People buying flowers in Bonn
A dear friend once looked at me in surprise when I exclaimed at a beautiful bouquet of red and yellow roses being sold by a flower vendor in Nairobi. In her most practiced practical tone of voice, she said, “I have never understood the fascination that people have with cut flowers. I find it unreasonable that people are willing to spend so much money on dead plants, which are already starting to decay. Putting them in water only delays the inevitable.”
Needless to say, she completely spoiled it for me, and I haven´t bought flowers since then. It´s not that I don´t find them beautiful.
I could not help but remember her comments in September, when I came across a group of people scrambling for flowers in Bonn. I stood, mesmerized by the sight before me. Usually, even when shopping, people here tend to appear very organized, they do not push and shove to get to the items on sale. They appear calm and ready to take their time. Or at least, that is what I expected. So I stood for a moment, and observed, and took some photographs. Then I realized that the flowers were being sold at a lower price, and everyone was trying to get to the fresher looking flowers.
If I had had the courage, I would have walked up to them and told them about one of the countries that cut flowers come from, and how their cultivation is threatening one of the most beautiful lakes there. I would have told them that drawing water for flower cultivation had lowered the water levels in Lake Naivasha, leading to the migration of wild animals and limiting the livelihoods of fishermen and pastoralists who rely on the lake.
Next, I would have told them about the deplorable conditions in which Kenyan flower farm labourers work… at least based on what I have seen on news reports. Poor pay, lack of protective gear and the resultant health problems, mistreatment and abuse.
Lastly, I would have asked them what the fuss about climate change was about if we were still flying flowers out here everyday, and whether they really could not find other ways to put a smile on their faces and the faces of their loved ones.
If I had had the courage, I would have concluded, “I find it unreasonable that you are willing to spend so much money on dead plants, which are already starting to decay. Putting them in water only delays the inevitable.” But I did not, so I walked away, bemused at how one voice had changed my thinking.
