If your family and friends are domestic goddesses rather than early adopters, gadgets will probably cut no ice. So in the second of my Christmas shopping specials, I'm rounding up some of the ethical and green Christmas goodies being highlighted by blogs in the countdown to December 25.
Of course, you could simply thumb your nose at the orgy of capitalism that December's festivities have become, and eschew sending any gifts at all. All those expecting presents from you could be sent an e-card via Meg and Anna's marvellous Tis the Season (disclosure: Anna is a colleague).
But if you insist on buying in - quite literally - to the whole consumer-lead purchasing madness, you don't have to surrender your right-on credentials. Oh no, ecologically sound festive gifts don't have to be dull and worthy. Who would have thought that buying your beloved a pair of New Zealand possum fur nipple warmers and matching g string, as blogged by Metafilter, would give you a big tick from environmentalists? It's bad news for the non-native brushtailed possum, which provide the fur for these items. But good news for many of New Zealand's flora and fauna, including the kiwi, which have been badly affected by the possum's introduction 150 years ago.
Continuing the furry theme, the ever-resourceful Daddy Types suggests getting VIP Fibers to spin you some finger puppets made from dog hair, although I am guessing that, unlike the brushtailed possum, no animal deaths are involved in their production.
If you're thinking of gifts with a more, er, practical bent, you can't go wrong with this solar-powered clothes rotator as flagged up by Gizmodo. Although of course a repeat of a summer like 2004 in the UK could see this gift spend most of 2005 in the cupboard.
Continuing to veer dangerously back towards the gadgets, Ben Hammersley has been singing the praises of his solar-powered backpack. If that's a bit pricey for your budget, a
wind-up emergency mobile phone charger could be a good choice. And with three minutes of winding for eight minutes of talk time, it will help to develop the recipient's biceps at the same time.
For an unusual stocking filler-slash-drink-slash-cult knitted miniature item, what about Innocent's tiny knitted hats? For each Innocent drink bottle sold at branches of Eat, innocent and Eat donates 50p to Age Concern and Extra Care to help keep old people warm this winter. Then you can pose with your hat on blogger Tom Coates' ultra-cool Tiny Random Hat Project. After all, it's a lot cheaper than buying a pair of Mukluk boots, and slightly less ridiculous-looking.
