To bag or not to bag: the Target dilemma

As you might have heard, headlining the news recently (forget about the death and destruction taking part in the rest of the world) was that Target have decided to stop charging customers for biodegradable bags and returning to giving them a plastic bag with their purchases.

This is ridiculous! Apparently there was an insignificant amount of complaints from customers protesting the charge of a whole 10 cents for a bag that won't hang around landfill for millenium but is actually made from cornflour.  These customers are upset that after buying more 'stuff' at bargain prices at the expense of the Australian economy, the thought of handing over a coin that they wouldn't bend over to pick up off the floor was too traumatic.

Why can't people think bigger than their own slight discomfort?  OK, I know why, because none of us can see what one little person can do to make a difference to the destruction of our planet.  Why should I have to fork out a whole 10 cents when multi quatrillion dollar mining companies just keep drilling, pillaging and raping (OK, bit carried away there).

(these aren't pretty jellyfish)

I know I harp on a bit about being a greenie, but when I hear young people say they can't be bothered separating their recycling as it won't make much difference to saving the environment, I despair.  And when I walk around the bay and can see the tide washing in dozens of plastic bags and plastic bottles every day, I despair.  And when I see people that park outside my house and throw out their Macca's rubbish into the gutter to wash down the drain, I despair.  And when I see huge petrol guzzling four wheel drives taking over the suburbs by the hundreds and they only have one or two people in them going from the city to school to dancing to oboe lessons and to Target, I despair.

(not a bird poncho)

I'm not perfect by any means. We have two cars and I drive to places I could walk or ride to. I buy packaged foods and though I love to rummage through a second hand clothing store now and then, I do still buy inexpensive chain store bits and pieces.

But I do take my own bags shopping and re-use any plastic bags I get stuck with.  And I do not mind handing over a ten cent coin if it means one less sea creature gets choked to death.

There are many little things we can do which can make a big difference in the big scheme of things.  And there are so many fellow greenies out in internet land which know a bucket load more than me about how to go about this. Here are few I've come across:

• Little Eco Footprints - A beautiful blog that is trying to make a very small footprint on the earth
• Freecycle - a great site where you can list your unwanted stuff and find other stuff
• ecostore - I buy these products when I can find them in the supermarket (as of last week there was not one of their products in my local Coles, so yet another reason to avoid one of the biggies), but I'm going to buy online directly from now on.
• Down To Earth - everything you could possibly want to know about living sustainably from someone who lives it everyday.

And if you want to know more facts about how plastic is affecting our oceans, just check out the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

So if you're keen to make a weeny little difference at all, take you own bags to the shops please. And as a reward, here's Tim Minchin helping to convince you:

**Joining with Jess for #IBOT**

Things I like

The list of things I really, really enjoy is changing.  I'm not sure if its for the better or worse.  To be honest, I can't remember what I totally loved to do over anything else, but it probably involved

• eating lobster mornay; or 
• drinking and dancing all night at a nightclub (or 'disco' as they were called when I was able to dance all night);
• or riding my horse through the bush

Now its more likely to be:

• having dinner with friends; or
• being able to read a whole book undisturbed; or 
• cuddling up in bed on a winters night; or
• dancing all night at a party or pub with a great band (it just doesn't involve as much vigour nowadays - or shoes).

I do enjoy the idea of shopping for nice things, but the reality rarely lives up to the hype.  If I actually have the money available to spend I never find anything suitable or I end up talking myself out of buying it because it's not good value or it isn't made in Australia or it's too young for me or it could only be hand washed and ironed.  Some part of me still thinks I'm not entitled to these nice things (years of close-to-poverty living will do that to you).

On the other hand, I love to buy nice things for other people.  And I absolutely love a bargain!  So I should love Christmas shopping, right?  Well, in theory.  But then Mr Moneymaker gets involved with his pesky budget and spreadsheet and checklist and buying everything in one place if possible.  Where's the fun in that?

Online shopping gives me some pleasure with getting a bargain and it is much easier to search for a variety of unique gifts that are made locally (sometimes by bloggy friends) and sometimes even environmentally sound.  Here are some I've come across:

• Todae
• Ethical Gifts
• Tribes and Nations
• Ibu Trade

This brings me to another reason that shopping brings me pleasure. Sometimes it can benefit other people besides the manufacturer and the recipient of the gift.  I've posted before on buying gifts that mean more [World Vision Gift Catalogue], but I didn't talk about making sure we buy ethically.  This just means I would much rather buy a bowl which costs a little more because it was handmade with recycled materials than something that came off a Chinese processing line.

Other gifts I love love love to buy people are books. Not only are they wonderful for the person receiving them (there IS a book suitable for absolutely everyone), they are really easy to wrap!

Today I bought Tim Costello's book, "Hope".  I haven't decided whether to give it as a Christmas present to someone or just keep to read myself.  I know in the past it has been an unwritten privilege between my family that when we buy a book for one of us, we can read it ourselves first as long as we keep the book clean and undog-eared, don't bend the spine and definitely do not read it in the toilet!  If you would like to buy Tim's book yourselves, help keep the profits with World Vision and buy it here.

So tell me, how do like to do you Christmas shopping?  All in the one place or do you do a little here and there through the year?  Will you be buying ethically for some?

Day 5 of the 30 Day Photo Challenge: Cup I drank from today

I feel very pleased with myself every time I buy a coffee and use my environmentally friendly cup. Even the grumpy Italian barista smiles at me (I make sure I remove and replace the lid myself so he doesn't have to). It's even got your choice of coffee imprinted on it so you can pen it in! Love it!