I'm Dreaming... of a Green... Christmas

Do you love Christmas? I know I do. We had better start being sustainable now before we have to be, don't you think?
Here are the things you need to know to have a truly eco-friendly Christmas. (I apologize if you don't celebrate Christmas, but perhaps you could adapt this information to your own holiday?)

1. Presents! Presents! Presents!
I have to admit, we tend to be so materialistic nowadays. It isn't a matter of what to do for someone special on Christmas, it is more a matter of what to buy. However, we can show someone that we care about them and the earth at the same time! Here is a list of green gifts for your loved ones on Christmas.

• Give them something consumable, like muffins or gingerbread cookies or even a pie! Edible things are always good-- they're going to eat something, so why not some delicious vegan baking? (But tell them it's vegan afterward, as some people don't realize that vegan food tastes like "normal" food.) Find recipes at www.allrecipes.com/Recipes/everyday-cooking/vegetarian/vegan/dessert/Top.aspx or adapt your own to be more green.
• Check out a nearby consignment shop for beautiful objects of all varieties. I visited a consignment shop once, and I found about five different things I wanted to take home immediately!
• Find a non-material way to help someone. Go over and help them as they clean their house or pet-sit for free while they are in New Zealand. This totally avoids cliches and it can be fun!
• Make something for them. This isn't only for kids; you can use your talents for this. If you are good with crafts, for instance, you can make a cool ornament for their Christmas tree made from old cans. See www.planetgreen.discovery.com/feature/green-diy-projects/ or do a Google search.
• If all else fails, buy from a green supplier that has organic or re-used materials. For those of you doing shopping on the Internet, a good website is: http://www.therainforestsite.com/store%20
• If you want to buy a video game for a child or friend, well, please don't, as it hurts the environment more than necessary, but if you aren't going to listen to me, then at least make sure that it does not include violence. I am convinced that one of the main causes to my classmates not seeming to care about animals, the environment, and general respect for one another is the violence and more that they were exposed to by video games, the Internet, and television.
• Did you know that about 4 million tons of shopping bags and wrapping paper are used every Christmas? WOW. So let's wrap our gifts in objects like scarves, reusable gift bags from last year, tea tins, and whatever else we might have on hand. Avoid ribbons and bows, too, as they go straight to the landfill. And make sure to bring your own bags to the store, okay?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I don't know about you, but I think that we need to re-think what we do with our Christmas cards! I remember being shocked as a young child learning that most Christmas cards are thrown away shortly after Christmas. It would be a good idea to cut out the picture on the front of the card so that you can use it next year. Or you can ditch traditional card-giving altogether and wish them a "Merry Christmas" in person instead.

Oh Christmas Tree!
Please don't buy a Christmas tree! It is sad to see all the trees lined up to go into the garbage every New Year. However, buying a plastic tree is not the answer, either, as plastic virtually doesn't break down. Instead, use a live, potted Christmas tree, which you can plant outside after a few years. It'll be nice to have a little tree inside the house for a while anyway. You could even go really symbolic and use a teeny sapling as your tree to symbolize new life.

Christmas Cooking tips
Like I said earlier, it is more environmentally-friendly to follow a vegan diet. You can learn more here: www.chooseveg.com/environment.asp . Also, aim for organic foods this Christmas to avoid pesticides. My last piece of advice would be to only cook what will be eaten. If there is waste every year, make smaller portions of your Christmas dinner foods so that everyone gets enough but doesn't have to deal with leftovers.


A Final Thought...
Christmas should be fun, so enjoy it, but remember to wish the Earth a merry Christmas by taking care of it at the same time!

More info: www.eartheasy.com/give_sustainchristmas.htm

Thanks again, everyone!

Simplify Your Life

Apparently some people don't believe that this is possible, but believe me, it is. What are the benefits of living simply? Here are a few:

1. Personal Fulfillment; the more complex and difficult your life is, the more stressful it becomes, but a simple life is easy, happy, and sustainable
2. Environmental sustainability; we can reduce however much we use by so much. Think of what life was like 200 years ago (you may need a history book for this!). If they got on with that much without extensively hurting the environment, then we can too. We should not to be destroying endless amounts of rainforest, polluting our skies and water, and harming our animals. We can reduce the damage (and even turn it around!) by living simply. "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." ~Mohandas Gandhi
3. We must share the Earth with other human beings. If there was no poverty, unemployment, then there would also be no war. (Bonus Point: No war also means less environmental damage!) Another quote that illustrates this: "Live simply so that others may simply live." -Mahatma Gandhi

So, how to live simply? That's simple!

