by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

Fair Trade, Organic, sustainable gifts are all the rage this year. If you doubt me, just surf awhile and see what pops up, or check out the Hollywood scene. You can add another list of must-be/haves to the list with the Buy Handmade Pledge. To date, 8,000 people have pledged to purchase only handmade gifts this year. I couldn’t resist - I signed on, too.

I admit that at first, I thought the pledge was encouraging people to make their own handmade gifts to give. Then I realized that this is much bigger - it’s about getting out of big-box stores selling us our slow death and into Farmer’s Markets, Co-ops, small local businesses and online sites. Oh, online sites. I looked into it and found out that the founder of the Buy Handmade Pledge has a website that hosts dozens of artists making really creative stuff. I saw clothing and jewelry and a pretty, ruffled apron. Cool! But, wait a minute - most of the art, though original, creative and fun, was not made with organic or sustainable materials…

I’m starting to feel a disconnet… While I’m thinking evolution, they are thinking… ‘what’s good for people who make handmade things’ and as a marketing strategy, it’s a bit mischievious. I credit Buy Handmade for not listing or linking to this site or the artists, but it didn’t take me long to find my way there anyway.

Buying more stuff that you don’t really need (a ruffled apron?), even if it is handmade, is a nice change from buying it at Target, but it’s not of the magnitude needed right now to set back the ticking clock on the time bomb of consumerism. What we really need is for people making handmade stuff (in addition to other producers) to think about what they are using to make their handmade stuff.

I’m making gifts this year. Treats with Fair Trade and organic ingredients and napkins made from reclaimed fabric. Total Sum Game. Happy Holidays.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

Maybe you only purchase turkey once/year. If you live in the U.S., it’s usually in November and/or December. So, if I only buy turkey this one time, how important is it that I buy organic and local? From a turkey’s point of view? Plenty!

Factory-style turkey farms do a huge business this time of year and to meet the “consumer” demand, they have been allowed and encouraged to raise and slaughter these animals in outrageous conditions. Turkeys have long been genetically modified with hormones for better eating (not theirs), causing them to grow flesh twice as big, twice as fast. Most unfortunately, their skeletons are unable to support the excessive weight, leaving them unable to walk and in pain. More messing with their genetics for the preferred breast meat leaves them with absurdly-sized chests, further limiting their mobility. This diabolical science also causes many painful respiratory, heart and skeletal diseases, despite heavy doses of antibiotics.

Turkeys raised in factory farms live in crowded warehouses - government standards require only 2.5 feet square of space for each hen and 3.5 feet square of space for each tom turkey - as many as 17,000 turkeys crowded together. For months, they are left to stand in the bacteria and amonia from their own waste. These unnatural conditions force them to literally fight for their lives, so they are debeaked and detoed without anesthesia. (FYI - You can apply these facts in various forms to all factory-raised animals. For more information (and happy rescue stories), visit Farm Sanctuary.)

I know I probably ruined your appetite, but before you stop reading, understand two things. One - we, as consumers, have allowed these practices to continue (we keep buying) and two, we, as consumers, can put an end to the horror, both for the animals and the environment that is also being abused in factory farming.

I used to believe the entire world could be vegetarians. Then I woke up. I understand now that it is important to change the hows and the whys of our food sources rather than perpetuate a “them and us” standoff. We used to know how to do this right and we can once again bring compassion and common sense back to all farming practices. But to do this, we need to make it impossible for factory farms to sell their products and- make it economically feasible for small (and sane) farming to survive. I support veganism and vegetarianism, but I’ve come to believe that my being vegan was less an “activist” model of change than my now unfailing support of local farms. And I’m not alone.

Humane Farm Animal Care is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives and welfare of farm animals by providing viable, credible, duly-monitored standards for humane food production and ensuring consumers that certified products meet these standards.

The impressive and extensive staff brings in knowledge and experience, including animal science, philosophy, systematic ecology, and government and international relations. Executive Director, Adele Douglass, launched the Free Farmed Program and was awarded the ASPCA’s Lifetime Achievement award in 2006. Their site can tell you more about this process and give you information about where to buy “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” animal products.

Keep in mind that very small family farms, possibly not yet certified, have almost always practiced compassionate treatment of animals and environmental stewardship - it’s tradition. Get to know your local farmers or read about them online at Local Harvest.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

What’s better than sex and rock ‘n roll? Sex, rock ‘n roll and changing the world. For many years, I have enjoyed Rolling Stone Magazine. It helps me be engaged in both the music world and the political climate, with their excellent coverage of the rock and roll scene and their weekly news features. This month, RS has outdone themselves with the third installment of this year’s Fortieth Anniversary issue (#1039). Find a copy and start reading! Or, go to the website and read it online.

This is a collection of 25 interviews on the future of American and the world with the artists, scientists and leaders who “helped shape our time.” No kidding - this is good and inspiring and thought-provoking dialogue from icons to idols to iconoclasts. The lineup is spectacular - I simply have to list them all: Al Gore, Bono, Bill Maher, Tim Berners-Lee, George Clooney, Eli Pariser, Craig Venter, Sam Harris, Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, Cornel West, Jon Stewart, paul Krugman, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Billie Joe Armstrong, Kanye West, Chris Rock, Lisa Randall, Dave Eggers, William Gibson, Jane Goodall, Bill Gates, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Clinton.

In order to absorb it all, I’m limiting myself to two reads/day. There’s a lot to take in and take away - ideas, inspiration, amusement, outrage, ideas, information, along with a little fear, but much more than that - hope. Read along with me and give me your thoughts. Happy Anniversary, Rolling Stone and thanks.