As the holiday shopping season has shifted into fast gear, I would like to offer some suggestions for gift giving this year. Many of us are already intent on getting eco-friendly items for ourselves, but I want to remind us all that we can give these types of items as gifts to our friends and family as well. Inhabitat.com is a great website that has several "green" gift guides available for the person you are shopping for. It offers suggestions for the more eco-friendly items that are also tasteful.
Sometimes, we want to encourage our family members or friends to be more environmentally friendly, but we don't know quite how other than to share our convictions on the environment. One way that you might be able to get them started in the right direction is to buy them gifts such as recycling bins or a good sturdy recycled and reusable tote bag. You'd be surprised how many people would like to recycle or use a recycled product but lack the motivation to get these items themselves. Giving this type gift is a loving way to get them started in the right direction.
I know many people like to buy a car for themselves or for the family during the holidays. Green.autoblog.com is an amazing resource that points shoppers and car enthusiasts alike to the alternative vehicles to the normal gas-guzzling behemoths of metal. It has very cool cars that are very good to the environment. Spend a little extra to get fuel savings in return and to do your part to reduce the carbon footprint of humankind.
One final suggestion. On the train ride up to our Thanksgiving destination last week, my partner over heard two men speaking about the EPA and how it needed to be done away with. This reminded me that we are well likely to encounter a conservative or misinformed person in our holiday festivities. Whether it is at an intimate family dinner or with friends or the company Christmas party, we may well encounter someone who thinks climate change and global warming are hoaxes and that environmental regulations kill jobs. Instead of just letting the comments slide by, arm yourself with the facts and gently point them out to whoever it is. Lies and misinformation can only prosper when they go unchallenged. By no means should we be combative or condescending, but don't pass up the opportunity to share the truth with people, especially when they are your own family and friends. I hope this Holiday season is a joyful one and that we can all remember the best qualities in human kind and what good we are capable of.
Sometimes, we want to encourage our family members or friends to be more environmentally friendly, but we don't know quite how other than to share our convictions on the environment. One way that you might be able to get them started in the right direction is to buy them gifts such as recycling bins or a good sturdy recycled and reusable tote bag. You'd be surprised how many people would like to recycle or use a recycled product but lack the motivation to get these items themselves. Giving this type gift is a loving way to get them started in the right direction.
I know many people like to buy a car for themselves or for the family during the holidays. Green.autoblog.com is an amazing resource that points shoppers and car enthusiasts alike to the alternative vehicles to the normal gas-guzzling behemoths of metal. It has very cool cars that are very good to the environment. Spend a little extra to get fuel savings in return and to do your part to reduce the carbon footprint of humankind.
One final suggestion. On the train ride up to our Thanksgiving destination last week, my partner over heard two men speaking about the EPA and how it needed to be done away with. This reminded me that we are well likely to encounter a conservative or misinformed person in our holiday festivities. Whether it is at an intimate family dinner or with friends or the company Christmas party, we may well encounter someone who thinks climate change and global warming are hoaxes and that environmental regulations kill jobs. Instead of just letting the comments slide by, arm yourself with the facts and gently point them out to whoever it is. Lies and misinformation can only prosper when they go unchallenged. By no means should we be combative or condescending, but don't pass up the opportunity to share the truth with people, especially when they are your own family and friends. I hope this Holiday season is a joyful one and that we can all remember the best qualities in human kind and what good we are capable of.
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