Most of us enjoy the winter holidays for non-materialistic reasons: gathering friends, family and food, celebrating and honoring tradition. Yet, we are subject to a constant stream of ads and pressures to purchase items, things, stuff. Stuff that not only taxes our wallets, but taxes the earth.
It just so happens that the timing of our newsletters (Fall issue: Oct.1, Winter issue: Jan.1) will give us the first and last word on holiday habits. We'll make the first word brief because it's so early in the year.
We'd like to help you preempt the holiday season's bombardment of commercial and materialistic pressures by recommending some reading materials and offering some resources.
Web sites: (if you do not have web access we can print them out for you)
http://www.newdream.org offers a
comprehensive 14-page booklet called Simplify the Holidayshttp://www.moea.state.mn.us/reduce/nowaste.cfm Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance provides an extensive website suggesting a whole host of tempting alternatives to buying the usual trappings.
Reading:
Unplug the Christmas Machine by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli
Hundred Dollar Holiday by Bill McKibben
How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Sources for Earth Friendly Gifts:
Shop local: Eugene's own Holiday Market or St. Vincent de Paul's Aurora Glass are two examples.
Or mail order:
Alternative Gifts International, 800-842-2243
Harmony Seventh Generation Catalog, 800-869-3446
Real Goods Catalog, 800-762-7325
National Green Pages (by Coop America) 800-58GREEN,
Oregon Country Fair Reduces Waste
Thanks to the hard work of 80 Recycling Crew volunteers, newly recruited Waste Warrior volunteers and the entire family of vendors, entertainers and crews, the Oregon Country Fair's (OCF) first year of the Waste Free by 2003 program was a real success!
Since one of the Fair's guiding principles is environmental stewardship, the 33 tons of waste generated at the three-day annual festival was a sore spot. This year BRING worked intensively with folks from the OCF Recycling Crew, Site staff and Board of Directors to find solutions to the growing garbage problem. A three-year plan to compost the non recyclable paper, avoid non recycleable plastics and stem the tide of mixed garbage was devised.
This year's effort took the form of a massive education campaign designed for the many hundreds of vendors, staff and entertainers who camp at the three-day event. Over 100 volunteers signed up to help get the word out and monitor the waste and recycling bins as the fair was cleaned up and packed out for the year. We wrote articles in the newsletter, talked with representatives from every booth, spoke at every crew meeting we could get to and put up big signs and displays telling folks to "Do it Daily" (recycle, that is), "Pack it in, Pack it out," and "Sort, Sort, Sort."
And it worked! Not only did this effort make post fair cleanup easier and more efficient, but it resulted in 6 tons less garbage and 3 tons more recyclables!
| Year |  Garbage |
 Recycling |
| 2000 | 32.89 tons | 10.06 tons |
| 2001 | 26.83 tons | 12.85 tons |
| % change | -18.4% | +27.7% |
The Oregon Country Fair's goal to be Waste Free by 2003 and set the standard for other events has real potential. Next year, food vendors will be switching to biodegradable cutlery (if available) and the paper/waste barrels will become paper/compost barrels. The need for education and outreach will be redoubled with those changes. There are many, many hurdles to jump, but Margret Mead's quote brings it all back into perspective. "Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world, indeed it's the only thing that ever has."—Sarah Grimm
| B M E X | |||
BRING Materials Exchange is a free exchange listing of free stuff for 
• Soft grey poly-foam. Great for stuffing toys and pillows. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Industrial Materials Exchange serves the whole Pacific Northwest with hundreds of listings for textiles, fibers, metals, and chemicals. Call 1-206-296-4899 for a bi-monthly catalog or go paperless at: |
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