1. Buy less stuff. Only buy something if you need it; this includes food, basic utensils, and clothing. Fill up the time that you would have spent shopping for fun with something else that you find fun. In a book I was reading, the author says that if you didn't need it before you saw it in the store window, then you don't need it at all!
2. Organize your stuff. If we can't even locate anything we need, we'll have to buy a new one, thus adding to the clutter. It's also just nice to feel like you have it under control, don't you think?
3. Don't overdo your entertainment. It is fun to have fun (surprise!), but we can have fun without cinemas, TV shows, movies, theatre, new books, video games, and computer games. Try to set a rule that next week will be screen-free week. (If you need to, only use the computer for a quick check of your e-mail and/or work. No IM allowed.)
4. Don't bother with exercise machines-- walk, jog, or cycle outdoors instead. (The weather isn't too cold yet!)
5. Donate your unwanted stuff to thrift and consignment shops. Be ruthless! You won't need it again, anyway. We must share our stuff with others if we want to reduce the consumeristic behaviours of the west. Before throwing something away, ask yourself: "Could I donate this? or would anyone want it who I could give it to? or could I turn it into something useful?"
6. Get rid of junk mail at www.DMAchoice.org , which represents many countries, by the way! Junk mail, in the US (sorry, no Canadian stats found), amounts to 1.5 trees per household per year-- which totals to 100 million trees made into junk mail per year in the US alone.
7. Avoid commuting. It's bad for the environment, and you probably don't like it, anyway! Try to live near your work or school, or switch to a place closer to your home. And then, walk or cycle to get places!
8. Prepare quick, green meals ahead of time so that you don't feel tempted to slap together a cruel turkey sandwich instead. Even better, rid your house of meat, eggs, and dairy. Try this website: www.webecoist.com/2008/09/01/20-delicious-vegan-meals-recipes-that-dont-suck/ , guaranteed to satisfy everyone!
9. You don't need to wash your shirt after every single use; only wash it if it is smelly or dirty. (Bonus: Use toxin-free, animal-free detergent!)
10. Finally, use less water. Shorter showers, etc. Time your next shower, then plan by how long you can reduce it by. It is better for the environment and it gives you more time to do other things!

And there you go! I hope that you can simplify your life by following at least three of the suggestions.

Next up: Green Christmas!

Eco-friendly conferences and what they offer

Last weekend I attended the 2011 Ecomentors Youth Conference, and in September I was at the 2011 Youth Summit for Biodiversity and Sustainable Living. Since I love making lists, here are the highlights of each conference.

• 2011 Youth Summit for Biodiversity and Sustainable Living, hosted by the Ontario Nature Youth Council
• Took place at a YMCA camp in the lovely Cedar Glen, which is in the Oak Ridges Moraine. There were cabins with running water and everything!
• Programming was wonderful. The workshops I went to included a nature hike, "Waterlution", electric cars, archery, and more.
• Vegetarian/vegan food was served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and snacks, too.
• Major group activities such as icebreakers, keynote presentation from Lisa Glithero (founder of Students on Ice excursion group), and the Great Group Challenge! Late in the evening, we got to listen to an Anishanabe elder's Aboriginal stories and sing songs around a campfire.
• What I got out of it: FUN, motivation, information, freebies, and membership in the Ontario Nature Youth Council. (To join the Ontario Nature Youth Council, go to the Ontario Nature's Website.)
• Insiders info: There's gonna be one next year, so make sure you go!...
• See pictures at: http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/nature_guardians/biodiversity_summit.php (and try to find the picture that I am in!)

