Dear Reader,

There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot as 190 countries gather in Bali for the UN Conference on Climate Change, re-gifting and making it a GREAT thing to do for your loved ones AND the planet.

I’ve just finished reading a wonderful book - THREE CUPS OF TEA, about Greg Mortensen, an American high peak climber who turned his efforts to building schools in Pakistan… building peace, one school at a time. A client had read it, didn’t plan to read it again, and enthusiastically passed it on to me.

It turns out that this book is on my mother-in-law’s AAUW book group reading list for 2008 and I drew her name for Christmas. I KNOW that in the “old days” giving her this well read copy might have been considered cheapskate - a lesser present than a brand new copy. BUT I propose rethinking this viewpoint. WHY is a brand new copy better?

I’ve now taken more time to look at http: http://www.storyofstuff.com . In my opinion it gets better with multiple viewings. The animation includes these statistics:The US has 5% of the world’s population but uses 30% of the world’s resources and produces 30% of the world’s waste. The video is worth watching as it gives easy to comprehend information about HOW we got here and what we can do. Perhaps watch it with your family and friends.

But in the meantime, how GREEN can you be this holiday? What in your space HAVE you cherished but no longer really see or use? Who in your life would love it? In what ways can you express your love by regifting or giving a gift of service or shared time instead of stuff?

Wishing you GREEN and loving holidays! Joanna

A friend just sent me the link to this “Story of Stuff” ! It isn’t how I usually communicate but it certainly is valid and I
wanted to make it available to you.

A 20-minute, fact-filled look at our production and consumption patterns with some solutions offered at the end. Worth a watch before going “holiday shopping .”

All the stuff in our lives, from its extraction through sale, use and disposal, affects the environment and communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The “Story of Stuff “ looks at the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Have a wonderful and stuff-free holiday!

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

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