For Your Puzzler: A Socially Responsible Christmas

This Christmas, let’s puzzle. Three hours or so, until our puzzlers are sore. Because maybe Christmas, my friends, doesn’t come from a store. Just maybe, Christmas means a little bit more. I have three organizations and groups for you to consider this holiday, one for each hour of puzzling.

I paraphrased Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas just then. It’s one of my favorite books to read to my son. And not just because of the Christmas message – no, it’s a message against all consumerism. In rhyme. With grand larceny. Could you ask for more? Dropped a bit of the classic cartoon at the end of this post for you.

As a side note, these groups emphasize not buying the usual sort of Christmas gifts. If you do anyway, at least make sure you don’t give crap.

1. World Vision

This organization has an online catalog that lets you give a gift to an impoverished child somewhere across the world on behalf of someone you know. Here’s their promotional video:

Here’s some of the awesome gifts they have just on the opening page; there’s more than a 100 socially responsible choices.

1. A goat and 2 chickens for $100.00
2. A deep well to provide clean drinking water for an entire community for just $100.00
3. Assistance for sexually-exploited girls for just $35.00

Where to Participate
World Vision’s online catalog

2. Occupy Christmas

The idea behind this group is to avoid giving money to the large corporations that aren’t being socially responsible, since by purchasing from those companies we’re effectively empowering human rights abuses, pollution, animal cruelty, the wealthy over the people, and various other nasties. If you insist on purchasing, it should be from local small business, charities, and fair-trade stores.

Every dollar you spend is a vote for how you want the world to be, and who you want to control it. Vote consciously. Every day.
Occupy Christmas Facebook page

Here’s a quick breakdown of the general thoughts behind this group:

1. The usual “don’t spend money, spend time.” Of course it’s a bit trite. Because it’s true.
2. Buy American and support American workers or buy from fair trade stores and support workers across the globe.
3. Buy from small businesses in your area and help your neighbors have a better holiday.
4. Buy from charities so that the profits don’t just go into someone’s pockets.

Where to Participate
Occupy Christmas on Facebook

Also, I believe that Occupy is going to promote more protests (such as they did for Black Friday). If you don’t mind getting chilly to make a difference, there’s something to schedule in.

3. Your Local Animal Shelters

Christmas is always a popular time to get that new dog, cat, rabbit, or what-have-you for the little ones. Of course, you should proceed with caution since the shelter animals may come from bad situations and probably don’t have the same holiday enthusiasm you do. With that in mind, though, it can be a gift of great love for your children and of course rescues a living creature from a bad situation – you’re giving the gift of a second chance. Socially responsible actions aren’t necessarily limited to humans, unless of course you can’t be social with a dog (poor you, if that’s the case). Giving a second chance – a pretty rare gift indeed.

A YouTuber put together this fun little video to get you motivated:

Don’t have room but love the furballs? Well, you can always send them a little love through SPCA.

Where to Participate
Go to your local animal shelter, or find your new family addition on PetFinder.

Not Recommended: Socially Responsible Theft