KEEPING
IT SIMPLE AGAIN – THE LOW-STRESS GUIDE TO HOLIDAY GIVING & LIVING
By
Liberty Goodwin,
TIP Director
A FEW IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES ARE THE KEY
TO GIVING REAL, LONG-LASTING VALUE
We’ve covered most of the bases re:
specific healthier gifts in our previous Healthy Holiday Handbooks & Hints.
You can still find those detailed helpful suggestions by accessing the 2008,
2009, 2010 & 2011 HHH TIP holiday booklets online at: http://toxicsinfo.org/thoughts.htm
.
So, what can we offer in print this
year? A simple reminder and outline
about the basic principles of healthier, more meaningful giving and
celebration. Some of the long-time
standby resources you can visit or consult.
Some of the same assistance with info on how to please your loved ones
even while on a recession-time budget.
Again, we offer encouragement to imagine exciting, new, out-of-the-box,
non-stereotype, often non-“stuff” gifts. Two more points:
**I want to emphasize anew the great joy
we can offer by truly listening to & understanding our loved ones, their
concerns as well as their passions. Not only can this involve donating to
causes they espouse, it could be that just letting them know you “get it” could
be the best gift of all.
**The true spirit of giving doesn’t require
getting credit for what we do. Consider
any efforts you make towards a better, healthier world are a gift to those for
whom you care.
Our new Food Protection project is one
example – see P.
As before, if you still have questions
about how to handle the holiday maze, we’d be pleased to help you with that, by
E-Mail or phone: TIP@toxicsinfo.org or 401-351-9193.
TAKE US SHOPPING/SURFING WITH YOU. SEE BACK
COVER FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT TIP AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.
A
QUICK REVIEW – THE RULES OF GREAT GIVING
1.
Thinking Outside the Box.
Most important - don’t get caught up in the holiday ads &
routine. Be creative & independent,
not an obedient, easily led, “shopper”.
2. Listening, Loving & Participatory Giving/Shopping “Surprise!” is a gamble. Consulting the
giftee can help you find a great gift fit!
3. Gift Certificates
from Healthy Venues. These provide
quality & choice! For shops, dining,
museums, activities, travel. Encourage
them to use these gifts – join them!
4.
Active & Interactive Gifts for Children and/or Adults
Active toys such as model airplanes, bicycles, kites,
balls. Doing things together, family
games. Time & attention can bring people together and stimulate mind & body.
5.
Charity Can Be a Buzz. Donations generate Xmas glow. Even better,
doing things to help others – and bringing the kids along - can teach them the
joy of giving unselfishly.
6.
Lessons Can be Lovely: What would they like to learn? Playing music, art, other skills? Dance or “laughter yoga”? Another use for – Gift Certificates!
7.
Introduce Them to Less Toxic Alternatives. Buying with advice from objective
researchers can improve people’s lives & get them into healthier
habits. See resources on P.5.
8. Group Gifting. Combining
with others can make an expensive, but especially wonderful gift –– affordable.
9. Gifts of Services. By you or someone you pay to help. Repairs, cleaning, lessons, baby sitting –
whatever service will be a boon to their busy lives.
10. Gifts of Appreciation. More than any “thing”, listening to,
understanding and valuing people (especially kids) for who they are is the
greatest gift of all
TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN HEALTHY HOLIDAY HINTS
WARNING -
WHEN BUYING NEW CLOTHING & LINENS:
New garments & sheets come treated with chemicals for permanent
press wrinkle resistance. To limit
exposure to these chemicals, WASH NEW CLOTHES BEFORE WEARING. (100 per cent cotton flannel sheets are naturally
wrinkle-resistant, so are less likely to have toxic residues in them).
CHECK INGREDIENTS OF ANY PERSONAL
CARE PRODUCTS YOU BUY: Whether as a
gift or for self, get the facts at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) “Safe Cosmetics” database: www.safecosmetics.org
KIDS USE COSMETICS TOO: There is even a special Parents’ Guide to Kids’
Personal Care Products at :www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide
MOST
“FRAGRANCE” IS A CHEMICAL PUZZLE:
Cut through the mystery to the real story in TIP’s
informative booklet - described below,
available online at: http://toxicsinfo.org/TIPS_personal.htm
DON’T BE FOOLED
ABOUT FRAGRANCE!
Fragrance Fallacies & Fakery (Table of Contents)
*FRAGRANCE ODDITIES & THE “FL” CHALLENGE
*MYSTERIOUS MATERIALS TOUR - *WHAT’S INSIDE?
