Air Date: Week of December 15, 1995

To discover the true meaning of the holidays, we turned to the kids from Boston’s Renaissance Charter Public School, making Christmas ornaments from things that otherwise would have been thrown away.

Transcript

CURWOOD: In recent weeks, we've been asking you for suggestions for holiday gifts that are eco-friendly. Well, to discover the true meaning of the holidays, we turn to children. This week we sent Living on Earth producer Deborah Stavro to Boston's Copley Square Hotel. There students from the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School joined hotel employees in making Christmas ornaments from things that would have otherwise been thrown away.

STAVRO: What are you making?

TARGETE: A garland. It's made out of wallpaper.

STAVRO: Now why are you making garlands out of wallpaper?

TARGETE: We're making it because we're trying to reuse other things. Because the earth doesn't have enough room for lots of stuff to throw away and stuff. So we can reuse the stuff. Make other things.

STAVRO: Great. Well thank you very much. What is this?

DUARTE: An angel.

STAVRO: Uh huh. Is that a halo?

DUARTE: Yeah, a halo. Made from the doily. And this is a fabric -- I mean not fabric, wallpaper -- and this is toilet paper roll on the bottom. A light bulb.

STAVRO: The light bulb is the face?

DUARTE: Yeah.

STAVRO: Well it's beautiful. What kind of paint did you use on the face here?

DUARTE: Gold.

STAVRO: Gold paint. And then there's a smiling face, and you have doilies for wings.

DUARTE: And wires to keep the head standing up.

STAVRO: Why do you suppose it's a good idea to make ornaments out of light bulbs and toilet tissue rolls?

DUARTE: Because it's better than buying them. You can just make it yourself instead of going, you can use your imagination.

LEONARD: I made a picture frame to hang on my tree. It's made of cup holder and my pictures in it's made of cloth. It gives you an idea of how to recycle things. And if you recycle things the world will be a better place to live in.

CURWOOD: Vanessa Targete, Steven Duarte, and Sarah Leonard from Boston's Renaissance Charter Public School. They spoke with Living on Earth producer Deborah Stavro.