A green Christmas -- 10 tips for an Earth-friendly holiday

Your Comments

• Judy Skidmore wrote:

  Dec 13, 2006

  2009-09-22 10:49 AM

  Yes to the live christmas trees because renewing trees ads oxygen, then you say use electronic cards and recycled paper??!! We are growing trees in Canada, the best managed forests in the world, faster than we can ever cut them. Cutting trees is good, as trees regrow immediately, planted or not, and we have great jobs looking after the trees.

• Bonnie wrote:

  Apr 10, 2007

  2009-09-22 10:50 AM

  In response to "You suggest in tip seven that readers donate to...." - while this response indeed suggests a more agreeable environmentally acceptable type of donation -ie: grains instead of the livestock - which is a good thing for our world's physical needs - it lacks any sense of compassion for those who are struggling for existance - and does not consider two very vital points for the future of our planet. 1.) Perhaps one of these starving families will produce an "environmental leader" at some crucial point in our history- so let's feed them. 2.) Would you really want to live in a world - clean or not - where lack of compassion and consideration for other human beings lives is surpassed by our own selfish desires to create a haven for ourselves?

• wrote:

  Dec 07, 2006

  2009-11-18 3:02 PM

  You suggest in tip seven that readers donate to a charity and give the examples of sponsoring a child or donating livestock. I must point out that neither of these options are "green" and mindful of sustainability or ecological preservation. As you must know, Earth is overpopulated by humans and so sponsoring a child in a developing country exacerbates this problem. Furthermore, livestock are an incredibly inefficient source of food, consuming ten times the calories in feed that they yield - donating livestock, rather than grains, to a village in need is not eco-friendly. I am surprised and disappointed that you did not suggest donations to organisations that, for example, focus on conservation of ecosystems or improving technology to reduce pollution.

• Lindsay Coulter wrote:

  Dec 01, 2009

  2009-12-01 3:10 PM

  Actaully the David Suzuki Foundation advocates for a real versus plastic tree! Here's why- Ellipsos, a company focusing on sustainable development did that very analysis of this annual holiday dilemma. And the winner is…a natural tree! Their comparative life cycle assessment chose natural as the better option with respect to the impacts on climate change and resource depletion. You may also want to ask that your tree is grown pesticide-free. Of course if you already have an artificial tree, take good care of it and it should last you about 20 years! Lindsay Coulter, David Suzuki's Queen of Green