I just went to the close-by shopping centre to get a sandwich when I noticed the unusually long queue of people going to the flower shop. Upon closer inspection, almost all of them seemed to be men. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, but then it struck me - it's international women's day.

How sad that the consumption of cut flowers is what this day has become. To me, it should be about awareness of the things that still make women second-class citizens in many places: little or no education, little or no power in their own societies, little or no control over their own sexuality, domestic abuse and so much more. Even if you want to keep your thoughts national, there are many things that can be improved in terms of women's rights. Sexual harassment is very common, and women still make less money than men for doing the same job.

If people feel the need to spend money on something on this day, why not give it to charities who help women who are abused, who give women opportunities to learn skills that help them support themselves and their families, who teach them about their rights, or who try to give girls the chance to go to school?

Do we have to make everything into a consumer party?