This blog captures my experience free diving with the gracious, gentle giants of the deep - whale sharks - with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Program.
I've included some key memories from the trip to outline milestone activities of the day. Fellow volunteers have been kind enough to contribute to the blog by writing about their memories, all in the hope of capturing what was one of the most magical times of my life so far.
I hope this blog and our experience inspires more people to engage in conservation activity, if not for whale sharks for any creature and cause - every little action taken for the purpose of conservation helps.
Keep checking back, more memories to come.
Day 1 19/03/23
Written by: Liya
Day 6 24/03/23 – Day off
Written by: Grace
This was our one day off from surveying on the trip. For those that were dive certified, a 7:30 dive was arranged at Kudarah Thila and Randhi Wreck dive sites. The rest of us who had never dived before were given the option to go for a nice snorkel along a very healthy reef on the shores of Dhigurah. I would say, of all the reefs we snorkelled over during the trip, this was the one most abundant with ocean life. I saw so many beautiful and unusual fish along this reef. Of note, Groupers, Long-nosed butterfly fish, Porcupine fish, Giant moray eels, the odd octopus, and my personal favourite, the unicorn fish (I had never seen or heard of one before and I thought their little faces were quite sweet in a funny way).
During this particular snorkel, we saw both black and white tip reef sharks as a group, just on the edge of the drop off the reef into the deep sea. There were often points during a snorkel where one or two of us might find ourselves a little further along the reef than the rest of the group. I must have been watching the fish beneath me for a little longer than I realised because when I popped my head up, I saw I had some catching up to do - no worries, it never took long to rejoin the group, especially when moving with the current.
As I was beginning to swim towards everyone, I saw something very large come up from the drop, barely 10m away from me. It was a fully grown grey reef shark. So far the sharks we had seen on the reefs were relatively small, so I did not expect the size of this adult shark to be so intimidating. The other sharks had also stayed in deeper waters close to the drop off the reef, however this shark came up onto the reef, relatively close to the surface. It was clearly looking at me, likely curious, as it swam parallel to me for a while. It was easily over 6ft long. It took me a couple of seconds to come out of the initial shock of a real, classic, hollywood shark approaching like that, but I reminded myself that sharks pose no threat to humans, and got to enjoy the lovely close encounter before it decided it had seen enough and went back down into deeper waters.
Alone again, I quickly caught up to the rest of the group just in time to see a pod of dolphins swim past the reef in the blue. Seeing them swimming under the sea really displayed how much grace we miss when seeing them from above on the Dhoni. So this swim was certainly one of the most memorable of the trip for me.
Back on the boat, we met up with those who had gone diving that morning. They showed us great pictures, some of colourful nudibranchs which looked amazing. We all took some time to chill and had some amazing daal for lunch. Later that day we had a brief visit to Dhigurah for ice cream, coffees and smoothies. It was great to have something cool and fresh to drink in the heat. After our drinks, we had a wander around the island. It is a burst of colour there. There were so many flowering plants and large colourful shrubs that it really was a tropical paradise [insert island photos]. A couple of times during that walk, we would look up and see large fruit bats flying overhead from tree to tree - something I forgot I would see there - I had always thought flying foxes had cute faces so it was lovely to see some in the wild.
One thing they don't often tell you is how hard the mosquitos bite over in the tropics. I had been so diligent with suncream after being badly burnt on the first day of surveying, that adding bug spray when on land would often fly over my head, and I paid the price for it. Walking on this island gave those insects plenty of chances to 'eat us alive' as fellow volunteer, Brandt, phrased it. I will not forget my insect repellent so easily next time I visit a hot country. We stopped off at a local souvenir shop before rejoining everyone for the evening on Felicity.
Day 8 26/03/23
Written by: Rebecca :)
It was another early, but beautiful morning. The sky was a mix of dark and light with all the scattered rain clouds. I felt like everything was falling into a routine now. Marilyn doing morning yoga, Pun out swimming to his spot and everyone slowly trickling in for breakfast. I was seated at the end of the table, and pun had just emerged from the waters, when we spotted a pod of dolphins right next to the boat. We watched them play (photos?) while we ate breakfast, they gave us hopes of seeing a whale shark.
