Tips for A Socially and Environmentally Sound Holiday Season

Christmas is upon us yet again. The time of year where people feel called to share the Christmas spirit, of peace, hope and forgiveness. Unfortunately, the holiday season also signals the time of the year that we are at our most depravedly consumeristic and environmentally ignorant. We tend to give in to the craze of senseless buying, indulging in everything we don't need, and often, don't even want. Christmas symbolizes quite nicely the throw-away culture we live in.

Of course, there are ways around this. With a little creativity, there are always smarter, more socially and environmentally conscious alternatives to those little kitschy soaps and candles, the nth pair of black socks, or the DVD that you've already downloaded off Pirate Bay.

First, as an alternative to Christmas gifts, especially for those people who you don't know what to get, consider doing something charitable. I am not advocating giving money to just any organization in someone's honour though. A much more sustainable and direct method is to donate to an organization such as Kiva (www.kiva.org) or Grameen Foundation (grameenfoundation.org), which issues microloans all over the world. Basically, a donation of $25 or more will go to the organization, who will then use it, along with other loans, to provide economic opportunities to poor people around the world. The recipients of the loan are people who already have small businesses, or who have worthwhile and plausible business plans, without start up capital. Since they're loans, you can choose to receive the money back, or you can choose to redistribute it to the organization. And to think, you probably didn't even miss that $25, and now Pedro has grown ten times as much coffee as he had this time last year!

Another great gift idea is going vintage. There are a lot of amazing finds at antique markets and flea markets, and as the old adage goes, one person's garbage is another person's treasure. Used book stores often have an endless supply of great gift items, ranging from novels to cookbooks to sheet music and CDs. If you need something unique or quirky, you might be well positioned to find it at an auction, antique market, or thrift store. Just keep away from the ones with armpit stains or other nameless imperfections that may be awkward to explain to someone.

Making your own gifts is the best Christmas present. They're often extremely thoughtful, and they show the time and energy that you have put into the gifts you're giving. You can make things as simple as handmade cards and pastries, to scarves, clothing, paintings, or home furnishings. Check out www.instructables.com for some great step-by-step how-to guides.

Give the gift of learning. Enrol in a class with a loved one as a Christmas present, or if you have a special skill or talent, invite your friends to a workshop, put on by you. You can provide the supplies needed, and it's a fun and thoughtful way to spend a day after Christmas. You could also cook an extra special meal, and have your guests come watch, or cook along with you.

As for doing your part for the environment, try to limit your transportation by carpooling to your out-of-town destination, or take the bus instead of driving on your own. I think Christmas is the one time of year that it's almost completely necessary to use a vehicle, but if you're feeling really brave, I guess you could hook a wagon up to your bike, or a sled to your waist if you're snowshoeing to Christmas dinner.

As for Christmas trees, real trees are the way to go. Real Christmas trees are planted, grown, and harvested for this exact purpose, and trees are a renewable resource. After Christmas of course, they are biodegradable and generally free of harmful chemicals that could leach into the ground. Often, trees don't go to landfills, but are used for landscaping or processed for use in industry. Tree farms protect soil from degradation and offer a habitat to wildlife. On the downside, once harvested, the wildlife no longer have this ecosystem in place, and the soil may have to recover from the uprooting. It is claimed that for every tree that is harvested, 2-3 seedlings are replanted. And let's face it, the more trees in the world, despite how long they are left growing for, are a positive and effective tool for removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

For your wrapping needs, buy paper that is recycled and recyclable. Or better yet, use all those completely useless junk mail Christmas flyers in your mailbox to wrap gifts. Another alternative is to buy or sew your own cloth bags. Then your loved ones can reuse them throughout the coming year for their groceries. Reusable Christmas gift bags are a good alternative as well. Save them for next Christmas - it's okay to regift if it's for a good cause! You can also reuse things like cereal boxes, tissue boxes, or boxes from other purchases. Just decorate it with some paint or markers, and it'll be a special unique touch.

