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03/26/2006:

"The mother of all roses"

As dawn broke over Kenya's Lake Naivasha, thousands of men and women trudged through a dusty township before filing into vast greenhouses. Here the hours are long and pesticides ever-present. Last week was tougher than most.

The flower farmers were putting in long shifts in the sweltering heat to ensure Britain had a happy Mother's Day. They have also made flowers a cornerstone of the Kenyan economy. But serious concerns are being asked over working conditions and environmental impact.

"It's total exploitation. Most of the workers are women, mostly divorcees and single mothers, and they have to feed their families," one leading human rights activist said. Some work 18-hour days for £25 a month with no protection from pesticides.
independent.co.uk