After breakfast, we got ready to get on the dahoni and do our daily survey. As we began the survey, I noticed that the glass ocean was different today, it had large calm swells. The dhoni was not able to get as close to shore as we usually are, but since there were waves we could see through them. We travel up the MPA watching and looking and enjoying each other's company. The heat burning us all but the patches of dark clouds cooled us down. (Did we jump into the water on this day for a cool off type thing… I can't remember and it could have been a different day we did that lol…?)
Chloe decided to send the drone out to find some sign of a whale shark, but instead she spotted 2 oceanic manta rays. We quickly went down to gear up, but ended up not being able to keep up with them in the boat so we didn't go in. [Insert pic].
The rest of the day was uneventful, and so we voted on drag snorkeling to see if we would get a better look. Everyone went down to prepare but Aida and I stayed on top and help Chloe with the logs. We watched as Pun and Marilyn got in the water. And now at a slower speed we could really feel the waves of the water. After they were done, it was time for the next set of people; Rayan and Grace and Liya.
Soon it was time, we didn't find anything the waves were rocking, the sun was hot and tea time was calling. The boat sped now we were hitting the waves instead of going with them. Aida and I decided to play last standing and we both won, but it was very challenging.
Once we got back to the mothership Theo, Kammey, Brandt, and rayan wanted to explore the near by reef. And SLPASH! Theo's pushed by Brandt and I hear Chloe ask Kammey to help him get his flippers. They swam around as the pink sun set and saw a black tip reef shark and a big lobster. [I think Theo might have a picture of the boat while he was out on this swim?] They got out of the water and with another big splash Theo got his revenge. :D
Day 10 28/03/23
Written by: Grace
That morning was a particularly early one. Before we got going on our usual surveying route across the South Ari MPA, we stopped at Dhigurah Island, to pick up two of Chloe's friends, one quite a successful nature photographer, whose instagram was a joy to scroll through (https://www.instagram.com/sujugasim/). Chloe had told us Suju was quite a good spotter, so we set out that day extra optimistic that we would have some great encounters.
The sea and sky were beautiful as usual, and we were not long into our survey when a whale shark, Mirayam, was spotted at the surface of the water. It was the first shark of our trip I had seen swimming so close to the surface of the water that their dorsal and tail fins were visible. The volunteers jumped in to get some time with the shark as well as those all important ID photos. As I was preparing myself to get into the water, my snorkel mask unfortunately broke at the strap, meaning I could not join the encounter - I had had that mask for years before, I should have expected it might not be as fresh as it once was (an important reminder for any prospective volunteers to test their equipment well before travel).
Everyone returned to the boat in high spirits, and it was still nice to see the videos captured on everyone's cameras. We got straight to recording the environmental variables of the encounter. Kamey took a look at my mask and dove into a basket of spare masks they had onboard, finding me quite a high quality one which he said had taken him through 2 years worth of freediving. With my snorkelling kit now all in order, we set off again along the MPA.
I got my chance to try out the new mask sooner than I expected when a pair of Manta rays were spotted in some open water on the drone. Up until that point, I had been quite terrified of swimming in the open ocean, but the exciting prospect of seeing a manta ray made that fear rush away. Once I had my gear on, I was one of the last ones out of the boat and into the water. I swam over to the patch of sea the others were floating over, looking down to blue nothing through a light mist of zooplankton. At first I was worried I had come too late and had missed another encounter. I kept my head down in hope something would emerge and to my joy I saw it. I had always seen videos of manta rays and thought they were such graceful creatures, but that could never compare to having one swimming beneath me. It was feeding, swirling around and around, appearing and reappearing. There were times I felt it was swimming right at me, getting quite close to our group. I tried to readjust my position in the water, feeling I did not want to obstruct the manta by being directly above it. Eventually it stopped feeding so close to the surface, and we made our way back to the boat, me, very happy I got to tick another animal off my list; seeing a whale shark was the main hope of the trip, but seeing a manta ray had also always been a bucket list animal encounter for me.
