Here’s an Advent calendar I can get behind.
I challenge you all to do the same. Sorry, no chocolates.
(I know, it’s a late start but don’t be deterred! You can catch up!)
You’ll need a jar or small box to put coins in. Enjoy!
Dec. 1 = For every finger and toe on your children’s hands and feet, intact and unblemished by landmines - add 5 cents. (Landmines have killed or injured more than 70,000 Afghans in the past to decades!)
Dec 2 = For every female in your family who is free to go to school, pursue a career, or walk openly in the street, add 50 cents.
Dec 3 = Add 10 cents for every time you’ve vote in a democratically held election.
Dec 4 = Add $1 if your drinking water is safe. (An estimated 5 million people die from illnesses caused by drinking poor quality water, 1.1 billion people lack access to safe water!)
Dec 5 = Add 25 cents for every shower or bath taken by members of your family today. (2.5 billion people lack access to water for sanitation!)
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Dec 6** = Add $1 for everyone you know with HIV/AIDS. (270,000 children die of AIDS every year!)
Dec 7 = Add 50 cents if you can name your family doctor. Add $1 if you’ve paid a visit this year.
Dec 8 = Add five cents for every year of your life untouched by civil war or conflict.
Dec 9 = If you live above sea level, add $1. (WHO estimates 150,000 people die every year of rising waters!)
Dec 10 = If you have flood insurance, add $1.
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Dec 11** = Add 25 cents for every toy gun in your house, including video games.
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Dec 12** = Add 25 cents for every time you’ve called 911.
Dec 13 = If you’ve had a permanent address for more than 6 years, add 50 cents. If you own your own home, add $1.
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Dec 14** = If you have open access to information through newspapers, radio, tv or internet, add $1.
Dec 15 = Add 50 cents if you’ve ever written a letter to the editor. Add $1 if it was published.
Dec 16 = Add one cent for every book that you own. If you own more than 100 books, add $2.
Dec 17 = Add 50 cents for anyone in your family or circle that serves as police, fire, ambulance, armed forces. (Now, call them up and say “Thank you!”)
Dec 18 = Add 50 cents for everyone of your children who attends a publicly funded school. (An estimated one billion adults are illiterate, two thirds are women!)
Dec 19 = Add $1 if you’ve ever sought legal council.
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Dec 20** = Add $1 if you’ve ever been called to jury duty. Add $2 if you’ve been privileged enough to serve.
Dec 21 = On this, the darkest day of the year, add two cents for every lightbulb in your house. Don’t forget those Christmas lights!
Dec 22 = If you’re free to visit friends and family over the holidays, add $1.
Dec 23 = Add $1 if you’ve sung carols this season, add $2 if it was in public.
Dec 24 = When the stockings are hung, add 25 cents for every gift under the tree.
Dec 25 = If your family celebrates with a sumptuous feast, add $5.
Dec 26 = If you don’t recycle boxes and wrappings, add $1.
Dec 27 = Add $1 if you had fast food today. (1 billion people suffer from obesity in the first world, in the third world 1 billion are starving!)
Dec 28 = If you have a drug plan, add $1.
Dec 29 = If you have a pension plan, add $2.
Dec 30 = If you have ever collected employment insurance or disability benefits, add $2.
Dec 31 = Add $5 if you host or attend a New Year’s Party.
Jan 1 = Add 10 cents for everyone you call to wish a Happy New Year!
Jan 2 = Add $1 for every member of your family who received a flu shot this year.
Jan 3 = Add 50 cents for every member of your family to outlive 70 years. (In Zambia, life expectancy dropped from 44 yrs to 33 yrs between 1990 and 2000!)
Jan 4 = Consider how fortunate you are, then consider that 50% of the world’s children live in poverty!
**Jan 5 **= Sit down and consider where you would like to send the contents of your Advent container. Oxfam? Unicef?
Jan 6 = (The Epiphany) Add up the contents of your container and send a cheque to your favorite charity.
(Not original, but not copyrighted!)
So, who’s with me?