Category Archives: green

Inclusive Christmas

Posted on January 6 2008 | 1 comment

A great post from Aidan on how buying Christmas presents with a bit of consideration can make the whole thing more inclusive.

I think Aidan has it just right. Although Fair Trade didn’t feature quite as much for us this year, we did make quite a few presents. It’s a great feeling to know you’re giving something personal and unique (it’s often cheaper too!)

The other thing that Aidan’s post reminded me of is how much power we have as customers. Trying to track down Fair Trade gifts might feel discouraging at first, but before long, it will create pressure on mainstream retailers to change their ways. For example, many mainstream retailers now stock organic cotton, a change they would never have come up with were it not for small pioneering shops taking the lead.

1 Comment

Posted in green, ideas, philosophy, Weblogs

Sergio’s sutainability maxim

Posted on May 4 2007 | 2 comments

These days, we tend to feel guilty or bad about more and more things, because they have a destructive impact on the world we share with others. Sometimes this can lead to an all-consuming anxiety, feeling like just existing as a normal person in an industrial society is a sin in itself.

How to transform this general anxiety into something more useful?

A good friend of mine, Sergio, gave me something of an answer to this last night. He said:

“When you’re thinking of doing something, and wondering whether that thing is sustainable, imagine what would happen if everyone did the same as you.”

I find this such a useful thought, because it highlights how small choices have big impacts when you look at the bigger picture.

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Posted in green, ideas