You know who they are, the person who says "I don't want any gifts, please!" Honor their wishes and get them the gift of compassion and good will.
Heifer International
Gift a goat (or other charitable gift) for a family in need
Oxfam Unwrapped
Invest in a small business, to help someone get started in the right direction
Center for Biological Diversity
Support their cause by making a donation in the recipient's name
The Nature Conservancy
Adopt an acre in the US or plant trees in Brazil in their name
Environmental Working Group
Get a Pollution Solutions Holiday Gift Bag when you donate
World Wildlife Fund
Adopt an endangered animal (symbolically, of course)
Farm Sanctuary
Adopt a farm animal like Susie Moo, here (you don't get to take her home)
Global Giving
A gift card so the recipient can decide where their donation will go
(Choose the email version to save resources!)
Or find their favorite cause on Charity Navigator.
Related post
more philanthropic gift giving
02 December 2008
eco holiday gift guide: for the philanthropist
eco holiday gift guide: for mom
Whether she's a new mom or a grandmom, these gifts will warm her earth-lovin' heart.
Under $100
Lambswool Wrap - Natural
On sale $95
at VivaTerra
Beaded Scarf - Copper
$78 at VivaTerra
Under $75
Cozy Knit Slipper Booties (sizes 7-8)
$69 at VivaTerra
Betty Bag by Keen
(other colors available)
$65 at ebags
2 Days Only 10% Off offer: $58.50
Handwoven Basket from Darfur
$58 at GlobalExchange
Lotus Bag (small) by Helen E. Riegle
$55 at ebags
2 Days Only 10% Off offer: $49.50
Under $50
Chapati Candle Tray - Unscented
$49 at VivaTerra
Hand-beaded African Necklace
$42 at GlobalExchange
Enamel Flower Pitcher - Black
$39 at VivaTerra
Magical Shell Gardens (small)
$39 at VivaTerra
Under $25
The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution
$23.10 at Amazon
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food (How to Cook Everything)
$23.10 at Amazon
Float Away Sleep-inspiring milk bath
$22.50 at Origins
Wood Earrings
On sale $21.56
at Organic Style
Weleda Baby Gift Tin
$20 at Beautorium
Amazon Harvest Coil Bracelet
$19.95 at OriginalGood
Farfalla Frangipani Shower Cream
On sale $10
at Beautorium
01 December 2008
eco holiday gift guides: for the gourmand
It can be challenging to find the right gift for everyone in your life, and even more difficult to find something they'll like that doesn't have a huge ecological footprint (and won't cost an arm and a leg). So in order to help make it a little easier, I'm putting together some eco holiday gift guides.
Here's the first in the series.
eco gifts for the gourmand
Under $100
Tower of Organic Cookies
$99 at VivaTerra
Root Bowl of Chocolate Treats
$89 at VivaTerra
Under $75
Cork Wine Chiller
$69.95 at Organic Style
Slate Cheese Board Set
$69 at VivaTerra
Teavana Tea Gift Set
$59.99 at Teavana
Root Of the Earth Platter
$39 (medium)
$59 (large)
at VivaTerra
Gourmet Snack Lover's Baskets
Starting at $55 at Global Exchange
Under $50
Recycled Aperitif Glasses (Set of 4)
$42.95 at Organic Style
Handmade Organic Peppermint Bark (1 LB)
$39 at VivaTerra
Under $25
A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes
by David Tanis (foreward by Alice Waters)$23.10 at Amazon
Organic Volcano White Honey
$16.99 at Teavana
Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen
by Anna Lappe and Bryant Terry$12.89 at Amazon
30 November 2008
surviving australia
When I saw the posters outside of the Australia Museum for the exhibit "Surviving Australia," I thought maybe it was an exhibit about how humans survived all of the deadly creatures on this isolated continent, once known in Europe as "terra australis incognita" (unknown southern land). This was only part of the story.
Upon entering the exhibit I realized it was more about how the creatures survived the deadly invading humans. Extinct, endangered, and threatened animals were featured in varying media. Threatened and endangered animals had taxidermied representatives. The extinct were mainly shown in illustrations, with the eerie exception of the Tasmanian tiger, of which there was archival film footage.
Thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, was exterminated by man by the early 20th century. It had the appearance of a canine, but like many Australian animals, it was marsupial. [Read more here.]
There were life-sized recreations of megafauna, long extinct when Westerners arrived. Giant wombat-like marsupials and enormous kangaroos (up to 10 feet tall) once roamed the continent.
Thylacoleo, an extinct marsupial lion.
The fate of several animals was doomed upon the arrival of the white man. According to the exhibit, "in the last 200 years, over 50 vertebrate species and an unknown number of invertebrates and plants have disappeared from Australia -- presumed extinct." With habit destruction, introduction of foreign plant and animal species, and sometimes intentional extermination, the pig-footed bandicoot, several types of emu, kangaroo, and wallaby, and the Tasmanian tiger met their untimely end. Today, countless birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals are endangered or threatened because of humans. And Australia is sparsely populated compared with other continents (barring Antarctica), with about 21 million people covering the whole country.
