Anjani Ganase continues to advocate reduction of the use of plastics; and challenges us to creative thinking in this season of giving. These are pathways to new habits that should be carried through the year ahead.

We should all be concerned about the growing plastic issue (reported in this column last week) and the effect on our environment and to the health of our species. Scientists are observing the effects of microplastics that end up in our bodies.

Changing our habits with plastic must start with what we consume and individual choices. While some scenarios with plastics may be difficult to avoid, such as in the groceries and packaging of food, this shouldn’t discourage us from considering all choices and looking for opportunities especially in special seasons and occasions of gift giving.

Christmas, for example, is the perfect time to start shifting traditions to the meaning of the gift rather than the gift itself. The length of wrapping paper thrown away in, for example, the UK every year (365,300 km) is just shy of the distance to the moon (384,400 km). Additionally, in the US, about 154 million people will receive at least one unwanted gift this year, adding to the pile of garbage. Here are ten ideas for environmentally thoughtful gifts this year.

Give a Tobago experience:

Give gifts of experiences that allow us to explore the wonders of our natural backyard. Many tour operators have suffered during the covid pandemic. Hotels and Air BnBs have been stifled by the closure of beaches, not to mention scuba diving shops, surf shops, boat and fishing charters, bird tours.

[caption id="attachment_929721" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Future watersporting adventures with Radical Sports.[/caption]

Give a staycation that would also assist small businesses through this time of a slow or no business. Find a place that you have not considered before. Cuffie River Nature Resort; rainforest retreat at Nature Retreat above Parlatuvier (https://natureretreattobago.com/); Castara Retreats are just a few of the places from which to explore the rainforest. Tour ruins of old estates. Hike to a waterfall. Join a birdwatching group.

Visit Christmas markets:

Well-organised markets across TT offer more dates to reduce crowding, and many advertise on social media to allow you to make the purchase beforehand for a quick pick up.

In Tobago, you can search out some places where you would not have gone before: the calabash carver and chac-chac maker in Charlotteville. Planet Ceramics (see the Instagram site) will open her shop by special appointment. The Shore Things Café offers chocolate and craft items.

Even the groceries, like Penny Savers and Morshead, stock specialty and gourmet items. If you go to the Scarborough market, look for homemade coconut oil. Look for made-in-Tobago, To-bag-o bags. Visit the vendors, listen to their stories, which can be shared along with the gift. We know TT is teeming with talent. Share the stories of innovative makers and support them!

Gift your friends eco-friendly utensi

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