Halloween Tips from Roots and Shoots

We (FSP) are members of Roots and Shoots, although we have not formally created a group, it is something for us to keep considering. Either way, some of the info, like this, is pretty inspiring: EVERY APE COUNTS The Somerville Roots and Shoots group invites everyone to join in the second year of our Halloween project, "Every Ape Counts". We will be dressing up as endangered primates and trick-or-treating for donations to help them! It worked really well last year and now we hope to step it up to a much larger scale. Pick a primate that is in danger from habitat destruction, the bush meat trade, etc. -and this includes almost all of them - and get going! You will need: A handout on the primate and the danger it is in, along with a little speech you can give. Printouts on the organization and project that the funds will be given to. A Costume! Share tips on costume design, on bringing out your inner ape, and nominate worthy projects benefiting particular primates by posting on the Every Ape Counts topic on the Campaigns forum on the R&S bulletin board. You may need a quick, free registration to get on the bulletin board. Also feel free to contact our group directly, with email to dh@danhull.com See you out there! Dan Hull DAN@danhull.com Celebrate Green Halloween! Suggestions for a greener Halloween: Instead of buying a costume, design your own, creating a costume from fabric, ribbon and other odds and ends that you find around your house. Purchase your pumpkins (organic, if possible) from local farms or farmer's markets. Instead of carving pumpkins, paint or decorate them. After Halloween, use the innards to make pumpkin soup. Leave the seeds in your birdfeeder as a special treat for blue jays and nuthatches. Instead of buying luminaria, recycle some old tins cans. Create patterns of holes in the cans by using hammer and nails. Buy some petroleum free candles at your local green grocer and voila, spooky lighting! Giving away organic candy is a great idea. But, if you choose to give away conventional Halloween treats, learn about the palm oil crisis. Find out which big name brand candies contain sustainably produced palm oil so that you can make informed choices. Check out these websites for more creative suggestions: Green Living Green Halloween Stop Global Warming And, if you go out trick-or-treating, don't forget to bring your reusable canvas bag Be safe and have fun, Christine Ellersick