Green, or Eco stores, are popping up everywhere, offering almost any item under the sun, made in an environmentally low-impact way. Consider buying organic cotton or bamboo clothing, or purchasing organic body washes and lotions for friends. You can even buy ecologically friendly technology, such as eco cell phone chargers, reusable batteries. goodcleantech.com has great ideas for solar-powered and eco-friendly technology.

 The energy used in lighting all those Christmas lights can get extreme. If you need to put up Christmas lights, use a timer so you can control how long they stay on. Otherwise, using beeswax candles can create a very authentic and nostalgic ambience for your Christmas celebrations. Use LED lights for decorating the tree, and again, using real trees for wreaths and garland is a better alternative than synthetics.
 
And, of course, it's inevitable that we'll receive a gift we may be less then thrilled about. Try and keep your receipts so your loved one can return or exchange it, rather than hang on to something useless. If that's impossible, donate it to a shelter or non-profit clothing store in the area.

Happy World AIDS Day!

December 1st is International World AIDS Day. Being in Melbourne right now, I hitched a train downtown to see if any events were happening in honour of the occasion. Unfortunately, nothing was happening, but I did manage to get a red ribbon to pin to my dress.


HIV/AIDS, according to the World Health Organization, infects approximately 33.5 million people worldwide. 2 million people die from HIV/AIDS a year. Though the number of new infections has decreased since 1990, the total number of infections worldwide is climbing, despite international efforts to slow and eventually stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been a beacon of hope, however, it is an extremely costly drug regime. And since the highest number of infections tend to be in the lowest income countries, ART is often nothing more than a pipe dream and a pharmaceutical's monopoly dream come true. The current best solution to solving the AIDS crisis lies not in treatment, but prevention. The only problem is that, despite HIV/AIDS being the leading infectious killer, it is still the most stigmatized major health issue in the world.

If we look at Africa specifically, HIV prevalance varies across the continent. However, in some places, the prevalence rates are something out of an apocalyptic horror movie. In Swaziland, 25% of adults are living with HIV/AIDS. Given the relatively small population of the country, it is not inconceivable that an entire country could potentially be wiped out by a single disease. Apart from HIV/AIDS being a physical killer, it is crucial to think of the cost to society to have so many adults living with the disease. An entire generation of young Africans are no longer able to work, to provide for their family, or to raise their children. In turn, this results in the children, especially the girls, having to quit school to tend to the family needs. This could include being hired maids, working the land, or in the most horrific of cases, working the streets.

Once a parent has died from AIDS, chances are the other parent is infected as well, and will also die. This creates the phenomenon of child-headed households, wherein children become parents and guardians to their even younger siblings. Again, this results in a dreary forecast for society. Not only are these children not in school, they are not given the proper nurturing and life skills needed to successfully function in society. This is a broad generalization, and surely, some orphans are able to eventually go to school and live 'normal' lives. But the truth remains that AIDS orphans often end up on the streets, urban peasants and beggars, or coping with an HIV infection as their parents' only legacy to them.

Morbid as all this may be, there is still hope. Many tribes across Africa who used to refuse condoms are now aware of the reality and devastating risks of HIV/AIDS. In a Maasai village I visited in 2008, the community was quite vocal about their need for condoms, whereas a year prior, they denied the existence of HIV/AIDS in their village. Another positive change has been the empowering of women all over the world, and specifically in Africa. Women are becoming more able to say 'no' to a partner if he isn't practising safe sex. While there is still so much rape, sexual abuse, and domineering rampant around the world, it is a slow progression, but it is nonetheless apparent.

We have much work to do in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, and the battle is a very long and arduous one. But the key is awareness and the mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS dialogue. If we can normalize the discussion of the disease in everyday life, we can eliminate the stigma surrounding it. If we can encourage people to talk about it, we can relay the sobering facts of the disease. It's up to every one of us to be an activist, to use our voices and our privilege to create awareness, to bring the discussion to the dinnertable, and to create lasting impact and positive change.

The Price of Personal Consumer Leadership

                Last week I had the pleasure of attending a lecture given by Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse: Why Societies Fail. Professor Diamond discussed the role of big businesses in environmental conservation and ethics. He posited a set of four factors affecting a business’s decision to choose and implement environmentally sound practices: economic considerations, attitude of corporate culture, public expectations, and personal leadership.

