I can get into quite a state thinking about how gift-giving may be hyper-consumeristic and sometimes supports not-so-shining industries. ?áI try to use this season as an opportunity to tweak gift-giving. I like to do it right under the Christmas tree and in the kitchen too. ?áIt is important for me to buy an organic, free range turkey because I feel sick preparing an industrially-produced one. ?áI buy organic and fair trade sugar and chocolate. It disturbs me to think that we are eating and celebrating with chocolate that might have been picked by a child (see Carol Off’s Bitter Chocolate).
If I am not going to make things for others, I try to consider my options as to who can do it for me. ?áThis is where gift shopping comes into play.?áThere are many ways of approaching this tradition that do not necessarily cure consumerism, but will make a small difference.?áSome of these gifts are fair trade, some of them involve making donations to good organizations.?áHannah Sung of the Globe and Mail calls into question the scope of such strategies in?áPhilanthropic shopping: to give and to get. Do we really need to get and give so very much? Maybe not. ?áCan we actually redeem consumerism by tweaking it a bit? Yes, I believe so.
Some DIFY Ideas.
- Local artists and?áEtsy are great options.
- Go global and consider the fair-trade gift shop?áTen Thousand Villages. (list of stores in Quebec).
- Items at the David Suzuki store are really cute and support the work of one of the most important Canadian icons working for environmental sustainability.
- Kiva is an organization that loans money to others and helps to change lives. ?áIt also happens to be chosen as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things 2010.
- ethiquette.ca highlights?ásome great businesses in Quebec.
Tammy Schmidt, Montreal.
*In the coming days, we will post some Green Christmas Tips from a few of our friends: Brooke McCartney Langdon, Julie Webb and Jodi Hildebrand!
Comments
5 responses to “DIFY (Do It For You) Gift Ideas”
These are great ideas! I remember my Grandma saying one year, “I don’t need anything else, please just give some money to charity instead of giving me a gift.” So, every year, we donate money to our favorite ones and send her a card saying what she did by making her generous request. Cool Grandma!!!
Very cool Grandma! Is this the one who sent raisins to people? I think I would have liked her.
You know, after writing this I wondered if the tone was a little too hyper perfectionist. I can’t say I take a hard stand and refuse to celebrate when it is not done ethically. I just want to say that where I can (and when I am focused) I insert a few traditions that make things a little better for myself and others.
Ah, Grandma! She’s still with us. Yes, this is the one who would send us raisins and nuts… and Velveeta… 🙂
I don’t think this is hyper-perfectionist, it’s offering up some ideas. They are GOOD ideas. If you or any of us do not achieve perfection when we strive for something, it’s still worth striving for! Grandma didn’t turn away other gifts, after all. (annnd still sent that Velveeta and eats marshmallows on a regular basis)
Awww, she mixes it up a little of the good and a little of the bad. Good strategy for getting the kids to eat right. hahaha.
Glad to know she is still here!
91 years “young”… despite the marshmallows. 😉