Oh come, all ye wasteful...

Low Carbon Highs for this Christmas
When I was a child, Christmas was an alien Western tradition. The most we did was draw or buy a few Christmas cards and give them to our friends. For us, Christmas was also the time for a well earned holiday, a time to reflect on our achievements and a chance to have a good time with our family and friends.
A few decades down the road, Christmas has turned from a spiritual celebration to a consumption frenzy. According to one estimate, the whole holiday’s season worth of ribbon thrown away each year could literally tie a bow around our planet!
These days, Christmas is about parties (both dignified and silly), eating out (the pricier the better), posing for photos (to see which shopping mall has the tallest Christmas tree and the fattest Santa), traveling to warmer countries (now becoming redundant thanks to global warming), or to cold countries for a white Christmas (also unnecessary thanks to artificial snow).

Having fun is not bad in itself. After all, don’t we all deserve a little good food, good atmosphere and good company for a long year’s hard work? The problem, though, is that more and more of us find this kind of Christmas culture entertaining but not fundamentally satisfying.

Ironically, Christmas season is far from merry and bright for a lot of people. It’s an emotional, physical and financial burden to have to buy gifts, organize parties, plan meals, eat out, and lose at mahjong or the slot machine. Presents, holidays and parties have more often than not become excuses for indulgence at best, or unhealthy, wasteful, and ecologically destructive activities at worst.

Oh come, all ye wasteful
Simply imagine
-         the sheer number of Christmas trees cut down and disposed of
-         all the carbon dioxide spewed out by aircraft and vehicles taken by holiday goers
-         the amount of food and money we waste
-         the number of useless presents we get each year
-         …and all the gift wrap and packaging that comes with the presents which ends up in our landfill.
What’s it all for?

Zero-spending merry Christmas
The good news is that there are alternatives to such materialistic routines---- if you are not really happy with such offers this Season.
In fact, over the years, my fellow green campaigners and I experimented and came up with a range of “zero-spending options” to enjoy our Christmas holiday to the full:
Hiking or camping in the country parks,

sunbathing or sandcastle building on the beach,
hugging trees
practicing qigong or yoga in open air. 
get together and meditate,
exchange massaging or hands-on healing sessions,
 Dancing, praying, singing or drumming together,
Drawing mandelas,  .
Writing on each others’ blogs.
 Sending favorite music and video-clips to friends by email (and this is my gift for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MfqrLF5waM).
 Gardening and caring for house plants.
  Potluck parties—each bring our home-made goodies.
 “Quality time” with family members (including pets).
  Offering volunteer works to friends, neighbors in need, or organizations.
Phoning radio open lines to express our concern for the Planet and call for concrete action.
Hospital and orphanage visits.
Signing online petitions (start with this one! http://www.avaaz.org/en/bali_emergency/98.php?cl_tf_sign=1)
 Greeting friends and relatives on the phone or online.
DIY house beautifying and repairing work.
Hand-make presents for friends, e.g. a twelve-page monthly calendar for the new year, knitting a scarf.

May your Christmas be greener
These days, people are becoming aware of how critical the state of the planet is. Americans are using LEDs on their Christmas trees to save energy. Even the White House has pledged to recycle their Christmas decorations. What will you do this Christmas? Here are some suggestions of how you can enjoy a festive, green Christmas:        
1. Save paper—
 Send fewer cards: The 2.6 billion holiday cards sold each year in the United States could fill a landfill the size of a football field 10 stories high. Instead of sending hundreds of hasty, impersonal Christmas cards, send only a few, with more thought and feeling. Better still make the cards yourself, using recycled material. Buy cards that donate a portion of proceeds to a good cause. Send e-cards rather than Christmas cards - it costs less; uses less paper, there are no transport emissions and no waste afterwards. Try creating a holiday album on a photo-sharing site and circulating that instead of a traditional card.
Green wrapping: Re-use paper from gifts that friends have given you. Recycle magazines, fabric, newspaper, old maps, posters, kids' coloring book pages, or paper bags into wrapping paper. Make the wrapping part of the gift by using scarves, kitchen towels, or tablecloths. A canvas bag can hold gifts and be reused for grocery shopping throughout the year.
2. Green gifts—
 Give the gift of time: Time is the basic currency on which relationships and communities are based. Show you true love by offering this personalized and precious commodity. Present friends and family with a time pledge in the form of a handmade coupon committing you to spending some time with them or on their behalf. You could teach their kids drumming or cooking, take the old folks to the clinic for medical checkup, or fix their computer. Offer the recipient 20 minutes of active listening, flute playing, or a massage.
 Give handmade gifts: Ask yourself what kind of art and craft skills you have, and use those skills to make gifts for friends and family. Your family members and friends will be delighted to receive something hand made. If you like baking or cooking, try making preserves, cakes, pies or bread. Knit socks. Send home-recorded CDs and DVDs with your music playing or story telling.
Buy a service, not a product: Instead of buying grandma a massage appliance, hire a professional masseur to visit her home. Guitar classes or wind-surfing sessions are much more eco-friendly than battery-powered toys. Gift certificate for a facial, pedicure, or other spa service. Annual membership of an organic farm or the Wetland Park is a big idea too.
Buy gifts that give twice: Give your friends and family membership to charities, animal rescue centres, environment groups, or a donation to an overseas aid project.
Think green when you buy: Look for recycled and recyclable content, minimal packaging, certified organic contents and buy products that are made to last.
Buy local: Buy food that is grown close to home to reduce food miles. Offer a membership to an organic farm that will deliver locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Green tags: Reuse holiday cards you receive to make gift tags. Most people don't write on the back of the front of the card.
Recycle your unwanted presents: Send them to friends who need them, or to charities or old peoples’ home.
3. Green parties--
Eco-friendly dining: Serve vegetarian food. Sources local ingredients whenever possible. Do not over-cater.
Eco-friendly utensils: Borrow or rent additional glassware, plates, and kitchenware. If you must use disposable items, choose biodegradable products.
4. Green holiday—
Minimize carbon use: If you're going away on holiday, try to reduce the distance traveled-- go for a location closer to home and take the train rather than flying.

Combine service with holidaying: Work in a school, hospital, farm, nursery, old people’s home or the like on foreign soil.

 Respect local communities: Patronize green resorts. Do nothing to damage the environment, buy no unnecessary souvenirs.
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As for me this year, I will be in a meditation camp where we will fast and enjoy peace together for two days.  My Christmas will be about cleansing, rejuvenating and healing.

Joy to the World, for real

May you have a fun, fascinating and rewarding Christmas.  May your choice be one that is good for the planet, yourself and those you love.


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