                Professor Diamond pursued the idea that as consumers, we as individuals have the power to affect corporate actions and influence reactions. The pressure that consumers place on businesses to engage in environmentally and socially sustainable practices can have an insurmountable effect on the day-to-day operation of a business. Through actions spanning the spectrum of activism such as boycotting, lobbying, letter-writing, and word of mouth, Professor Diamond painted a wonderfully idyllic world of accountable corporations.

                I am left questioning the efficacy and even legitimacy of this optimistic view of a global consumerist communion. I agree that with enough pressure, businesses will cave to popular demand in order to avoid a besmirched name and a sagging profit line. But the problem with consumption activism is that it is far too often an inaccessible ideology for many people. Selective purchasing is a luxury reserved for those who can simply put, afford it. If we look at the demographics of who low-cost big businesses serve, we see that they are mainly lower-income, working class or working poor families. Stripping down even further, many of these consumers genuinely do not even have an alternative shopping solution. The big businesses that are able to sell items at such low cost are the only option for those who are struggling to merely be meeting basic needs for themselves and their families.

                It’s clear that usually the lowered cost of items at stores like Wal-Mart comes at the expense of social and environmental responsibility. By taking short cuts in labour rights or environmentally sound practices, usually companies are able to increase profit margins. Is there an option then, a compromise of a responsible corporation who also uses cost-effective solutions to the problem of environmental degradation and socially just working conditions?

                Businesses that are applauded for their altruistic, or at least, morally neutral practices are generally also known for their increased cost of goods, as well as catering to the ‘yuppy’ demographic of young working professionals. Lululemon, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Planet Organic, and smaller independent or local boutiques are innovators in ethical business modelling, but the accessibility of their products must be questioned. Is activism actually an elitist activity that can only be engaged in if you are able to afford it? If you are making minimum wage, all the while trying to put yourself, or your children or family through school, it is hard to find the capacity to consistently boycott those stores that while reprehensible, are the only ones at which you can afford to buy your daily bread.

                In addition to the increasing cost of activism, there is the cost of time. Again, looking at the demographic of the working poor, there is often a lack of disposable income as well as disposable free time. For the single mother of three working two jobs, the ability to search out facts on company policies regarding labour or the environment is hindered. The question now isn’t whether or not we should hold accountable these companies for their indiscretions. It is clear that those of us who are able to make socially sound purchasing decisions should, but the question becomes, how can we make the act of “smart consumption” accessible to more than a bourgeois minority? There is a distinct amount of solidarity that is needed to make a true global shift to a more socially responsible corporate playing field. The language of corporate responsibility needs to become a common one, that is understandable and entrenched in the mind of the average consumer. “Smart consumption” shouldn't be accessible for just one income bracket. 

               

"Voluntourism" and the Consumer Activist

An interesting expository article came across my path discussing very bluntly and concisely the damaging effects of 'voluntourism'. In the article from the UK's Guardian, it refers to this relatively new phenomenon as well-intentioned yet misguided citizens of the 'first-world' attempt to make a difference via hands-on involvement in the social affairs of underdeveloped nations.

While voluntourism definitely warrants its own discussion and discourse, I instead want to address a related phenomenon: the consumer activist. This is very nicely illustrated in the phenomenon of Product(RED). Brainchild of Bono, Product(RED)'s main mandate is to provide people with Africa with increased opportunities, as well as to help eliminate HIV/AIDS across the dark continent.

 Product(RED) has capitalized on consumer activism, with marketing products that include Starbucks lattes, Hallmark greeting cards, and Gap t-shirts. It is speculated that almost $100 million was spent on the launching and promotion of (RED) with meagre returns. Though admirable, it raises alarm bells to think that the average consumer is being tricked into thinking there is a correlation between consumption and the eradication of the world's fastest spreading non-curable disease.

