Ethical Choices Sunday, November 29, 2009 By Alex Meehan * The Oxfam Unwrapped scheme allows shoppers to give a gift to a family or a community in the countries it works in around the world. There are 30 gifts available, including care for a goat starting at €35, a fish pond for €399, fresh drinking water for €3,120 and the Supergranny programme, aimed at women who look after children who have lost their parents to Aids. Details at www.oxfamireland.org, by phone on 1850-304055 or in any Oxfam shop.
* Kazuri’s hand painted ceramic jewellery is made in Kenya by a group of 350 local women. The Tango Cherry necklace is priced at €49.95 and is available from Kilkenny stores in Dublin, Cork, Cashel, Galway and Killarney, or online at www.kilkennyshop.com.
* Designer Sophie Rieu specialises in clothes made from sustainable soft Donegal lambswool, as well as cashmere and angora from Italy.
Her current collection is called Midnight Dreams and is available from stockists nationwide, details at www.unicorndesign.net.
Prices start at €95, and the Rondo dress (right) costs €320
* A number of Irish charities are running livestock gift schemes again this year.
Through Concern, you can send a variety of animals to impoverished parts of the world, including piglets priced at €9. Bóthar also has a scheme to sponsor livestock including cows, rabbits, goats, camels, bees, hens, pigs, yaks and sheep. For more information, visit www.concerngifts.org or www.bothar.org.
* If you’re looking for a skincare gift for the man in your life that isn’t heavy on chemicals, the Organic Homme range could fit the bill. The range contains 85 per cent organic ingredients, and is free from all known irritants for men prone to razor burn. The Shave Now cream costs €11.99 and is available from health stores nationwide.
The specialist Italian food store Olio & Farina is offering two ‘‘heart friendly’’ Christmas hampers, with a percentage of the purchase price being donated to Croí, the West Ireland Cardiology Foundation.
Each hamper has been put together by a Croí dietician to conform to a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and includes extra virgin olive oils, vegetable pates, pasta, chocolate and red wine. The hampers are priced at €50 and €75 and are available from Olio & Farina in Galway and Limerick, and online at www.olioefarina.com.
* A great gift for the beauty enthusiast with an interest in all things green, The Green Beauty Bible contains a large ‘‘tried and tested’’ survey of greener beauty products. Available from Easons and bookshops nationwide, priced €19.50.
* With prices starting at €6, the Gift of Sight could make an ideal present for individuals or companies looking for a way to celebrate the Christmas season in a conscientious way. The project is operated through the www.giftofsight.ie website.
* For a stocking filler with an ecological touch, check out the Little Bloomers range of mini plantable gifts and Christmas tree decorations.
Made from recycled paper and embedded with natural materials such as flowers, ferns, mica flakes and seeds, the idea is that you plant the decorative paper shape, the paper breaks down into the soil and the seeds germinate to grow wild flowers or clover.
Available from Harvey Nichols in Dundrum, priced at €5.25 each.
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