Have a Merry (and Waste-Less) Christmas

We've almost reached Christmas, a time to celebrate the birth of a tiny child who came to teach us how to really love one another, the turning of the days from darkness to light, and, unfortunately, the heaviest waste weeks of the year for our garbage collectors.

I've gone on at length in my moodlings about the way consumer culture has taken over a season that was initially a time to come together with family and friends to pray and feast and visit and create memories rather than give stuff to one another. In that spirit, at the top of this page, you can click on the Simple Christmas Ideas tab and find a 31-day series of sensible homemade activities and ideas for any family to enjoy, or check out the BuyNothingChristmas link on the sidebar.

I'm delighted to see that the City of Edmonton Waste Management Branch has recruited Andrew Ference, former captain of the Edmonton Oilers hockey team and well-known eco-warrior, to remind us to make memories, not garbage. It's a funny animation, but it makes a point that the world needs to hear.

Have a Merry and Waste-Less Christmas!