The Do-Gooder

They love to give -- and really, really hate to receive. Until now.

By Salon staff

These anti-consumers like to protest that they don't want anything, usually out of fear that a fiery chlorofluorocarbon is launched heavenward on their account. "Just write me a poem," they might say, "but put it in an e-mail -- I don't want you to waste any paper!" You could always torture them by sending a giant box of PVC piping. But while that's funny, it's not really in the holiday spirit. So here are options for your Do-Gooder that might just make you feel good, too.

Illustrations by Ryan Germick

The Coupon:

Donate eight hours of your time, over the course of a year, to your friend's favorite volunteer organization. You like your friend, so think of it as really productive hang-out time, whether you're picking up garbage, walking homeless pets or ladling out love in a soup kitchen.
Send your coupon now.

The Bargain:

Do-Gooders make their own coffee, because they do not believe in takeout containers. But that NPR mug is a little banged up, and they probably would appreciate something that would help illustrate to their co-workers just how seriously they take their caffeine -- and the fragile state of our planet. The Global Warming Mug ingeniously shows the world heating up and land mass disappearing under rising oceans when you fill it with hot liquid. That's clearer and more entertaining than any Al Gore slide show! Plus, your Do-Gooder will probably use it the 294 times necessary to justify its use over a paper cup. (And it's on sale for just $10.95!)

Low-cost:

As your Do-Gooder will tell you, the average car emits 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and you know what that means. (And if you don't, go here.) The TerraPass is a way of combating this problem; you buy a pass that's based on your car's annual emissions. The proceeds for the pass go to fund legitimate efforts to reduce carbon dioxide. It's the perfect anti-gift for our friend, you see: Nothing is actually created (save for a few decals), but the money goes toward reducing bad waste. Buy one for yourself in your friend's name, to prove you're really trying. Or, if you want to claim the moral high ground (and provided your Do-Gooder drives), let him know, with slight disapproval in your voice, that this is your attempt to clean up his ungodly mess! ($29 to $79)

Mid-range:

Your Do-Gooder wants to save the world – and enjoy his iPod and cellphone, too. Get him this really cool-looking solar charger for his gadgets, so that he can natter away or groove to his Jay-Z without feeling like he's sapping the grid. Order here ($100).

Among the countless reasons to lose sleep over the war in Iraq are the mountains of waste inevitably created by each incursion. So we like Adidas' BW Army sneaker, which uses recycled Army materials to fashion one-of-a-kind shoes. They look cool, too. And the weird parallel between fashion and depression headline-news camo chic isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. Buy soon: There's a limited supply left here ($115).

Everyone wants to look nice, so get your friend a crisp, white dress shirt made from Bergman's organic Pima cotton. It's buttery smoothness feels decadent, but its low-eco-impact makes you feel saintly. Bergman's is Swedish, but you can order the clothing here (dress shirt, $152 for both men and women).

Luxury:

The Do-Gooder's love of travel conflicts strongly with her worry about the energy used to jet off to faraway lands. But a restful stay among the 64 tropical gardens that nestle Thailand's Evason Phuket resort will ease her guilt. The Evason boasts a solar thermal plant for its hot water, an energy monitoring system and its own wastewater treatment. The resort doesn't discharge anything into the ocean; it recycles its water and kitchen waste for its gardens, and reuses engine oil, according to this Treehugger write-up, "to treat wood and keep it a shiny black." Also, "half a percent of their annual revenue, about 2.5 million baht (about US $70,000) goes to social and community programs like the rebuilding of libraries in schools hit by the 2004 Asian tsunami." Why, a stay here is practically charity work! The resort also recently won the pro-nature travel group Wild Asia's 2006 Responsible Tourism Award. You can book a stay here (rooms start at $167 a night).