Back on the boat and on the move, I was not sure the day could get any better, but it could. Suju spotted a pod of pilot whales far off in the ocean away from the reef. As we got closer, we realised it was very likely the same pod of whales we had seen a couple of days prior. They were highly curious and even playful. We were blessed with some lovely displays, with the whales actively following our boat, getting close enough for us to fully appreciate their size and beauty. A couple of individuals were enjoying their time bow riding, us being able to identify them by small scratches and other injuries revealed on their backs each time they came up to breathe. There was also a mother and young calf among the group, who also participated in the activity. Some whales also spyhopped which was a treat to see. They stayed with our boat for well over 20 mins, ending the encounter with each of them raising their tail fins high before diving down into the deep.
Everyone on board enjoyed the time we had with the whales, with even the long running staff excited, pilot whales apparently not being well known for the sort of playful, interactive encounters we were lucky enough to witness.
The drive back to the mothership that day was lovely, all of us happy and reliving the fantastic encounters we had experienced.
Day 12 30/03/23
Written by: Liya
The world of work is progressively changing, with growing desires for a more flexible system fostering the ‘hybrid workforce,’ where employee needs are the new priority.
How did this model come about? The short answer – The pandemic. The long answer, the hybrid workforce rooted from the progressive enforcement of remote work/study over the past two years. This way of life has subsequently reshaped the current structure of our workforce, as many employees have grown accustomed to this way of life; sometimes even demand it as skill shortages prevail. This approach comprises both remote and in-office work, offering a more flexible work schedule for employees. This system supports a better work/life balance, as employees have the option to work in their desired location, offering more time for family or social activities.
Why should workplaces opt for this model? Not only does this model assist employees to achieve a more balanced lifestyle, the flexibility of this system promotes productivity and improved work outcomes. In-office and remote options can satisfy multiple needs, leading to increased employee satisfaction. Furthermore, employees are able to structure work around their lives, leading to better mental health. This system has shown to result in improved working relationships, as employees are able to work collaboratively in a face-to-face setting, while catering for those who prefer working alone. Companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Spotify are currently talking about hybrid work, promoting its benefits and discussing the transitions they are making. (https://www.computerworld.com/article/3652613/apple-joins-the-great-return-to-hybrid-work.html)
For businesses implementing this model, it is important to ensure sufficient resources are available for employees to feel comfortable at work. Offices should help their employees prepare for a hybrid workforce by providing necessities at their disposal. Specifically, menstruators should be provided with adequate resources to enable them to thrive in the workplace. Pads and tampons should be free for menstruators, which may increase employee satisfaction, whilst facilitating a more inclusive environment. Ultimately, employees are more likely to be productive and positive in the workplace if they feel their needs are met.
It is time for businesses to place employee needs at the forefront of the organisation. Implementing the hybrid workforce model will require people managers to provide adequate resources for their employees to actually return face-to-face. These commitments will no doubt ensure employees can thrive in the workplace, thereby increasing productivity and better work outcomes.
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One place where we still have a long way to go though is the limitations on women’s sport and the perception on women’s ability in sport. The boundaries that say women are not as strong, not as powerful, not as fast still stand even though women athletes have proven time and again, they are worthy of going toe to toe with any competitor, label free.
Incredible drive, aggressive desire and competitiveness are amazing qualities that can serve a person right through their life. They are also key factors in making incredible gains in sport. So, what is the real cost of telling a girl or a woman that she can’t? What are the skills, passions and abilities she stands to lose along the way?
One limitation is that there are different competitions for men and women, ladies are given shorter running and cycling routes for example, so their results are limited. One place where there are no such limits is outdoor climbing. A cliff or mountain face doesn’t have different paths depending on your chromosomes. You go up as fast as you can, it’s the same challenge for everyone. Which makes a sheer rock wall a great place to start cracking some of the limitations about women’s ability in men’s sport wide open.
Let’s get out of that limiting space and into a brighter one by taking a look at women around the world who haven’t just said, “Hey you, that’s not true!”, they’ve gone out there and proven it with style.
In 1969, Junko Tabei had to create her own climbing community, the Ladies Climbing Club, because men wouldn’t climb with her. That initiative and her incredible perseverance not only opened avenues for female climbers to take up the sport and bust through limitations set, it also led an all-female climbing group up Everest and she became the first woman to reach the summit in 1975.
