Gift giving in 2006

I received wonderfully thoughtful Christmas presents this year including (but not all) a mouse pad with Japanese chins, a blank book for my haikus that is already a work of art, penguin pens and a handmade notepad with my daughter’s photo. I appreciate them all and the time and thought that went into them.

I have to admit when I get a package there is an oh-no moment that another thing will be added to my possessions. The sinking feeling at each gift usually goes away as I open the present to discover how well my friends know me and I know how hard they have worked to find it.

However, this year if anyone is thinking of giving me a gift I wish they would make a contribution to one of the following organizations (based within their own value systems of course). These organizations can use the help far more than I need another gift.

http://www.ibj.org/ This is an organization run by an incredible woman who is trying to bring a public defender system to China, Cambodia and Vietnam. She is doing the impossible in human rights work.

http://www.truthout.org/ or http://www.commondreams.com/ Both organizations are speaking truth to power in these dangerous times for our democracy.

http://www.diabetes.org/ http://www.cancer.org/ http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/ (if you click on the last site there is a way to help fund poor women’s mammograms and I hope you do that anyway)

www2.salvationarmy.org for their social work.

Of course there are others, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Oxfam or any group that is working to improve the lives of the poor or the health of the planet.

The idea that we are all making the world a better place is a gift more precious to me than anything in a box.

Hopefully you will all understand.