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Korean Women’s Environmental Network members wear green Santa Claus suits and hand out campaign pamphlets calling for people to use less energy and materials during the holidays.
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Small ways to make the holidays a more conscientious time
It is said that Jesus Christ was born in a humble manger, but after about 2,000 years, his birthday has become a day when people across the earth celebrate in large numbers. Christmas is near at hand; How about making the holiday into a festival so that nature and neighbors are in harmony? If it could talk, one of the trees in central Seoul suffering under the weight of seasonal light bulbs might offer the following: I am a gingko tree standing in front of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul. I really hate this time of year, because a large number of light bulbs are wound tightly around my body. This year, without exception, about 300 ping-pong ball-sized light bulbs were wrapped around me on December 9. All of the 325 trees lining a 2 km long stretch between Gwanghwamun and Namdaemun are wrapped up by a total of 100,000 light bulbs. The light bulbs will illuminate our bodies brightly from 6 in the evening until 2 in the morning every day until February next year. The cost for all of this is estimated at about 7 million won (US$7,600) for three months. With this amount of money, about 450 households, which have been suspended power supply due to not having enough money to pay the bill, could be provided enought electricity to power two fluorescent lamps, a small TV set, and a small heated mattress.As we can’t scream or move, you may not realize our suffering. However, we are very sensitive. The heat from the light bulbs disrupts our biorhythms. Moreover, trees with green leaves should photosynthesize during the day and rest at night. But if it is light at night like this, we continue to photosynthesize. Won’t you allow us to rest on Christmas day? Or, a piece of chocolate might have this to say: You may give many chocolates as present on Christmas day. However, you may not know that cocoa farmers use a huge amount of chemicals to grow the main ingredient of chocolate. The chemicals remain in the chocolate after being melted into the cocoa. Besides, cocoa farmers often cannot pull themselves out of poverty because most chocolate traders doing business with multinational companies set the buying price of cocoa at their whim. Is the chocolate still sweet, even if it contains harmful chemicals and the tears of farmers from underdeveloped nations? Don’t forget about "Dagoba Chocolate." Its key ingredient is organic cocoa purchased through fair trade at a proper price from farms in 10 nations, including Costa Rica and Ecuador. And do you remember "good coffee?" Those who buy the fair trade "Present of Himalaya" beans at The Beautiful Store for the holidays will receive a handicraft as a free gift. There is also the YMCA’s "East Timor Peace Coffee," meant to support efforts to rebuild the beleaguered Southeast Asian nation. In addition, the Dure Cooperative Association sells organic sugar harvested in the Philippines and delicious olive oil imported from Palestinian farms. In the meantime, a newspaper might have this advice on how to pack presents: I understand that you want to pack presents beautifully, but it is sad to see wrapping paper dumped en masse after Christmas. It reminds me of the saying, "beautiful women are often short-lived" when I see wrapping paper with pretty patterns being torn apart carelessly. How about giving newspapers, which have already performed their mission to deliver the news, a chance to pack your presents? You think this looks shabby? You are wrong! There are so many beautiful photos, drawings, and script to be found in the pages of newspapers. If you pack your presents using paper containing photos or script that goes well with your presents, as well as with your own thoughts and your relations with the receiver, it becomes more sensible than using expensive wrapping paper. Gift-wrapping guru Hwang In-ja has even said that to package gifts using newspaper is in vogue now. It is also trendy to put a letter into a small juice bottle and decorate it with a ribbon. And is it not nice to pack presents with handkerchiefs or a beautiful cloth, which the gift recipient can use continuously? Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
