Holiday Thoughts: Why We Shop, Ethical Shopping, and the Hunger Site — EngagingConflicts.com

With this rich season of holidays and celebrations, here are some online selections to inform our actions, and aid charitable giving:
“Why We Shop” by Jennifer Michael Hecht (will require a subscription to the New York Times’ Times Select to access): “History suggests that holiday shopping fills an ancient need to gather and tithe, and serves as a modern-day ritual of renewal;”
Some “ethical shopping sites”, thanks to the Thinking Ethics blog; and — my favorite online donation site — The Hunger Site, where “[y]our click helps feed the hungry with the value of 1.1 cups of staple food.” I love this site especially because it also has tabs across the top for donations to The Breast Cancer Site, where “[y]our click, along with others today, will fund free mammograms for women in need;” The Child Health Site, where “[y]our click, along with others’ today, provides basic but critical health services to more than 1,000 children. Each click helps prevent life-threatening diseases, restore vision to blind children, and enable child amputees to walk; The Literacy Site, where “[y]our click, along with others’ today, helps children in need discover the joy of books;” The Rainforest Site, where “[y]our click has funded the preservation of 11.4 square feet of endangered rainforest;” and The Animal Rescue Site, where “[y]our click provided the value of .6 bowls of food and care to a rescued animal in a shelter or sanctuary.”

Just clicking where indicated gives the donation — all you spend is a little time. You can sign up for emailed reminders to visit the site.

REMINDER: this blog is now at EngagingConflicts.com.