(no subject)
Hearye! Hearye!
I’ve just read Corrie’s wonderful LJ entry about saving the environment! And really she has said it all. I blame it on our consumerist lifestyle and a government who believes that developed countries are allowed to have a larger carbon footprint which is complete crop! Yes, they will have a larger footprint, that is inevitable, but what they should have should be greater responsibility because they, unlike developing countries, would be more likely to be able to afford a carbon emissions tax, But yes, I shall get off my little soapbox now.
Anyhow, to add on to Corrie’s ideas this festive season of commercialism and waste-How to be *slightly* more environmentally friendly this Christmas:
I’ve just read Corrie’s wonderful LJ entry about saving the environment! And really she has said it all. I blame it on our consumerist lifestyle and a government who believes that developed countries are allowed to have a larger carbon footprint which is complete crop! Yes, they will have a larger footprint, that is inevitable, but what they should have should be greater responsibility because they, unlike developing countries, would be more likely to be able to afford a carbon emissions tax, But yes, I shall get off my little soapbox now.
Anyhow, to add on to Corrie’s ideas this festive season of commercialism and waste-How to be *slightly* more environmentally friendly this Christmas:
- Don’t buy random gifts.
Unless you know just *exactly* what the person who want chances are they’ll coo over the gift, maybe even use/wear it once or twice & then it’ll be stashed in a corner collecting dust. - Find out what people want or need not merely want they like.
Yes, everybody loves candles and candleholders but honestly how many candles can one person possibly have/need/find place to store? (I used the example of candles because it seems that what everybody buys for someone every year.) Collude with their best friend/partner/family member/etc when choosing a gift. Such stalking will help ensure that what you get is something viable. If you can’t find something you can buy them they either own everything or they’re probably someone you aren’t close enough to to do the mandatory stalking in which case: - Gift vouchers
Yes, yes, I’ve heard all the arguments before-they’re thoughtless, insincere gifts, people will know how much you’ve spent on them, yahduhyahduhyahduh. Think about, the voucher itself will generate far less waste then anything you could buy. If you purchase the voucher from a shop you know they frequent and like, you can be sure they’d get something they’ll definitely use. Again, not generation of random, unwanted, dust collecting presents.
Helpful notes: You can not go wrong with Kino/Borders, HMV, dining, hotel, or Harvey Norman (if you’re shopping for married couples) vouchers. Unless you have concrete evidence, no wants a crystal vase or another photo frame. I caution you, there are pedantic people (um, myself included) out there who will never use anything you buy because it doesn’t fit in/match what they owe. - Stop buying & giving Christmas cards.
Yes, everybody loves getting snail mail & Christmas cards and yes, some even know how to use them to decorate the house but what of after Christmas? They’re just going to get chucked away (yes, even those which are carefully stored away every Christmas will eventually get chucked away). No doubt Christmas cards are a fuss-free & convenient way of showing someone you’re thinking of them but think of all the trees that you’re killing.
An alternative. Write a short note or postcard. And when I say postcard I don’t mean one that you have bought. Take a piece of foolscap paper, draw a pretty Christmas tree motif around it if you must, write a short note and off it goes. So much more sincere, much more fun to receive and only a quarter of the resources used in its making. I got something like that from David (which I guiltily confess to not having replied-I will Dave, I promise!) and it was a hundred times better than a Christmas card. - Make a video card.
This is a truly ingenious idea. Take your camera phone or a video cam, get a bunch of people, shoot people looking happy, getting drunk, etc, give one of two Christmas wishes and there you go. A novelty Christmas card that you can replicate and send to all your friends! Even better, you can reduce your carbon footprint by sending it via email instead of burning a dvd (everybody copies it to their computer anyway). Remember the GLSG video Mel made? That rocked! - Bake.
Presents that won’t collect dust or sit around and occupy unnecessary space! A thousand times more original and sincere than store-bought cookies and cake, just bake a handful of whatever for each person, pop it in a (reusable) glass jar (impossible to clash) and viola!
If you find it impossible not to shop, buy a pre-baked gingerbread house that you can assemble yourself. The one from Ikea promises bonding time with friends and family and anything that can be eaten will not collect dust or occupy unnecessary space. - Plant a tree!
At $200 a pop, it’s something fun you can do with like-minded friends, environmentally friendly & actively reduces your carbon footprint. Think of it as your carbon emission tax for 2008. Go to http://www.gardencityfund.com.sg/pat/index.htm for further details.