thing from a different perspective. They are expected to work more be efficient and very little is given to them. The health complications they find themselves are simply regarded as just a means of making ends meet. Flowers are considered important in religion, heraldic and folk, as they mean, love to those people one care about but however the beauty of the flower masks the whole system that is marked by environmental degradation and exposing many people to toxic chemicals. Therefore as much as flowers symbolize love and affection their continued growth has left so many people exposed to very adverse health complications (Donohoe, 166).

There are serious and adverse effects on the environment and the human health mostly in the developing countries. The multi-national corporations have numerous profits as a result of the flower sales to major markets such as America (Donohoe, 166). Most of the companies care about the profit levels as they are rarely re-invests in the major economies that engage in growing of flowers. Considering the profits made by such corporation and the programs they have in order to make the workers more comfortable and their health safeguarded is very minimal. As the industry claims that floriculture jobs are more stable in by the use of greenhouses than in traditional farming is not true as it has used selective information in order to support its argument. By using more land to grow flowers rather than the local foods for consumptions raises the cost of food whereby the locals use the salaries to buy food which at times leads to malnutrition when it is not enough. Flower production also uses large quantities of water which results in a drop in the water tables affecting the environment (Donohoe, 167).

Diamond deposits are found deep underground subjecting many diggers and miners in dangerous working conditions, very little pay and unhealthy conditions (Donohoe, 170). Diamond jewels are used to show affection to the loved ones that we care about but leave the workers in such an industry exposed to adverse risks. The mine owners with conjunction with the local and national government have taken some actions that have led resettlement of the people making them leave their traditional homes by a way of compensation. This shows a violation of the human rights as most of them do not move willingly but they are forcefully moved. The indigenous people’s right is violated as they have no right to question the government. This is done in order to make the people leave their land and settle in different areas. Such compensation is used to blindfold the people so that they won’t have any excuse as to why they will not leave. The compensations made are not suitable compared to the billions of profits made. The numerous profits made hinder the government and the owners to see the adverse effect the mining activities fastens environmental degradation to regions already experiencing ecosystem pressures such as deforestation and overpopulation (Donohoe, 171).

“Diamond is forever” (Donohoe, 170) is a slogan that has continued to be effective to most Americans as they emphasize on the value and the profit that arises from the use of diamond. This is not true as the mining of diamond has continued to affect the people and the environment at large. The exporters of diamond earn a lion’s share from the mining activities who are mostly foreign nationals who rarely reinvest in the countries of mining. Due to the profits made through the mining of diamond, there have been fights like in Sierra Leone where thousands were killed as they seek the power to control the diamond mines. As a result, there been extradition of thousands. Miners have been exposed HIV and AIDS from the sex slaves (Donohoe, 171). This is another factor that contributes to poor human health and poor standards of living as most resources are used to cater for the sick. Many people tend to believe that gift in form of a product made from diamond can be able to express love because it is considered to be worthy. Very few people show the negative effects of continued exploration of diamond due to the profits they make. By the use of this product to show affection as most people believe that it is very valuable as it signifies love many people are left to suffer as they are exposed to greater risk which can cost them their life.

Gold has been dominant throughout the history as it is considered valuable and it has been used as a medium of exchange due to the recognition it has gained but only from a selective view that does not consider the effects that arise from the exploration of gold (Donohoe, 172). The use of gold wedding rings has hastened its demand because of the special chemicals it has together with admirable properties it has including durability, malleability and the resistance to erosion it has. These factors have lead to its demand not considering the fact that historically it was used as a poison (Donohoe, 172). People tend to believe that the product can no longer be poisonous due to its diverse use even in medical use.

As gold is considered valuable due to the profits realized through its mining it is one of the most dangerous industry in the world. This is because at least 40 workers are killed a day while a number of them are injured (Donohoe, 173). There is violation of human rights as they are forced to work. The mining activities lead to environmental degradation and pollution. Communities lose their traditional livelihood as a result of mining (Donohoe, 174). There are also economic problems realized in the long term and poor public health. Due to an increase in gold dependence, there has been poor economic growth, increased poverty and which encourages government corruption. Gold is associated with cyanide and mercury which not only contaminate ground water but it is also harmful to the environment and the human health at large (Donohoe,175).

Conclusion

Many people are not aware of the numerous disadvantages that arise as a result of using these products as they symbolize them with love and affection for those they care about.  This is because as they tend to make their loved ones feel happy there are those that are severely affected as a result of the products. Therefore consumers should not put so much value in the products as there are more severe effects realized. Consumers should change their entire conception as they have been made to believe regarding the items as symbols of their love and affection. They should emulate substitute gifts as cards, photos, and art in order to present a care for the environment, a stop to child forced labor and a stop to human rights violation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work cited

Donohoe Martin. Flowers, Diamonds, and Gold: The Destructive Public Health, Human Rights, and Environmental Consequences of Symbols of Love. The john Hopkins University Press (2008)