What I love is that once a woman goes against the label and proves what she is capable of, it triggers a wave of support and followers from women worldwide, eager to live their sporting passion, maybe even match or even eclipse their hero’s achievements with their own explosive speed and endurance.
In Spain 2017 Margo Hayes raised the bar, and raised it high, when she pushed the highest-grade ascent by a woman to 9a+ (the same as a 5.15a). Her record of the La Rambla climb stood for nine months until an inspired Angela Eiter moved up to a 9b (5.15b)
With stunning results and a wave of happy copycat acts it’s not just proving that hand-me-down attitudes are old and tattered, it’s inspiring every woman everywhere to get out there and have a go at something amazing.
The astounding thing about these sporting accolades is that most of these high achieving women in sports do it because they are driven, they are passionate, and they are strong. That they make headlines, strip back stereotypes and crush negativity is just a fabulous bonus.
What did Junko Tabei say about her Everest achievement? "I didn't intend to be the first woman on Everest. I just simply climbed a mountain".
It’s an automatic label that doesn’t seem to matter who the individual is, what their personality is like, even what their sporting ability is.
In this new decade it’s time to break away from limitations that have bound women in sport. The real issue isn’t about isolating girls and women from sporting activities and sporting success but isolating someone from being included, from being recognised as a person, from being able to express themselves through sport and competition. That applies to everyone, so while it’s part of the parcel, it’s much bigger than gender conflict.
When a young girl is told she can’t play a sport that looks like incredible fun, she can carry that idea with her the rest of her life.
It worries me because people are being withheld from their dreams, they are being shut off from sporting communities, or at least stalled if they are strong enough to shrug off the labels and go for it anyway. Part of the limitations that stop women from competing in sports dominated by men is that the labels are strong, and enforced at a young age, but also because role models are few. When you look around at sporting heroes, there are many more examples of men than women. That’s not to say that women can’t, it just says that often women choose not to.
We have the ability to make a new choice each and every single day for how we want to live the rest of our lives.
We know that It’s the little comforts that make all the difference, when you shower yourself with love and care you are able to shine that much brighter. And maybe some chocolate liquors included in her monthly tampon delivery might be best to get this package over the line? Let us know if that’s something you’d like in your monthly subscription deliveries!
Catherine was certainly brave in the face of change, which makes us think she’d be open to changing the way women and people in general viewed menstruation.
She came to power following a coup that she herself organised and then worked tirelessly to create a golden age of art, culture and luxury for her people. Under her command Russia was re-energised, growing to be one of the great powers of Europe. Could she have led Russia to embrace menstruation for all that it entails, if she had used tampons herself?
We wonder if Catherine ever faced an overzealous amount of ‘that time of the month’ comments, leading her and women in general to be misunderstood? It would have been so much worse in her time because before the 19th Century, doctors had no idea there was even a link between ovulation and periods. They thought the blood flow was a woman's need to cool their hysterical emotions.
What about the phenomenal weight of running an entire empire upon her shoulders, let’s factor that into the equation Doc! If women had more equal footing with men at the time, do you think she could have led the advancement of menstrual technology and knowledge? After all, she set an example for her people to show that smallpox vaccination was safe by being one of the first people to be inoculated. We’re confident that she would have done the same for tampons, especially if it made her life easier.
I dare say that reorganising the law and administration of the Russian Empire took a heavy toll on her energy and self-love, as well as extending Russian territory and connecting to the culture of greater Europe. Catherine was dedicated, ambitious, and by the end of her career, well accomplished.
For us, the tools of modern day society are often glossed over as these little pleasures of life take our worries away with such ease, empowering us to conquer more. With all that Catherine The Great has managed to do, we can’t help but wonder if our care package of tampons would have empowered her to revolutionise societal views on menstruation, just as she did with Russia.
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Modern depictions of Mulan gloss over a lot of details that Mulan must have faced in her time in the army. Like going to the toilet, did she just pretend to stand by a tree sometimes to fit in? And of course the difficulties with changing her menstrual rags were not included in any movie, which leaves us to wonder just what she did to stay hidden from those around her. It would not have been easy for her in the ditches to remove, clean, change and dress herself quickly during her period. And what was her excuse exactly for needing to go to the bathroom frequently?
