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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 DECEMBER 2022 9 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 843. Razorbill AMONG the scores of bird species that every autumn turn up with almost clockwork regularity, sometimes a delicious rarity turns up. One such delight was a razorbill (M. mus), a seabird we usually as- sociate with dark cliffs buffeted by North Atlantic storms. But just last week one turned up in Malta, and spent some quality time in our own placid and civilised Grand Harbour no less! These small penguin-like birds are scarce northern visitors to the western Med- iterranean, and they are even rarer in the central Med. Razorbills are excellent fishers, effortlessly diving after their slippery prey and grabbing them in their formidable bill. Our birdwatchers were un- derstandably over the moon at this wet but wonderful early Christ- mas gift. Sustainable Christmas It's December and we are approaching gift-giving season. But the season of giving must not be a season of spending as well. Christmas is a great opportunity to reflect on our consumption patterns. Instead of always consuming new goods, we should think about suffi- ciency. Sufficiency, in short, means enabling all people to live well while staying within planetary boundaries. We can no longer ignore the fact that our planet's resources are finite because we already consume far too much and are reaching our limits, as evidenced by the annual Overshoot Day. This indicates when the available resources for a year are used up. This year, in Malta, that day was already in mid-April. This Christmas we suggest thinking more about what you want to give. Instead of spending money, you can give time, for example. There's nothing more beautiful skipping important dates and giving that time to family & friends. Another idea would be to give homemade gifts – maybe knitted socks or perhaps homemade jam. If you do decide to buy something, make sure that the products were produced ethically. That is, no one, including nature, was exploited in the production. Support local businesses and respect the quality labels of the products! Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 731: Visit our website and read one of our blog entries about gift giving foemalta.org/resource-use-campaign/rethink- ing-gift-giving/ Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation – www.foemalta.org/donate Don't miss this Christmas Green Fair - by Eco Market Malta 4 December Place: The Veg Box @ The Farmoury in Manikata, Triq il-Kappella tal-Militar, Manikata We propose the most eco-friendly and sustainably-made products from local artisans and business owners. We are back at the beautiful Veg Box Farmoury in Manikata - on Sunday 4 December - from 10am to 5pm. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member TOI TOI Carols at Christmas 8 December - 11 Decembee Place: Teatru Manoel, Old Theatre Street, Valletta Meet Carol Kanzunetta, Carol Zfin & Carol Drammatiku, our cast of three very different types of talent. But will they be good enough? Have they done their warmups? Who will be crowned top Carol? And what's all this about Santa being Saint Nick? So many questions to be answered in the TOI TOI sellout comedy Christmas Show for young audiences. Bring your best festive jumpers and woolly hats for a singa- danca-acta-long you'll never forget and introduce the joy of live theatre to your children this Christmas. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Bad Bunny has been named the world's most streamed artist on Spotify for a third consecutive year. No other artist has previously achieved that feat on the Spotify Wrapped list, an annual marketing campaign by the streaming company. Sir Elton John is to headline the Glastonbury Festival next summer, playing what will be the last UK date of his farewell tour. The star will top the bill on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday, 25 June, and has promised a spectacular farewell. The release of a new Taylor Swift album saw the pop star take second place. "There is no more fitting way to say goodbye to my British fans," he said in a statement announcing the show.