Shake it up this Christmas

Tinsel or fairy lights? Brussel sprouts with the turkey, or stick with the broccoli? Queen's speech, or Coronation Street special?

Christmas, is a minefield at the best of times, but for the ethical shoppers amongst us - balancing the risk of upsetting your eleven-year-old nephew, by not getting him the latest newfangled gadget, with the ethics of buying yet another soon-to-be-disposed of electronic gift - it can turn into a nightmare.

To give you a little bit of a helping hand, we've drawn up a list of some of the pressies you could think about buying that help Oxfam raise money, or have less of an impact on the environment. Oh alright, it's a rather shameless plug for Oxfam stuff too... sorry.

Recycled stuff
Pencil cases made from old tyres. Christmas cards, diaries and calendars made from recycled paper. Find some of these great gadgets in the 'Fair trade food and gifts' section of our online shop, or have a browse around your local Oxfam shop - there's a lot more on those shelves than you might think.

Clothes
Ok, so maybe there was a time when the only clothes you could lay your hands on in an Oxfam shop were funky-smelling, psychedelic-coloured pants and jumpers. Well, we're proud to say those days are over.
There might even be a specialist Oxfam Originals shop in your area where you could pick up quirky, vintage, one-off item.

Entertainment with a difference
Think CDs and DVDs. Think books, collectables and games. All second hand from Oxfam shops. Or, if you insist on giving people new stuff, then why not make sure it's entertainment with a difference. Our two hot tips are:

• The Cake Sale CD - featuring tracks by Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon to name a few, with all profits going to Oxfam.
• Black Gold DVD - the must see film on the global coffee scandal. Buy it for a friend and they'll learn more about the lives and struggles of the world's coffee farmers.

Unwrapped
And finally, there's the well-known Oxfam Unwrapped. With over 60 gifts ranging from tools to help farmers grow their crops, to textbooks for school children, there's something for everyone. Make sure you place your order before 16 December to receive it in time for Christmas.