If technology was more advanced back then, she would’ve loved the idea of a disposable and biodegradable tampon. She could’ve changed and disposed of them so quickly, discreetly and environmentally safely. They would’ve been much less obvious than the rags she would've been using.
In battle she probably never thought twice about getting blood on her trousers, who has time when you are protecting your head from being sliced off? But I’m sure for her training, socializing and resting times her period would have been a cause for stress. Perhaps Mulan trained so hard she skipped her periods but gained a six pack, making her disguise all the more convincing! Of course the Mulan movies are wrapped up nicely in a short time frame but the traditional story of Hua Mulan took place over twelve years!! Her time in the army was over a decade long and yet her fellow warriors had no idea she was a woman until the war was declared over and she returned to her traditional dress. Clever stuff!
There is incredible bravery in her act, not just to go to battle to save her father, but also to delve into an unknown environment, surround herself with utterly unfamiliar things and talk and know in herself she can hold level ground in a climate where women were considered in every way inferior. Would Mulan’s bravery extend to using tampons? This is an interesting test for our time travelling tampon postie! In modern day China, only 2% of women use tampons.
Had the young warrior been introduced to tampons back then, could she have encouraged China’s women to do the same? Would she have been the leading example of how comfortable tampons were, allowing her freedom to use her full strength and flexibility?
Did we mention that it’s also completely clean and safe to use before marriage? Let’s leave it to our trusted postie to offer her the product and our brave warrior to make her choice.
What Disney’s Mulan captures is how little was thought of women’s skills and ability outside childbirth. Thank you, Mulan, for kicking some butt and showing up as a strong, glittering jewel rather than a soft flower, like your name, Magnolia, requests of you.
Where do you think our time travelling postie should travel next?
]]>In the times gone by there was still a need for menstrual products, it’s part of human life and culture and there are certainly many points in history where some modern tampons could have gone a long way to lightening the load.
We can’t begin to imagine the sheer adversity experienced in World War II. The last thing that needed to be on any woman’s mind were the bulky, pungent, ill-fitting pads with awkward menstrual belts.
None more deserving of our postie care package is Anne Frank. Of course she never meant for her diary to become public. It was simply a way for her to write down all her thoughts and feelings to make the long days of confinement less suffocating and make sense of the turbulence of adolescent emotions. It’s frightening enough to be a teenager getting their first period, let alone amidst war.
Her story might not be something any of us (thankfully) in modern times can relate to, but her emotions, fears and fantasy are very much a part of us. Which is why we wish we could have sent her something to make the experience less tumultuous - a menstrual comfort package including an information booklet explaining her menstrual cycle and what to expect. Along with it, a pack or tampons with detailed instructions on how to use them. Something that we know would have made her struggle that much more comfortable and created a cocoon of privacy that was so needed in her tiny space.
Speaking of famous writers, Jane Austen stands out in history as an outstanding author due to her incredibly realistic descriptions, comedy, self-awareness, and detailed character relationships.
Although she is known as one of England’s most treasured authors, she resided in an era of time where women were considered inferior. 17th century England shunned the idea of women having any part to play in anything other than home-making and having & raising children.
Not only did Jane showcase the brilliance and intelligence of a woman, she did it all under her name too. Whether you were male or female, it was common practice to write under an alias name to conceal your identity when you wrote about controversies.
She knew that her stories would shake the minds of many and make her name unforgettable. Having that kind of confidence in one’s quality of work and message is something that we’re always striving for. That same bravery extends and seeps from her life and into the characters she brought to life through her writing.
If you’ve read her novels, you’d know that horse riding features strongly among the gents in her stories, not so the ladies. Transportation options were pretty limited at the time, usually women were restricted to getting around on foot, often travelling very far and in incredibly poor and unpredictable weather conditions. How far could she have gone without having to craft a makeshift pad or tampon on the go? Jane herself never rode, although the family owned horses and her brothers went venturing out on horseback. But just because she was stuck within the confines of English civilisation, doesn’t mean she wouldn’t want to explore. Unfortunately for Jane, the first release of disposable menstrual products didn’t show up till the late 1880’s.
