Dear fellow Londoner:
This time of year it can be tough just to be a family. There are so many pressures from consumer flyers, mall frenzies and high expectations for entertaining; - even the charities that we hold dear seem to get in on the Christmas racket.
Most of all, parents want to feel like they have created a sense of magic and wonder for their children and families. Consumer conditioning has translated this desire into a tendency to buy more stuff, which puts a strain on the pocket book and the holiday spirit.
Can we have the magic otherwise? At Council of Canadians, we invite you to reclaim Christmas from commercial interests. When parents and their children enter an honest dialogue about what is important to them, amazing discoveries can be made. You might discover that:
ü The greatest gift anytime for your friends and family is the precious commodity of time. When we try to be together without the need for the most toys or the best dressed dining table - we have more time to play.
ü The gifts cost more that you may know. After children learn how corporations make toys and clothes in today’s global marketplace, they will probably insist on ethically made and fairly traded goods. Children are targeted more than ever in advertising and it is essential that they become consumer literate.
ü You have a voice and a role in the future your children will inherit. Together, we can ask for healthy products, less packaging and higher workplace standards for the products we consume. Our “dear Santa” letter is one of those ways to make your voice heard. Please discuss it with your child and send it along today. If you need more copies, they are available at www.---
We wish you the joy of the season and encourage you to dialogue with your family about reclaiming Christmas from the corporations.
Sincerely,
Trae Robinson
(Writer, Mother, Eco-Activist)
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