With the human rights activist now becoming a devout consumerist, the fight for social justice has moved from the periphery into the center of government and corporate activity. Instead of the activist putting pressure on the government from the outside to respond to demands, to remain accountable, and to work for the people, the activist has become employed by government or business interests. This means that the pressure from the 'activist' community is muted, as businesses are now focused on catering to the socially-savvy consumer rather than the victim of human rights abuses. 

The meaning of activism has shifted. Instead of the focus on the recipient, we are now focused on the donor.  This new enterprise of 'Human Rights Inc.' represents the watering down of any political heat or pressure that historically has been the foundation of activism. We are no longer yelling demands; we are using our voice to change our latte order or buy a different shirt. 

This brings about an even scarier paradigm shift: the absence of critical thought, investigation, and exposé. As consumers see that, albeit superficially, corporations are at least doing something to be socially responsible, the tendency to look further into the actions of these corporations decreases. We are placated as we jump to the too-convenient conclusion that these corporations are truly do-gooders.  

The depoliticization of human rights and activism spells out certain doom for the traditional activist. True, we may have learned our lesson that riots and demonstrations are not the sole way to create change. In some instances, we do have to work within the system to change the system. However, we still need to radicalize politics, we need to, in a word, frighten policy makers into listening to our demands. We need the demonstrations, the rallies, and the pressure in addition to working with powerful government and corporate entities. Complacency is not an option, and consumerism is far from the answer.

While it is true that it is better to do something than nothing, we need to seriously and consciously evaluate the effects of our actions. We can no longer throw money at problems and believe that change will occur. We can no longer even believe that the money we throw is even going anywhere. Sustainable solutions must be eagerly sought, and this can only occur with critical thought and the engagement of an activist periphery. We need to get angry, we need to get outraged. We can't do that while holding an iPod and a macchiato.  

White Privilege?

Recently, the Edmonton Sun published an article about a campaign in Edmonton that is targeting racism. The campaign, a project of non-profit organization Racism-Free Edmonton, is aimed at getting white people to acknowledge their ‘white privilege’, and how it plays out in social and professional dynamics of power and interaction.

The term they chose surely is a controversial one. Now, it falls upon us to question what the intent of using the term ‘white privilege’ seemed to be for the organization. Perhaps it is an attempt to merely ask Caucasians to acknowledge the fact that white privilege exists. Perhaps it has an even stronger aim, to eliminate the presence of white privilege. However, it must be known that white privilege is something that exists after being manufactured, stolen, remodelled, and engrained through centuries of dirty history.

Despite what the intent of Racism-Free Edmonton was with the campaign, the use of the term ‘white privilege’ was quite a risk on the part of the organization. No matter what your knowledge is of the history of colonialism, imperialism, slavery, or minority rights movements, the term evokes strong links to overt acts of racism. It calls to mind prominent images of Ku Klux Klan, plantation owners beating slaves. In less violent and grotesque impressions, it calls up middle-upper class white suburbia, white tourists naively enclosed in white sand beach resorts being served by quaint  and subservient ‘locals’.

The problem is that here, in Edmonton, Alberta, the average citizen does not conjure up those images in his or her head. Instead, it is taken as offensive, as a direct attack on the morality and ethicality of one’s own value system and way of life. Indeed, reading the comments section of the article in the Edmonton Sun it became quite clear that the campaign did not work to instil awareness in the broader population. Rather, the article saw a viewership becoming more and more irate, more offended, and sadly, more racist. It’s the quintessential human defense system, in an environment of attack, our hackles raise and the claws come out. Some of the comments I read evoked personal emotion for me, as a minority female, and I almost felt unsafe.

The majority of the racism that we see today is not the kind of overt racism that we associate with the KKK or slave owners. Rather, it is a very subtle, very nuanced form of racism that manifests itself not only as power dynamics, but as awkward social situations, xenophobia, and wildly misplaced assumptions about identity. As a minority myself, I can count on two fingers the number of times I have been the target of outright racist remarks. However, the number of times I have felt different, ostracized, or disadvantaged because I am not white are innumerable. I am from a middle-upper class family, have a university education, and speak only English. I am by no means ‘underprivileged’. But the point of the campaign by Racism-Free Edmonton is to call on people to recognize just this fact: that racism is inherent in our social structures, simply because there exist colours of skin. Unfortunately, the campaign went about detailing this in the wrong way.