If women had access to menstrual products that provided protection AND comfort, we wonder if they would have been subjected to the same fate of long treks. Had technology been as bold as its women at the time, perhaps Jane could have tackled a saddle with confidence and given her fictional heroines the same freedom to gallop off into the distance or frolic in a field of flowers if so desired.
Where should our time travelling postie head off to next?
]]>Menstrual products have been in use far longer than we have been using calendars to track the passage of time. Even though they have been part of life for millennia, the evolution of menstrual items has been slow, thanks in part to periods being such a taboo topic until quite recently. Thankfully times are changing and in 2020 there are a fantastic number of menstrual products to choose from with a growing number of eco-friendly choices that are safe and easy
to use.
Menstrual products have been in use far longer than we have been using calendars to track the passage of time. Even though they have been part of life for millennia, the evolution of menstrual items has been slow, thanks in part to periods being such a taboo topic until quite recently. Thankfully times are changing and in 2020 there are a fantastic number of menstrual products to choose from with a growing number of eco-friendly choices that are safe and easy
to use.
It seems a shame that those in history missed out on access to such essential materials. If we could invent a time machine postie, we could deliver them some much needed change (and maybe a chocolate bar).
Where would this time travelling postie with a parcel of eco tampons roam to?
What about Egypt? As far as ancient leaderships go there are none more striking than the Egyptian queen Cleopatra who worked hard to keep Egypt independent from Rome. Her fierce love and passion for her newfound people and their culture won her great popularity as well as the fact that she brought incredible prosperity with her rein.
The larger story of Cleopatra reads like a bloody soap drama. Speaking of bloody, while tampons weren’t used in Ancient Egypt, menstrual pads were. But they were made from papyrus plants and would have been rather difficult to manage and wear, not to mention messy.
Not only would she have had to stop what she was doing to change frequently there would have been difficulties keeping the leaves in place as she moved about the palace corridors and met with officials, not to mention running around after her three beautiful children.
For example, running into the Nile to snatch a toddler away from a dozing crocodile would be far more comfortable and she could move with confidence, even in the water. Holding meetings with Julius Caesar and European leaders would be more focused and less interrupted if Cleo had the assurance of a reliable tampon that would last until the next break for figs and beer.
As fierce as she was, I’m sure Cleopatra herself would have hated the blood that was shed in order to establish leadership and rule.
If Cleopatra had access to modern tampons that were as sustainable and eco-friendly as the plant products she was already using at the time, she would have one less thing to think of amid her love affairs, ruling and raising of her children and less blood on her hands overall.
I think we can all agree that our friends of the past could use a helping hand from the wonders of modern menstrual technology. Who would you send our time machine postie pack of organic tampons to and why?
]]>CUB is renowned as a beverage company, but what’s key to CUB’s future is creating a better world. Their Better World vision aims to drive sustainability and social consciousness to create a healthy environment and thriving communities. We admire and support the fantastic steps that CUB is taking to put their Better World vision into practice. Every team member looks at ways to achieve their sustainability, diversity and inclusiveness goals across both their organisation and their entire supply chain.
We were lucky enough to meet Sarah Sullivan, Property Service Manager at CUB’s Melbourne head office. Sarah is an inspirational individual with an incredible drive to improve the wellbeing of her colleagues. She knew that some of her colleagues were sometimes unprepared at work during their menstruation days, causing a lot of discomfort. She also knew that periods can be very unpredictable. As an empathetic colleague and someone who knows the positive impact of having readily available menstrual products, she initially bought menstrual products for the office from supermarket shelves. She heard about Lotus.Eco and our specially designed corporate service offering, so invited us to discuss how we could help CUB with our organic, sustainable and biodegradable products.
We were able to create a bespoke solution that built on our existing prototypes to offer the right solution for the CUB team. Working quickly, we were able to install our menstrual product dispensers into the office bathrooms, ready for instant use.
After a two-month trial, we checked in with Sarah to get feedback from CUB staff about the service and product offering. Sarah enthusiastically conveyed that "the feedback has been great! From people just being happy we're supplying them with hygiene products to the product itself and the accessibility of the products, the set up that you guys have created."
