Core77

Of course, it's always better to give than to receive, so if you're all about positive action this holiday season, you'll want to check out some of the items on this year's Ultimate Design Gift Guide. We've picked a bunch to start with, so get started!

ForestEthics Donation
$77
ForestEthics is the organization behind Victoria's Dirty Secret and countless other campaigns aimed at getting corporations--from Limited Brands to Staples and Office Depot--to change their paper-buying practices. So far, their work has stopped logging in over seven million acres of old growth forests (one million acres in Chile, and six million acres in British Columbia), so if you're into planting trees this year, how's about you consider saving a few while you're at it?

Manufactured Landscapes DVD
$19.99
Jennifer Baichwal travels with Edward Burtynsky as he photographs huge industrial incursions in China. A remarkable film, and a must-see for designers of all stripes. (Listen to the Core77 Broadcast with the two of them here)

Donation to Kiva.org
$77 (or less, or lots more!)
Even the smallest donation will help an aspiring entrepreneur in a developing country to realize a dream. Check out the cornucopia of success stories--they'll make you want to take part right away. (Also take a look at Kiva Chronicles at socialedge.org)

A Roll of Your Local Currency
7.7 hours
Why rely on international banking cartels and the Guv'mint for your duckets? Around the world towns and communities are developing their own local work-based monetary systems. Check out Ithaca, NY's Ithaca Hours. Read this fun comic for an intro! Check this list or this list to see if your town is down!

Carbon offset credits
$61 (offsets a round-trip flight from SFO to Hong Kong)
Extra eco-aware gift recipients will appreciate a load of guilt off their shoulders with a few of these credits.

H2-UH-OH* or Why You Should Buy Stainless Steel Water Bottles Today
$15-$20
Scientific studies have been piling up since '98 saying that bisphenol A (BPA) leaches out of polycarbonate water bottles--those popular Nalgene bottles--and that it can lead to "chromosomal aberrations", IN YOU, and, no, they're NOT the super spidey-strength kind. So the time is NOW to switch to a safer alternative... (these are all aluminum free too, if that matters) *We stole this title from these fine peeps More recent studies are cited here.
Sigg Oval Bottles 0.6L $19.99 Stainless Steel replica of 1941 Swiss Army Canteen--has FDA approved epoxy phenol resin coating to cut down on any possible mineral leaching
Guyot Shorty 24oz $14.95 uncoated stainless steel--wide mouthed so it will still fit your nalgene accessories--water filter, etc.

ZipCar Membership
+/- $75 for signup and membership $10/hr after
ZipCar Ocassional Driving Plan (One Year Membership) for citydwellerz. Your car-less friends will appreciate a few IKEA trips in a ZipCar as opposed to hauling two Troggmoggs and a Flarn all the way home on the bus.

iTouchless Forever Last Radio/Flashlight/Nightlight - Designer Series
$18.99
We haven't tried this thing, and the price seems a wee on the cheap side, but this is a stylin' winder-upper. Here's the pitch from Amazon: "This is the most beautiful designed dynamo battery-free AM/FM Radio, Flashlight, and table-top Nightlight. 1 minute of cranking will give you 20 minutes of radio listening or 40 minutes of flashlight and nightlight. Because of its creative design, you can display it on tables, shelves, or next to your bed's nightstands. Before you go to bed, crank it for music listing on your favorite radio stations. It will turn off automatically in 20 minutes while you are falling asleep. Let the flashlight show your way to bathroom at the middle of night. Includes a light cap for soft bright nightlight."

Find these and 69 other wonderful items in Core77's Ultimate Gift Guide 2007!