Consumerist heaven or environmental nightmare? Interesting article in today's Guardian about an exchange website helping people towards a more eco-friendly Christmas. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/21/recycling?gusrc=rss&feed=environment).
I'd anticipate this is the first of many - but are we ready to accept recycled gifts? It'd certainly take the hassle out of last-minute shopping, and I'm probably not the only person to have gladly given a difficult relative a cow (http://www.sendacow.org.uk/) rather than spend hours shopping for something they'll hate.
Interesting idea, but it's a shame the impact isn't more directly measurable. One charity I'm a big fan of is Plan - you sponsor a kid and then get regular contact from them, so you actually feel the results of your sponsorship. On a larger scale, rather than individual cow-contributions, wouldn't it be great if you could put a family or town on your Christmas list, thereby making a bigger and more obvious impact? It would certainly feel a little less like offsetting...
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