If you're buying coffee for someone, I'd recommend Fair Trade rather than coffee from a company that also donates to a charity on the side. Fair Trade coffee provides a decent wage to the producers, supports community development, etc. etc. - and without the paternalistic idea of "charity" attached.

There are many options. Cafe Etico from CoDev Canada is great (especially the Cuban coffee):
http://www.codev.org/codev/cafeetico.cfm

Also many JJ Bean offerings, Ethical Bean, etc.

Oxfam Canada has a "Gift of Peace" program which allows you to support one of its excellent international development programs.
http://www.oxfam.ca/what_you_can_do/giftPeace.htm

IDEAS FOR TYEE READERS

Some excellent suggestions already. There are lots of ways you can give your loved one a special gift this year:

(1) Individual shares with a framed stock certificate:

Raytheon: http://www.giveashare.com/eshop/10expand.asp?productcode=rtn-101

McDonald's: http://www.giveashare.com/eshop/10expand.asp?productcode=mcd-101

Exxon Mobil: http://www.giveashare.com/eshop/10expand.asp?productcode=xom-101

(2) Help make Canada a better place:

Canadian Taxpayers Federation: https://secure.lexi.net/ctf/jointhectf.php

The Fraser Institute: http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/supporter/index.asp?tnav=3

(3) Or for those more practically minded, perhaps some new Birkenstocks, a tie dye kit, dreadlock wax, or a hand-crafted burlap poncho. There's something for everyone.

Happy non-denominational celebration everyone!

Happy non-denominational celebration everyone!

Thank you, and merry Christmas and a happy new year to you! Once the PC folks get tougher we will be able to celebrate our birthdays twice. One of them 9 months before. And while we are at it let's get rid of our current calendar. It is too denominational.

I am accepting of all denominations... all year round to boot. Of course, I prefer the fifties, but even a a lowly fiver can find a home in my wallet!

Kevin Pollard,

I think you misunderstand this article, it's about giving to worthwhile causes and not catering to your hero's and tying to enrich oneself. I know the prospect must be insane for you , you know to give something and not expect a return.

I know your just trying to be clever but I wish you right wing nut jobs would just give it a rest for one day , I know you don't mind stepping over a few homeless folks on the way to Church but just keep your little nasty thoughts to yourself. In short stop being so small.

For about eight or so years, my partner and I have given gifts to charities in lieu of stuff for all the adults in our lives and have asked for the same in return. We also try to plan to spend time with people over the holidays, figuring that's what it's all about anyway. We don't want to ever return to the buying orgy of Christmas - too much stress and it's just not fun for us. How many of us receive stuff we don't want/need and give stuff that the other person just ends up taking back or regifting?

Now I just have to figure out when to wean the nieces, nephews and goddaughters off of gifts. I figure at 16 they'll get a small gift and a gift to a charity so by the time they're 18 they'll get a gift to charity only.

Thank you for your insightful contribution, Stuart.

You are clearly the kind of person I and all Canadians should aspire to be.

Stuart, how many vagrants will you be housing this winter? You shouldn’t assume all wing-nuts are the same; I for one understand that religion is a disease. I live by my own conscience, not that of an imaginary friend.

I was merely following the think-tank donation suggestion made by castilleja, but I guess you're unfamiliar with the concept of free choice and opinion in an ideologically diverse democracy. If it's counter to your belief it's wrong. Call them a wing-nut and move on.

If you have a moment to get off your pedestal, ponder the notion of ethical relativism - I made a constructive suggestion while you were compelled to scorn. As Rodney King said, can't we all just get along?

Hey, I like that. A little stress and energy between the Xmasites as we await the third day after Solstice.

Reminds me of the family get-togethers around the ol' tree in my long expired, impressionable youth.

Sort of a mini- advance workup for when the parents kick the bucket. All eyes were on the calculator as the gifts were opened.

Interesting to see that spirit live on in the latest celebrants of the consumer spectacular.

"If you have a moment to get off your pedestal, ponder the notion of ethical relativism - I made a constructive suggestion while you were compelled to scorn. As Rodney King said, can't we all just get along?"

I think you got on the pedestal fist sir. I don't think your suggestion was constructive, I think it was sarcastic. Perhaps my definition of 'ethical' is askew, but I was under the impression that, when applied to a business or an organisation, it meant doing little or no harm to people and the environment, or working to reduce harm and protect human rights. Raytheon, McDonalds, and Exxon are obviously incongruent with this definition and you are just being passive agressive. To top it off you resort to tired cliches of people who want to do good this Christmas by comparing them to hippies.

Perhaps Mr. Pollard you are feeling insecure.

""If you have a moment to get off your pedestal, ponder the notion of ethical relativism - I made a constructive suggestion while you were compelled to scorn. As Rodney King said, can't we all just get along?"

LOL, Hey Kevin Pollard.

Maybe we all misunderstood you , maybe by suggesting we support the 3 most unethical corporations in the world and the 2 most right wing nut job organizations you were just misguided and not being a total jerk.

So your either incredibly stupid or like I said a total jerk. There is a time and a place to be clever , do you also crack jokes at funerals.

Or just go to Spartacus Books! No CEOs at that NGO.

While supporting animals and animal habitat is nice, there are millions of people who need our support, too:

http://www.mcc.org/givingprojects/advent/index.html

I know some will react negatively to me posting a link to a Christian charity, but the work they do helps young people in Sudan get scholarships, helps feed the hungry, helps fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, provides livestock for families and much more.
I know there are some posters here who think religion is a disease. I agree. That's why true Christianity is so liberating – it allows us to get beyond the mechanics of soul-sucking religious systems and actually put into practice what Jesus Christ commanded us to do – love.
Just as a person's body that does not have a spirit is dead, so faith that does nothing is dead!
Merry Christmass, everyone.

In Nanaimo you can plonk down $25 to help buy Mt Benson or contribute to boardwalks in Linley Valley.......and your gift recipient receives a certificate with a beautiful photo of the area designated.

PS To add to the Nanaimo suggestions, the group to contact is Nanaimo Area Land Trust.

Good posts, GJW

I admire active churches, Jesus was a socialist and put us here to do something, I think your church is on the right path.

Another suggestion is the Nature Conservancy of Canada http://www.natureconservancy.ca/files/index.asp

For $35.00 you can help protect an acre of habitat for a Canadian endangered or threatened. I've given this gift to nephews and nieces for the past two years (ages 5-14). They receive a certificate and a calendar. Good response from them so far!

endangered or threatened [/B]species[B] that is!