How do I go about having a 'greener' Christmas to stop contributing to Global Warming?

Question

I want to celebrate, but would like to have as 'green' a Christmas as possible. Any unique suggestions?

Answer 1

You could get a living (potted) Christmas tree. We had one for years, and it grew as my daughter grew. We gave it away "free to good home" when we moved.

We use odd things for trees. This year we might use our coat rack (gotten off Freecycle) While in Hawaii, we used an artificial palm tree we scored off of Freecycle (I just gave that tree away on Freecycle for fear our new -- klutzy -- dog would knock it over) I like to be creative when it comes to what I decorate. A deep pot with dried branches that you can hang things on? Lights (or just about anything) strung and stuck on the wall in the shape of a tree could be cute.

See how far you can go without buying anything new. Check out thrift stores, go yard saling. I make new beaded jewelry using "recycled" beads, and I often give my work as gifts.

Use recycled (and/or recyclable) gift wrap. Re-use gift bags and use shreddings from work as "stuffing."

If there was only one thing I would recommend you do this year it would be to join your local Freecycle group (check Yahoo groups). The goal of Freecycle is to prevent items from ending up in the landfill. Everything is given and received for free, so the spirit of giving lasts all year long -- and Christmas in theory is celebrated year round.

:)

Answer 2

Global warming will not be stopped by your doing something special. Global warming has been with us for thousands of years. If you do not think so, what happened to the ICE AGE?

However, that being said, there is no doubt that being greener is a good cause. Anyone who says, 'cleaner air and water is bad', ought to have their heads examined. Get a real tree, sometimes called a burlap ball, and when you are done with it, plant it. That is my biggest suggestion. Another would be to not use wrapping paper. Buy the gifts bags and reuse them year after year.

Finally, a real solution would be to celebrate the season as He would have you celebrate, and that is not be giving and receiving gifts but in quite love for your family and friends, as well as for God.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

For decades, environmentalism has been the Left's best excuse for increasing government control over our actions in ways both large and small. It's for Mother Earth! It's for the children! It's for the whales! But until now, the doomsday-scenario environmental scares they've trumped up haven't been large enough to give the sinister prize they want most of all: total control of American politics, economic activity, and even individual behavior. With global warming, however, greenhouse gasbags can argue that auto emissions in Ohio threaten people in Paris, and that only global government can tackle such problems. National sovereignty? Democracy? Forget it: global warming has now brought the Left closer to global government, statism, and the eradication of individual rights than it has ever been before.

Answer 4

Darlin, I wish there was an easy answer to your question...unfortunately, there isn't.
Any fake tree or any kind of decoration you buy has come from a manufacturing plant that emits gases into the air...and, mainly harmful ones.
But, when I was a little kid, my father and I would go into the back woods and cut branches from the cedar trees growing there, and decorate our house with those. We'd dig up, instead of cut, a little cedar tree and replant it in a big pot...then decorate it for a Christmas tree. Sounds like Charlie Brown, huh. But all of these cedar things also made our house smell GREAT! Then, after Christmas, we'd replant the little cedar tree back in the woods, and check on it to make sure it was thriving.
That's the very best I can do for your excellent question. Sorry!

Elysabeth Faslund...Poemhunter.com

Answer 5

Get a fake tree which will save money and the environment. Use old newspapers to wrap all your presents. Try to find (not sure if it's possible yet) energy efficient christmas lights or try decorating your tree with just tinsel. Avoid the fake snow because it comes in aerosol cans. I think the best solution would be to give all your friends and family a baby tree to plant for a present.

Answer 6

The color green is not the reason for the season it's tradition! I'll have to look up why the Christmas tree became our tradition. Unique suggestions? I look out my window at this time of year and see how beautiful the trees look w/o decorations on them, and I leave them alone, because I know after winter their leaves will be back and they will again give us joy.

Answer 7

I have to disagree with the Doctor, if all of us just did only a little it will make a difference.
Avoid unnecessary packaging when buying Christmas prezzies.
Use public service transport, to save vehicle traffic and costs.
If you are going away consider using a fuel efficient vehicle and not the great gas guzzlers.

What ever else you do, have a Happy Christmas and spend time with loved ones.

Answer 8

my suggestion is to have a joyous Christmas by doing things in moderation i.e. cut down on your energy usage, that excess packaging etc. No matter how much you do to prevent global warming you can't let it control you and take away from your good day- by the way it's good to hear your concerned about our environment

Answer 9

Give the gift of charity. We spend so much on things that cost energy to make and transport and many are not appreciated enough to be worth the cost. Charity uses no energy, and is the best way to really spread the spirit.

If you do purchase gifts, buy American- the more locally, the better. Most of the stuff in stores is from China, and their environmental protection laws are practically non-existant. The rate of birth defects there is skyrocketing becuase of corporate pollution.

Or give gifts that encourage others to "be green" as well. Low energy light bulbs or reusable shopping bags would work.

Answer 10

Hey there! :) Here's a list to help celebrate and help the earth at the same time!

1) Shop online - so you don't have to drive to all the malls and stores, thus cutting back on air pollution

2) Get an artificial tree instead of a real tree - if everyone went artificial, they wouldn't cut down any more trees - trees are important for oxygen and help 'clean' our air!

3) Use paper bags or plastic bags as 'wrapping paper' as a way to recycle them

4) Don't leave your holiday lighting on all night - I mean, who's going to see it at 3am anyway? Turn them off to save on electricity.

I'm sure there are plenty of more ways, that's all I could think of at this late hour lol

Take care and happy holidays!