Global Valentine
From 2006 to 2012 thousands of roses, carnations and other flowers (through FTD, Veriflora, Fairtrade GF-Trading, One World Flowers and the Flower Council of Holland) were passed out wrapped with original received poems and statements from around the world (sampling here) in cities such as Amsterdam, San Francisco, Swansea, Berlin, Antwerp, Los Angeles, The Hague, Chicago, London and towns in Australia and Canada.
The flowers were sourced from the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Palestine and Colombia. Some poems were also received from farm workers and their children in Zimbabwe and Kenya. Participants included schools, poets, volunteers, peace organizations, parks and gardens, artists, and families or individuals who simply heard of the project. Poems or statements were also received from David Whyte, Yoko Ono, Allison Crowe and Marshall Rosenberg.
Goals of the Valentine Peace Project (VPP) were to expand the meaning of Valentine's Day, illuminate global connectivity, and curate a shared expression dedicated to the work of peace, the greater face of love, the pleasure of poetry as well as knowledge of flower growers and ethically traded products. Later the project included September 21 (Peace Day) and tried to move in a more social enterprise direction.
The VPP aimed to bring a deeper humanity to age old customs- more conscious trade, small acts of kindness, poems of love, expressions of peace, intentional gardens, and simple joy in complicated times. The project founded by Federico Hewson continued for a couple years after 2012 as an Amsterdam action led by Elena Kravtchenko.
Support came from the international floral industry as well as the Fairtrade movement, Dutch municipalities, Rabobank, private foundations, IBFD and individual contributors.
Working with a peace educator the project created youth peace education lesson plans, sold peace tulip bulbs (from Preijde Bloembollen/Concept Plants) for Peace Direct in London, planted gardens with Peace Mala in Wales and partnered with ethical chocolatiers Chocolala and Tony's Chocolonely The VPP participated in the Southbank Centre Imagine Festival in 2012.
Articles on the VPP included the cover of HortiNews (NL), the Metro, Huffington Post, Chicago New City, Bloom, Vision, Whole Life Times, Time Out Amsterdam, blogs and local publications.