*KNOWN BADDIES & SCENT
SYMPTOMS
*REGULATION THAT DOESN’T &
POLICIES TO PROTECT
*PLEASING PEOPLE? & SNIFF NOW, SORRY LATER.
*ACHIEVING APPEALING INDOOR
AIR
*LINKS TO FRAGRANCE
INFORMATION & RESOURCES
Be truly, naturally
beautiful this holiday season! Check
out the healthy, effective personal care options above, for yourself and your
lucky giftees.
CHARITABLE & EDUCATIONAL GIFT-GIVING
IDEAS
SOME RHODE ISLAND OPTIONS
**AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION IN RHODE
ISLAND
Fight for healthy air (see www.lungne.org or email
mclark@lungne.org) Give
a gift of life--register someone for
Freedom From Smoking® premium on-line class &
interactive
support ($15 for 3 months, $40/yr)
at ffsonline.org.
Radon test kit
(including analysis) $12.00.
Registration fee for Stair Climb event
(in Providence or several other
places in the Northeast) and/or
promise of pledge for Stair Climb
event—For details, see:
www.Climbofyourlife.org.**
**SOUTH
SIDE
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
109 Somerset Street, Providence, RI 02907, 401-273-9419
Give the gift of a yearly membership to SCLT, which
helps people grow their own food in community gardens around Providence. Cost: $35 for individuals & $50 for
families Includes:
10% discount at annual May plant sale & admission
to special
pre-sale preview hour. See: www.southsideclt.org
**GUITAR AND MANDOLIN LESSONS
Classical, folk, and pop! It’s never too late to start!
Open new worlds to yourself! Learn to read and play music
in a short time!
Paul Wilde, 401-751-4554 zenyente@gmail.com
FREE SUNDAY NIGHT JAMMERS DANCES!
One Sunday each month:
Potluck Supper: 6 p.m.
Dancing (with
teaching): 7 to 9 p.m.
Waltz, Polka,
Contradance,
Israeli, English,
Scandinavian, Greek
… Goff
Hall, 124 Bay State Road, Rehoboth, MA
See www.contradancelinks.com/jammers.html
For
dates & details contact 401-751-4554;
or zenyente@gmail.com
GIVE THE GIFT OF ACTIVITY& NATURE
The East Bay Bike Path is beautiful all year,
and if the weather doesn’t cooperate – consider bowling or dancing!
**YOUR BIKE SHOP
459 Willett Ave, Riverside, RI 02915,
Tel.
401-433-4491.
Just off East Bay Bike Path.
AND 51 Cole St, Warren, RI 02885, Tel. 401-245-9755
Both shops have a large selection of road and
mountain bikes, helmets, lights, bike bags, bicycle parts, and bike repair
services. Call for hours – they change
seasonally.
FLORAL
& GARDENING GIFTS
If you know someone who loves to garden,
there are scads of great gifts to encourage this healthy activity – & help
them keep it free of toxic pesticide exposures. Books on organic methods are always a boon. Find some on our website at http://toxicsinfo.org/tipstore.htm For Less Toxic Landscaping info, go to: http://toxicsinfo.org/lesstoxic.htm
VISIT FREY,
A TRULY"GREEN" PROVIDENCE
FLORIST -THEY NEVER TREAT FLOWERS WITH CHEMICALS.
TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN HEALTHY HOLIDAY HINTS
HEALTHY HOLIDAY FOOD AT HOME & AWAY
EWG’S SHOPPER’S GUIDE TO
PESTICIDES IN PRODUCE:
What
to buy organic? Find out at: www.ewg.org/foodnews
BUY FRESH OR FROZEN – NOT
BPA-LACED CANNED FOOD
LOCAL OPTIONS FOR HEALTHY DINING
**LOCAL 121
121 Washington Street, Providence,
RI Tel. (401) 274-2121
Lunch: Tuesday- Saturday, Dinner served nightly from 5pm.
A
restaurant that strives to be ecologically, culturally, and
agriculturally
sustainable. Working with small New England family farms and food artisans to
provide seasonally inspired menus in the elegantly restored dining room of the
historic Dreyfus Hotel in downtown
Providence. www.local121.com
AS220
115 Empire St/95 Mathewson St / 131 Washington St,
Providence, RI. This holiday season, give an AS220 Membership or Gift
Certificate for classes & studio time in the Printshop (non-toxic
solvents), Fab Lab, Photo Digital or B&W Darkroom. Support RI artists
with unique gifts from AS220’s on-line store & not-for-profit
galleries. Or, give a gift certificate for AS220 Foo(d),serving
delicious, local, seasonal produce and, of course -- love! Learn more at:
www.as220.org or call: 401-831-9327
**SPRUCE POND CREAMERY
370 King Street, Franklin, MA 02038.
(508) 520-7900
www.organicflatbread.com
Organic Thin-Crust Wood-Oven
Pizza,
using a special mix of organic
whole grain, unbleached and semolina
flour.