Most people I meet are not racist. They may be uninformed or just unaware. They are not ignorant people. But, they are human. If you call them racists, they will respond. The pointing of fingers is the absolute wrong way to win people over to a cause, to encourage self-reflection, or even to get someone’s attention. Racism-Free Edmonton marred an excellent campaign by playing the blame game, and as a result, it seems as though the counter-response of the population has become one of increased xenophobia and discrimination.

I admire the audacity of the organization to use the term ‘white privilege’. But in our climate, in our political environment here in Edmonton, Alberta, was this the smartest move? We need to tread carefully when we deal with any social justice issue. We have no hope but that of raising awareness. Surely, education is the strongest weapon in our artillery. To put forth a campaign without a solid base of support is suicide. The only people who will subscribe to the idea that white privilege exists are those who probably already know all about race dynamics. The campaign thus far has only served to alienate the broader population, and it is at the expense of minorities. The potential backlash is frightening. The City of Edmonton is aware of this, and has pulled support for the initiative. In the meantime, Racism-Free Edmonton must engage in some serious damage control. How they will do this, I’m not sure. But I hope that their next attempt is one that seeks to be far more inclusive, educational, and enlightening.  

Nothing To Say, Less to Do! Media and Our Neglect

Imagine having nothing to say.

Every day we are flooded by images, stories, tall tales, bad news, and shocking discoveries. We’re inundated with all the tales of woe and hope, floating through the airwaves and radio waves, over internet, cell phones, and spam lists. Yet, though information is ubiquitous to the point of sensory overload, we have little to say. 

Our channels are all set, but we fail to use outlets, we miss precious opportunities to discuss, debate, defend.

                Maybe we live in an irony, an era of diminishing freedom of speech, as the number of free, public media sources decreases, even as access and media outlets increases. Corporate media is more than an obnoxious trend; it represents a new mode of approaching politics, society, and lifestyle. The obsequious tendency of corporate media to bow under pressure from advertisers, powerful CEOs, and political figures represents a scary way of looking at the world. It is myopic, near-sighted and dangerous.

                But surely, we all know this. This is not new information. The question, and the problem, lies in the irrelevancy of this information. While the independent and publicly owned stations and companies in general do a good job at being reliable and grassroots, these avenues still suffer a huge poverty. Perhaps it’s the marketing, perhaps it’s a lack of funds for these public media sources. We must acknowledge however, the simple fact that these media are not being used. The novelty of blogs, twitter feeds, and other media social networks represents the reawakening of accessibility, but sadly it remains that the most accessed sources of information still remain those companies that run the largest ad campaigns and, in general, are controlled to a large extent by those same advertisers.

                Is this a reflection on our culture? Do we really have so little to say, that we constantly resort back to these companies that employ headlines like “Would you spend $500 on socks?”, “Van Damme reportedly suffers heart attack”[1], and other journalistic gems.

Or is it a cyclical process? Do we read these headlines, and as a result, have nothing to say? Even so, where is the desire, as an inspired, informed citizen to question things that seem odd, to evaluate our own values in response to them, and seek out other communiqués?

                Isn’t it funny when the most exciting thing you hear about in your day is that there is going to be a sequel to smash comedy film The Hangover? It is sad to think that our culture has spiralled towards this. We have to ask the crucial questions that are seemingly so close to the surface, yet for whatever reason, remain submerged in our ….subconscious? Unconscious? Non-conscious? As surely as Aristotle stated, the unexamined life is not worth living. In essence, our lives as citizens, even as humans, depend upon our continuous curiosity, a certain precociousness arising out of the awe that we even have access to these modes of communication. That we can retrieve at a click of a remote, mouse, or send button, we can transmit and receive information in seconds, from all over the world. This marvel warrants our attention! We can’t take for granted these things, the access to this onslaught of information, nor our innate ability to process that information. We can’t take for granted the social nature of humans, and the opportunity that affords us to discuss and debate, to progress and evolve.

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[1] Msnbc.msn.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.