The Reason For The Season

'Tis the season for re-posting my annual updated anti-Black Friday post.....

Malls across the country began decking the halls 2 months ago, and had Santa's train installed just as the last back to school sales were ending. I know it's cliche at this point to feel nostalgic for the days when the holy season of giving gently revealed itself shortly after Thanksgiving. Today, a 5am scuffle in the line outside of Best Buy on Black Friday merely marks the halfway point in the season of stress and artifice.

Again, this year, I'm committing to honoring the reason for the season - the winter solstice - and celebrating this beautiful time of year by spending quality time with the people that I love, and sharing meaningful socially-conscious gifts instead of spending time fighting the crowds, so I can check people off my list with cheap plastic crap from Walmart and iPod iPhone accessories.

Of course, this year, there will most likely be less in the way of shopping hordes, thanks to the collapse of the trickle-down economy, and that only means that every dollar you spend will have more power to bring about a better world. This season, each holiday gift that you purchase, will have an impact. Amidst all of the news of frozen credit and layoffs and golden parachutes, is the opportunity to help build our communities, bring about more peace, and protect the world around us, just by putting a little thought and a little heart into where we place our dollar power. 

So, for the like minded, here are a few ideas...

ENVIRONMENT

World Wildlife Fund
Greenpeace
Abundant Earth
Care2: Shop and Help the Planet
Defenders of Wildlife
The Sierra Club
The Nature Conservancy
E-House Eco-Friendly Gifts
The Jane Goodall Institute Store
Zappos Eco-Friendly and Vegetarian Shoes
Equita Essentials for Ethical Living

GAY COMMUNITY AND CULTURE
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The Human Rights Campaign Fund - Designer Tees
Soulforce
The United Church of Christ
Atlanta Pride
SAVE Dade
Persad Center
The Ali Forney Center
Immigration Equality
Outspoken Clothing
Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Margaret Cho Shop
Kathy Griffin
Ellen Shop
Ani DiFranco
Ari Gold
Outwrite Books
TLA Video
Logo Television Shop

ANTI-DRUG WAR
The November Coalition
The Center For Cognitive Liberty and Ethics
The Drug Policy Alliance
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
NORML Holiday Gifts

PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN VALUES
ACLU
The NAACP
Betty Bowers Gifts
UTNE Magazine
Syracuse Cultural Workers Gifts
American Humanist Association
Unity on the Bay
Darwin Fish Stocking Stuffers
National Public Radio Shop
The Quakers
Amnesty International Gift Shop
People for the American Way
Mother Jones

HIV/AIDS/Cancer
AMFAR
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force
AIDS Memorial Quilt
Artists for a New South Africa
Pets are Loving Support Atlanta
Susan G. Komen Promise Shop

ANIMALS
The Humane Society
PETA Shopping Mall
Adopt a Manatee
National Audubon Society
The Orangutan Foundation

ART
Kenneth Treacy
Eric Chismar Photography
The Mattress Factory
The High Museum of Art
The Warhol Museum
Clyde Butcher Photography
Corey Barksdale
Cecile Broz
Carnegie Museum of Art
Salvador Dali Museum

HOLIDAY CARDS AND ECO-DECORATING
Betty Bowers
Eco-Decorating
Tools for Change Holiday Cards
Recycled Cards That Grow

Have a Peaceful, Stress-Free and Meaningful Holiday!