Contents:

• introduction
• food
• gifts
• decorations, lights, trees

It’s important that we ask ourselves why we celebrate at Christmas in the way we do. This includes our motivation for gift giving. What makes an ideal Christmas gift? Something the recipient likes? Something you like? Something that is useful? Something that is meaningful? Something that isn't disposable? The perfect gift is likely a combination of all these things.

There are different ways of doing gifts. Some require some time, energy and creativity. Others directly contribute to a positive environmental and social outcome. Where possible, plan your Christmas. That way you will void impulse buying those last minute gifts which are often discarded after a few days.

Below we've listed some issues connected to your gifts and some examples of 'good buys'. Start by asking what your friends and family value. What will be an enjoyable, meaningful or appreciated gift for them. What may help them on the journey towards a more sustainable and intentional way of living.

You will find more ideas by searching the links for ideas here.

Ideas:

• New American Dream gift ideas / Ethical Gifts / Biome - buy online
• Eco Gifts Australia - buy online / UK's Ethical Superstore (for inspiration)

For those keen to de-commercialse Christmas and respond in a meaningful way to the overconsumption that comes with Christmas, try a Buy Nothing Christmas. There's a great Buy Nothing Catalogue and Buy Nothing Christmas Information Kit, both with lots of ideas.

Here's a few we love:

• Give a home-made voucher to exchange for your time – cook a meal, do the garden, create a home compost or veggie garden, look after the kids, give a massage.
• Make something yummy. For all those who can bake.
• Make something crafty. For all those who can knit, sew, spin, pot.
• Make your own something incredibly original. www.instructables.com

And along with the theme...

The Gift of Nothing. A very cool book. Mooch the cat desperately wants to find a gift for his friend Earl the dog, but Earl already has everything. "What do you give a guy who has everything?" Mooch wonders. The answer, of course, is nothing! Available online.

Have a movie screening. "What would Jesus Buy?" follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse. Available through our soon to be up and running movie library. Contact us if you'd like to borrow it

Buy less. If your family is up for it, do a a Kris Kringle — where each person only buys one present each. Choose who you give to via names out of a hat and set a limit for how much you have to spend.

People friendly

Fairtrade - fair wages, no exploitation.

• Etiko Fairtrade T-shirts "Love Revolutions " "Wear no Evil".
• Jinta Fairtrade Sports balls
• Ibutrade Bags and accessories
• 3fish ethical clothing
• Cocolo Fairtrade Chocolate

See more at the Fairtrade Christmas Guide.

Some people are weighed down with stuff. Others don’t have the essential stuff they need. Buy a goat for your mum.

• TEAR Arguably, the World’s Most Useful Gifts / Oxfam Unwrapped / World vision – ‘Simles' / Everyday hero gift card - Choose your own charity

Animals

• Cruelty free body care products
• Adopt an orangutan
• WWF's Adopt an Animal program
• World Land Trust - save threatened rainforests

Energy efficiency

Portable device solar charger, Dynamo/solar powered radio. Available from NECO

Reducing waste

Fregie Sack. Rewashable, reusable, durable alternative to the common plastic bags used attable grocery shops. Available at our online shop Enviro Toothbrush. Made from Bamboo, totally biodegradable. From Go Green at Home.

Reusing waste

'My Dollar is my Vote!' refashioned shopping bags. Made in Yarraville from discarded clothing by the African Women's Sewing Enterprise, a training and employment initative of Green Collect. Available online.

• Keep Cup Reusable take-away cofee cup
• Soap Nuts - natural, toxic- free, waste-free laundry detergent alternative. Go Green at Home.
• Wozwaste. Bags made from inner tube, toothpaste tube, snack food packaging.

Plastic - free

• Wooden toys - Play to learn / Mellimoomoo / Honeybee Toys / Nature's Child
• Stainless steel Earthlust & ECO Tanka water bottles, & ECO Lunchboxes. Available via distributor
• Brisbane-made soft toys

Give an experience

• Movie, theatre, adventure, pamper, gourmet treat. Take your loved one's out. Make it your own customised gift, or do a package - Sunshiny Day
  

Knowledge to Action Equip your gift recipients with the 'know-how' of how to live well.

Further explore the ethical and environmental implications of your food choices. Angela Crocombe. 260 pages. Penguin Australia, 2008. Available from shop.

Full colour 2012 A5 Diary features 80 pages of inspiring photos and stories, as well as seed sowing chart . Printed in Australia on 100% recycled Australian paper. Available from shop.

See more books relating to sustainability, justice and ethical lifestyle.
Good Life Book Club / New Internationalist / Organic Food

Get the guide. Great useful Christmas stocking items. Discounts for bulk orders.