Boonville Soap Box: Black Friday

Today is the Day After Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, or even more recently, Buy Nothing Day.

The holidays are right around the corner, and the crazies are coming out to play. Do you really need to purchase something? Maybe not, but most likely yes. So try and consider your options. look for items that are marked "Fair Trade." Think about the steps that go into your purchase. Where was it made? Can you support locally grown or made products? If not, consider how far it has to travel; Did it travel to you by ground or air? Most of us already know the problems and impact that air travel has on the environment, but do you consider where your food and clothes come from?

Small steps are big steps. Purchase used items, support the local second-hand store. Or, try and buy items that make people think. Last year I bought two hundred trees for four different people, and had them planted in their name. There are plenty of interesting and even tangible things that can be given, and still make someone very happy and make them think at the same time. My girlfriend recently bought us a wind-up radio for the kitchen. Winding the crank for 90 seconds charges the battery and gives you 20 minutes of listening time.

A few simple tips. If you go shopping, don't carry the items out in a plastic bag, plastic BAD! Simply carry them out, or even better, if you know you're going to shop, take your own bag! Shopping online sounds good, but depending on how many places you buy from, that many places are shipping things to your door, possibly by plane.

Go to this website for great Eco-friendly gift ideas for the holiday. Treehugger.com: Holiday list 2006 and Holiday list 2007.

Off of my box for now... Happy Buy Nothing Day!

Inspired by NotIfButWhen/2