Lasagna
& Pasta Dishes, all organic Including meat, cheese,
& sauce. Sausage, pepperoni & cheese
from Organic Valley.
All
Natural Homemade Ice Cream, formerly at Maxmillian’s,
no
hormones or antibiotics, & more!
Worth a hop over the
state line
- only 22 minutes from Providence, Exit 16 off Rte. 495.
PROTECTING PETS:
TWO GREAT RESOURCES – FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS
OR FOR YOUR OWN PRECIOUS PET!
AMERI-POOCH: Exciting natural pet products
– including less toxic flea, tick and pet care options! Check them out!
Ameri-Pooch L.L.C
Supporting American
Jobs One Pet at a Time
All natural dog treats
baked on Site!
Promoting American made and environmentally friendly
pet products and companies.
74 North Main St.
401-371-2616
Pascoag, RI 02859 www.ameripooch.com
HEALTHY HOLIDAY HOUSEHOLD
CARE
IF IT IS NEW, IT STINKS! - Paint, carpets, etc., need time to “outgas” before
entertaining! (Also, seek low-VOC options).
UNFORTUNATELY, IF IT SAYS “AIR FRESHENER”, IT LIES!
See our “Don’t Be Fooled About
Fragrance” Booklet for facts on what’s in this stuff, dubbed an “air pollutant“
by the EPA:
http://toxicsinfo.org/TIPS_personal.htm
CLEANING
UP FOR HOSTING: Vinegar &
baking soda can do most cleaning. Try
steam for floors, carpeting, upholstery.
COOKWARE & TABLEWARE: Use (and give) cast iron
or steel pots pans (No Teflon), & glass or ceramic casseroles.
Don’t Microwave In Plastic!
PREVENTING PESTS & SENDING THEM
PACKING:
Keep food tightly covered or refrigerated. Even
NYC cockroaches have been foiled this way. Also, traps & baits work
without poisoning people as well as pests. Don’t spray! If you see
a mouse, don’t go “Eek!”. Call David Jones at Bio Tech. They are
truly “green” - helped TIP Director Liberty G with carpenter ants & termite
problems – with no toxic residues. See ad below or go to: www.biotechpestcontrols.com (Note:
They also have a new
number for Newport area folks: 401-619-5520)
A LONG & LASTING GIFT: PROTECTING OUR FOOD SUPPLY & HEALTH: JOIN A RI WORKING GROUP VS. CONTAMINATION & TAKEOVER OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM
FACTORY FARMS + GMOS + PESTICIDES
= A DEADLY
COMBINATION
A
huge & dangerous threat to our food supply is lurking, one with the
potential to contaminate & degrade our environment, soil, &
agricultural capabilities, to destroy small farmers, and seriously damage our
health & that of our kids. It is
the triple threat of factory farming, toxic pesticides & genetically modified
crops. Scientific evidence re: GMO
toxicity is overwhelming, especially for our kids.
www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs
GMOs
are unhealthy. GMOs contaminate forever. GMOs increase herbicide use. Genetic engineering creates
dangerous side effects. Government
oversight is lax. The biotech industry
uses "tobacco science" to claim product safety. Independent research
& reporting is attacked & suppressed. GMOs do not increase yields,
& won’t feed a hungry world. By
avoiding GMOs, you contribute to the coming tipping point of consumer
rejection, forcing them out of our food supply.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
**Educate
the public about the pervasiveness & the dangers.
**Counteract
industry propaganda and misinformation.
**Support
non-GMO & Organic farming & seed preservation. **Boycott companies fighting GMO labeling.
**Avoid
buying products containing GMOs, & with other shoppers, let markets feel
anti-GMO consumer pressure.
**Learn
how to buy healthier food on a budget – & provide information on that to
the public.
NEEDED: A FEW GOOD PEOPLE TO HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE
ALONG WITH THE RI FOOD POLICY COUNCIL.
CONTACT LIBERTY GOODWIN, DIRECTOR,
TOXICS INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP), LIBERTY@TOXICSINFO.ORG 401-351-9193
