blogg #5

What do you think? Is Christmas sustainable? How would it all work in a changed world?

Christmas offers people all around the world the chance to let their hair down and celebrate, whether this becomes over indulgence or not is not the issue. Christmas has been around for a long time, and presents haven’t always been given. Only recently has the issue of presents and waste been bought up. With the problem of over packing comes the issue of environmental damage and global warming.

Christmas is a time of giving, giving presents, cards and other things. Food is an issue to, can we use less and yet still eat more whilst wasting less, and the numbers don’t seem to add up. The biggest issue with Christmas is that people seem to take it all for granted, I remember when I was younger and all I wanted was an Exeter City football kit, I’ve never really wanted for much, but some of my friends were getting mountains of presents and just never using them or using them for a few months and then throwing them away. This doesn’t help the image of Christmas being this festival of love and joy. Can giving ever be sustainable? Especially on a mass scale.

In a world where everyone and every company are concerned with the impact of wrapping and wastage (much like it is seeming to be more and more) Christmas wouldn’t have to be much different than it already is. Presents could still be handed out, people could still have the odd glass of wine too many and eat just a little bit too much, but just as long as they weren’t wasting anything. Minimal wrapping paper, less food bought (or just enough for a second helping maybe?) and the wastage wouldn’t be such a worry for people, this also could be said about any of the worlds various religions festivals where food and gifts and natural resources are frittered away like they are nothing and just taken for granted.

The main point about Christmas is that it has been around for a long time, most people I know (and especially in my family, where Christmas is one of the only times where the whole family can and do get together) would just say the season only comes once a year, so leave it alone. Christmas does seem to bring out the best in people, so to answer the question, is Christmas sustainable? Then yes, I believe it is, but only because people seem to change and care about things more than normal at this time of year, because there is something about Christmas that brings everyone back to their childhood, it’s like snow, Christmas is a truly magical time of the year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDoDUC9M0Sg