The endangered regent honeyeater.
The endangered Tasmanian devil (I have a photo of a live one in my broken memory card).
When land is cleared did you know that everything living is killed? Between 1972 and 2006 it has been estimated nearly 4 billion birds, mammals and reptiles have died as a result of land clearing in Australia.
One-third of Australia's woodlands... has been destroyed.
An estimated 50 percent of wetlands have been destroyed.
Over three-quarters of Australia's rainforests have been destroyed.
Alright, let's get down to the fun stuff -- the animals that are deadly to humans! I timed my trip to the museum perfectly, because the next day we were off to the tropical north, where all of these toxic creatures live. Saltwater crocs, chironex and irukandji box jelly fish, death adders -- they're all in Queensland's coastal regions. And let's not forget the great white shark!
Huge, predatory Saltwater Crocodiles are one of Australia's most famous dangers. They're the world's biggest living crocodiles and can swim underwater at 30 kilometres per hour [18.6 mph] without causing a ripple. They can leap out of water fast enough to outrun a horse (over a short distance) and far enough to catch low-flying birds.
It was kind of an exciting prospect to be able to possibly witness one of these creepy beings. I avoided going in the water for fear of deadly jelly stings. (I went for a horseback ride and even Rocky, my trusty steed, wouldn't take a dip -- maybe he knows something I don't!) Every branch brushing against my legs was a Sydney funnel-web spider waiting to intoxicate me.
An interactive display describes the chironex box jellyfish
Alas, the scariest thing I came across was a little baby reef shark on the Great Barrier Reef -- and he was so scared of me that he darted away as soon as a I spotted him. But my boyfriend got to see a young saltwater crocodile on Bedarra Island -- I wonder where mama croc was?!
26 November 2008
25 November 2008
back from oz with little remorse
I had an amazing time down under. The people are friendly, the food incredible, and -- it's spring now -- so the weather is terrific.
In Sydney, I walked all over. As eco-conscious as the city is (after all, they were the pioneers of Earth Hour), their public transport system is not the greatest -- certainly nothing like NYC's. Sydney's economy isn't the greatest right now either (whose is, really?), so they've cut funding from their public transport developments. I got an earful from a local about it -- he's none too pleased that he moved to a neighborhood that was meant to be receiving new public transport options, but after he relocated, the city reneged on the deal.
Budget cuts aside, there is a decent bus and train system and a centrally located ferry system that makes it easy to get to various points on the Parramatta River and other parts of Sydney Harbor.
But there's nothing like walking a city to get to know it. We stayed in Woolloomooloo, with a great view of the skyline. It was a perfect central location away from the really touristy parts, right by the Royal Botanic Gardens, and a short walk to The Rocks (where Sydney's Western history begins), Darlinghurst, and Kings Cross (a cleaned up red-light-like district).
There are farmers' markets all over the city (organic and plastic-bag-free), as well as weekend shopping markets where you can get locally made goods (we went to a great one in Paddington). I tried my hardest to buy only Australian-made goods during the entire trip. I was doing really well until the day before we left Sydney for Dunk Island, Queensland.
I was feeling run down, had the sniffles and a sore throat. I'd also been walking around a lot, trying to collect souvenirs for friends and family. I'd walked all the way to Woollahra and then all the way down to The Rocks (about 9km or about 5.6 miles). I wanted to soak in the sights one more time before heading out of the city. I was feeling really tired and vulnerable. I spotted an interesting gift for someone (who shall remain nameless, as will the item!) and the sign said it was Australian. Why then did I ask the merchant if it was made in Australia? I guess I had to be sure. As I place the item on the counter, she says, "It's designed in Australia, and made in China. But it's really good quality!" I was weak. I caved. It was the only thing I bought not actually made in Australia. Even the muesli bars I bought at Woolworth's boasted 100% Australian owned and made.
I thought about returning it, but I was already out of the shop... and hurting for a nap. Maybe I'm a bit neurotic, but I beat myself up a bit for the purchase.
Though by the time I arrived at the tropical confines of Dunk Island, I think I got over it.
simple actions you can take right now
[Image: Joel Sartore, National Geographic]
Help build a clean energy future that curbs global warming
By signing a petition from Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
Stop Palin's wolf killing frenzy
By making a small donation (as little as $5) to Defender's of Wildlife
Save the wolves of the Rockies from slaughter
By signing a petition from Center for Biological Diversity
Save lots of paper, water, and polluting ink by taking your name off the phonebook delivery list
By registering at Yellow Pages Goes Green
Tell the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act
By signing a petition from UCS (or from Environmental Defense Fund)
Stop the Bush Administration final assault on the environment
By making a donation to Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Tell Obama it's time to repower America
By signing a letter from Environment America
21 November 2008
in seclusion
Sorry for the lack of posts the last couple of days. I have so much to share I'm bursting at the seams!
I'm up at Dunk Island in Queensland until Sunday and there's only one computer for the whole island. There's also no cell phone service. So I'm forced to have a good time. Poor me.
Will be reporting back in a few days with tales of all my adventures.
Peace!
