Just an idea, as the holidays approach, think about possibly giving away or accepting as your gifts, donations to charities around the world.  As my dissertation will concern consumerism, I am perhaps a bit touchy about these issues, but you have to admit that most, if not all of us, have too much STUFF.  So charities and the like are a way to still participate in gift giving and receiving rituals, but without the guilt and the presents you have to re-gift, or return, or hide in your basement…remember, even a small amount of resistance to consumerism makes a major difference when added up across the globe, and think about the people you can help.  You can give wacky yet useful gifts like buying sheep for women to raise in developing countries…………

There is lots of great information online.  One good article is from CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/11/10/gifts.that.give.back/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

This is the best part of the article: “Oxfam’s gift site, http://www.OxfamAmericaUnwrapped.com

offers to more than 57 charitable donations, including a pair of sheep ($90) that allow women to generate their own income by making textiles, a small business fund to help get entrepreneurs started ($100), and a veterinarian’s field kit ($35). Products are organized by price, with 28 options under $50, and recipients receive a card explaining what the donation will provide. http://www.UniversalGiving.org

 coordinates donations to more than 200 aid organizations, including East Meets West, Helen Keller International, and more.”

The sheep will be $90 well spent, I think!  I wonder if the pair consists of 1 male and 1 female so that they will hopefully result in more sheep?

Happy Holidays!

Holly