Pearls, abalone, and coral are all mined from the seas. It's hard to imagine that there are still people on this planet who consider ivory an appropriate gift. When giving jewelry, go to antique and pawn shops. This is an excellent way to recycle the beauty and craftsmanship of the past. Remember, all new jewelry encourages the destructive influences of mineral extraction.
Diamonds are a dirty business.
This year, give a gift that doesn't exploit third world cultures. Now is the time to stop the wholesale consumption of the natural world. When giving gifts this year, please take the time to consider the true cost of your purchases. We all need to make the effort to change the gift-giving tradition. Rather than wasting money and resources on unnecessary consumer goods, we can give of ourselves in a meaningful way.