•  2011 Ecomentors Youth Conference
• At St. Paul's University in Ottawa
• Lasted for the day
• My workshops included: Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots, Becoming Nature Guardians (with Ontario Nature), All About Forestry, Greening Sacred Spaces: Protecting What We Love, Biodiversity Issues.
• At the beginning and end of the day we had presentations. The first one was from Emily Hunter, "eco-warrior" and daughter of Robert Hunter, who is the founder of Greenpeace. The second wasn't very good, so I won't mention it. Emily Hunter is an awesome speaker and person, though.
• The day also offered Ecomentors Speed Training, which people could enter if they wanted to teach others in their community as an Ecomentor!
• Their website is: http://www.ecomentors.ca/, put together by Earth Day Canada; go to http://www.earthday.ca/pub/
• A "green lunch" was served, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. (I didn't try it, though!)
• What I got out of it: information, motivation, springboard for new ideas, inspiration, a chance to connect with other Earth-caring people, freebies, and info on how to participate in some eco-friendly contests (Upcoming-- go to http://www.everydayheroesfestival.com/ and http://www.earthday.ca/pub/campaigns/upcycling/ .)
• Chances are, there'll be one next year, so keep checking their website!

If you're not a youth, but you want to get involved, you could either volunteer at one of next years events or go to a non-youth environmental summit (although youth would be welcome at most of those, too). For global conferences (some of which are in Canada), see http://www.conferencealerts.com/environment.htm . Medium things are on http://www.planetfriendly.net/calendar/?list=environmental-conferences-in-canada . If you want a small-scale event, go to http://www.greenottawa.ca/ . You may be able to find something ecofriendly at http://www.ottawafestivals.ca/category/festival/ . Please, get involved! The environmental movement needs you!

Let's go back to WWII (without the fighting!)

I recently read a book called Flygirl. It was about a pilot woman living during WWII.
Now-- in that book I learned a bit more about rationed items. People kept "ration books" which had little coupons that would let them buy the items, usually foods, that were scarce. Every time they bought one of those rationed items, the clerk at the store would tear out the coupon to show that they had had their share. The books were issued once a month. Get it?
Wouldn't it be cool if we could make our own "ration books"? Think about it: things are becoming scarce nowadays. You won't notice it if you go to the store, because they don't want you to believe that. But there are some communities that really need the stuff that we rather carelessly splurge on. There are obviously some essentials that we need, but sometimes we either waste it or get too much of it. You can make those little coupons to fit your lifestyle. Every time you use something that takes up electricity or resources, take off a coupon with what ever you did written on it and store it away. When all the coupons for one activity are gone, you'll have to wait until next month! The point is to use less than you do already, so make it a challenge each month! Also, please use GOOSE (Good On One Side onlEe) paper to save resources! You can also write up your goals on a separate sheet of GOOSE paper to help you remember (see examples below).
Here are some things to consider when writing up your very own ration book:

• water: shower, tap, swimming pool, dish-washing

e.g. "This month, I can have 28 five-minute showers, fill the swimming pool 2 times, hose down the car once." (make a coupon for each shower, etc.)

• energy: clothes dryer, computer, television, music, radio, video games, oven

e.g. "This month, I can use the oven to cook or bake things 15 times, have 10 twenty-minute video gaming sessions, and use the clothes dryer instead of air drying methods three times."

• transportation: cars, buses, airplanes

e.g. "This month, I can drive or get a ride with someone to unnecessary things (like to see the movies) five times. I will not fly on an airplane this month."

• food choices: how you prepare it, what you buy, how it is packaged, restaurants, organic, home grown

e.g. "This month, I can buy/eat  foods individually packaged in plastic 15 times, I can eat 40 meals that do not include raw foods, etc."


So those are some ideas right there. I think I'd better practice what I preach and make a ration book today. If you don't know what to do with all the money you'll save by doing this, you can always donate it to your favourite environmental organization, or donate some items that you no longer need to people and animals in need. Double your positive impact!

Here are some pictures of WWII ration books:

And...

SPECIAL SURPRISE.
I have included "About Me" pages to my blogs (see sidebar), which include information on how I became interested in these issues, as well as some of my hobbies. Also, look up at the url of the page. There should be a teeny koala there!

Next week: I will talk about eco-conferences and the ones I have gone to, which include the 2011 Youth Summit for Biodiversity and Sustainable Living, and the upcoming Ecomentors Conference this weekend!