Happy holidays to everyone from the Georgia coast, where instead of warming my hands on cups of coffee I am instead baking in the coastal sun hanging out with the world’s smallest ceramic Christmas tree! There is even pan flute music on the stereo, which is all part of the holiday experience in my family- the one part that makes me happiest Christmas is only once a year.
Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, the New Year (atleast in this part of the world) is upon us, which is exciting even though I find people tend to universally agree that New Year’s Eve is the most overrated holiday ever. As usual plans are still up in the air for me, but I am already slated to spend it with some of my favorite people, which never fails to entertain.
For the past three weeks, I have been posting ethical gift ideas for this holiday season and this 4th Friday is no different. Seeing that it’s the 24th and that Hanukkah starts tomorrow and Christmas day is tomorrow, if you haven’t already done your shopping, frankly you’re a bit screwed. If you’re still stumped for an idea for someone’s holiday gift, I suggest donating some money to a charitable cause close to that person’s heart. It could be $5, it could be $50, the amount doesn’t matter. Most organizations allow you to donate online and to give money in someone else’s name, so it’s a gift that continues to give after the holidays are over *and* is easy to do!
This year my charity of choice is Heifer International, which not only helps people all over the world thrive, but also makes sure the earth is taken well care of, too. By giving needy families animals which they can use (not to mention love!), your donation will go towards improving their economic status, allowing them to become reliant on themselves and assuring food on their table. Their gift catalog can be found here– when is the last time you gave a share of a water buffalo to your aunt instead of quirky cocktail napkins? Or your brother bees? Seriously, how awesome would it be to have a hive of bees given to a family in the Dominican Republic in your name? Bees!! Awesome!
Although there are some holiday seasons where giving gifts just isn’t an option or isn’t the way you choose to celebrate this time of year. The number of gifts I am giving this year are limited due to my economic status as well as my wanting to fully enjoy the concentrated time (even if it means enduring pan flute music) with my family and loved ones without incorporating materialistic wants.
While everyone speeds up this time of year, I want to soak up all the moments of love and care and support and goodwill (and familial weirdness) that is going on around me entirely and think that if donations are not where your wallet is this year, then you might gain some insight by reading more about Buy Nothing Christmas. The site offers a rather lengthy list of money-free ways to show your loved ones that you care, as well as a catalogue packed with even more ideas!
Wherever you are and whomever you’re with, I hope this holiday season finds you happy and healthy and full of joy. Thank you for your support and creativity and willingness to share with me, one gift that I hold especially close to my heart.
Happy Holidays!
xo
betsy
Hi Betsy! I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog. It attracted me to begin with because I too am an artist interested in activism. My focus is on speciesism and the human-animal relationship. I love that you support the handmade DIY lifestyle, however I must voice my concern over your last charitable gift of Heifer International. Working to end world hunger is commendable, but exploiting animal life to do it could actaully worsen global famine trends. Whereas many vegans adopt a plant based lifestlye because of concerns for world hunger, animal based agriculture contributes to world hunger, because it uses up half of the world’s grain. It’s obvious that Heifer views animals as “food and income producing livestock” but not concious beings with interests of their own. Stanley Sapon, who works on hunger relief, points out that “we must take care not to relieve the pain of one living being by inflicting pain on another sentient being.” he directs the Malimonides Project, one of many plant-based groups working to end world hunger. Other groups include VegFam, Food for Life Global, Food not Bombs, Plenty International and Eating for Peace. Just thought you might like to know about the alternatives. Thanks again for your support of the arts!
Happy New Year, B! I myself gave some shares of Knitting Basket to my family as a holiday gift, in the hopes that for future holidays we will spread our generosity outside the family as well as within. I was very afraid that my conservative fam would take my Heifer gift as some baby-Jesus-hating liberal strategy, but they seemed to appreciate the gesture even if it wasn’t a tangible tchochke to tote home.
K-Woo and I had a “is Heifer exploitive of animals?” conversation a few weeks before I made my decision, and I am grateful for Ashley’s above comments and will refer to them in the future. My veg*anism is the kind that tries to respect the dietary choices of carnivores (ie no proselytizing) but I would rather send my money to a cause that will help promote plant-based diets the world over.