UK: Christmas charity shopping goes local and online

Local, and online. This is where Christmas shopping is going this year according Deloitte & Touche?s annual Christmas Retail survey conducted in the UK: 40% of those surveyed said they intend to buy their food and gifts from community shops and two thirds will use the Internet for their shopping. A paradox?

Not really. Its good news for European charities and NGOs who claim that ?buying local? is the smartest gift idea to protect the environment and who offer ethical items for every budget on the web.

The end of year bestsellers for 2007? The Guardian votes for the £50 ?build a bog? offered by Oxfam that helps prevent disease spreading in developing countries. But here are many other interesting proposals…..

For activists

• Christian Aid ? A basketball to help young Hutus and Tutsis play together
• Unicef ? Give a Hiv medicine to a mom
• Attac ? watch a video and get active
• Actionaid ? give voice to a woman activist

For real, and virtual, animal lovers

• Oceana ? Adopt a creature, earn a cookie
• Save the children ? A Yak is for life
• Lush ? Christmas gifts against animal testing

For green party-freaks

• WWF?s tips for an organic Christmas lunch
• Ten tips on how to deal with the gift?s paper by Comieco
• A-Z of tips for a celebration that doesn?t harm the environment

What’s on in Italy

• Cesvi – One euro a day to stop Aids as it is born
• Aism ? Light up a star for Multiple Sclerosis
• Cbm ? ?Looks? celebrate 100 years of social challenges

What’s on in Spain

• Christmas shopping goes online for Good

What’s on in Germany

• Charitable Christmas gifts