“Giving Tuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism. The most meaningful gift we can give each our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to build a better world.”
Kathy Calvin, CEO, UN Foundation, November 2012
Talk to your kids today and help them understand why this day, and this concept is something that they should know about and be involved in.
Why Giving Tuesday makes so much sense to me: In North America, many of us get so caught up in our fortunate lives that we tend to put blinders on when looking beyond and outside at the rest of the world. Most of us have easy and seemingly secured access to food, water, shelter and so much more – things that we take for granted and which I have found out personally, can easily be taken away. Around the holidays we are inundated with ads and information every where we look, telling us to “show our love by buying things” for our friends, colleagues and loved ones. I am not advocating being a “scrooge” during the holidays and I love getting and giving gifts as much as the next girl. However, in my opinion, the holidays should also be about reflecting on what we are thankful for, and also an opportunity to make clear personal and family commitments to building a better world.
Today is Giving Tuesday.At a time of Thanksgiving in the United States and at the beginning of a holiday season in many parts of the world, filled with goodwill and good cheer, it is time we stopped and took a long look into our children’s eyes and the eyes of our parents so that we remember what is important in our lives. Our planet is reeling and in pain, floods, droughts and fire are an every day part of our lives. Hatred is fueling war and bloodshed around the globe. Yet as soon as these headlines scream at us from the front pages of the country’s papers and websites, we get caught up in our day to day lives and put them aside. It’s time to make a real and renewed commitment to work TOGETHER to build a better world. Let Giving Tuesday be your opportunity to support an organization you believe in. Volunteer with this organization, or make a commitment to financial support the work of this organization throughout the year. Some of the organizations we support include: The Climate Reality Project, 350.org, iMatterYouth, Food and Water Watch, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children…and the list goes on…
Around our holiday tables this year and we hope around yours, we will be talking about and make a commitment to Giving Tuesday something real, tangible, personal and important to us – a cause, organization, program or event we can hold close, understand and relate to and that will or is already part of our life.
Make Giving Tuesday a real start to staying LOGGED IN on a real plan and opportunity that you and your family can create that will help make our world a better place. At ClimateMama and in my immediate family, our family plan revolves around giving time, speaking out and winning the conversation, and working to support policies that will slow down and mitigate climate change and that will help us adapt to our new realities. Your plan may be different then ours, but hopefully with the same outcome: building and creating a safer, more sustainable, secure future for us and for our children.
With Gratitude and Thanks,
Climate Mama
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