We were ecstatic our product was positively received however, we were more excited about the curiosity and connectedness it has sparked within CUB. "It's promoted staff to reach out to other staff and discuss the implementation and come to my team property services and ask questions about why we've done it and where it's going from there" Sarah communicated.
Most importantly, it was encouraging to hear that discussions about the initiative extended to include all genders.
"On the one hand it was surprising to have men talk about feminine products but on the other hand it's great and it just shows the inclusivity of the business. So everyone is supportive of each other and initiatives we bring in," explains Sarah.
This seemingly small initiative has bolstered the trust that staff have in teams like Sarah's, as well as boosting inclusiveness and staff morale. It demonstrates the tangibility of diversity and inclusiveness. We know that when employees see their organisations are committed to and supportive of diversity, and everyone feel included, engagement, productivity and numerous ancillary benefits increase.
People such as Sarah, companies such as CUB and initiatives such as this is what makes doing what we do at Lotus.Eco an absolute privilege. We're looking forward to meeting with Sarah again in a few months to help her take the initiative to CUB's interstate offices and continue to create a better world!
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Given the varied cultural interpretations of menstruation it's understandable that these reactions exist. But I question whether they still have a place in today's society. I also question whether our attitudes towards menstruation means we aren't taking care of ourselves the way we should, during menstruation.
I won't write in detail about each religious or cultural belief on the topic of menstruation but I will touch on the fact that most Eastern and Western cultures and religions view menstruation as unclean and taboo. With this comes the view that the woman who is menstruating should be banished from significant religious or cultural events and activities. If you've read my piece on social equity you'll understand how ostracising, would reduce her opportunity to build important relationships. Therefore, damaging her connectedness to her community, subsequently impacting her ability to access resources. Which, brings up the topic of missing school during menstruation. A topic that deserves a blog piece of its own so hold that thought for the near future.
There are however, exceptions to the prevailing school of thought towards menstruation - positive ones. Native Americans still believe that menstruation carries spiritual power. They believe it's a link between humanity and spirituality so they honour and celebrate menstruation with various rituals. Here's an excellent blog that tells the story of why and how menstruation has been linked to the cycles of the moon for generations of Native Americas: https://traditionalnativehealing.com/the-power-of-menstruation-native-american-moon-time-ritual
They story tells of "moon time" as a moniker for menstruation due to its synchronicity with moon cycles. Moon time is a time for inward purification, a time to seek guidance and assistance from the moon. I see this as a form of meditation and the moon as symbolic of our inherent calm, power & intuition that we turn to. This of course, is only one example of a positive view on menstruation there are far more examples in religion and culture that quick Google search will reveal.
There's also some modern arguments for menstruation being powerful and even contributing to enlightenment. Some of you may be familiar with the writing of Erkhart Tolle. In his book The Power of Now, he writes about why women are closer to enlightenment. Now before I go on, I must warn you that this part of the blog gets a bit, some would call it, hippy dippy or airy fairy. So, I encourage you to read on with an open mind. Here goes…
Tolle writes that it is generally "easier for a woman to feel and be in her body, so she is naturally closer to Being and potentially closer to enlightenment". He goes on to describe that the personal "pain-body", one of which is physical pain associated with menstruation may either restrict or become an opportunity for a woman's enlightenment. He describes (in much more detail than is offered here) the restrictive force, as being attached to the pain and building your identity around the pain which, in turn creates a victim mentality. Conversely, Tolle suggests transmuting the pain-body as an opportunity to become enlightened - "so that it no longer comes between you and your true self, the essence of who you are."
Now, if you combine the beliefs of the Native Americans and Tolle's writing you may start to question how you can purify yourself ritualistically, start to overcome the pain-body or just simply, take better care of yourself when you're menstruating. Each person may already have an idea of what they'd like to do to take time out for themselves if they had the luxury. What I'd like to do is encourage you to take that action. Let friends and family know that you're menstruating and you'd like to take this time to reflect, rest and relax. They may find that absurd initially but once you've allowed yourself to take care of yourself each month, then, return to them rejuvenated, they'll encourage you to do it every month.
If you’re struggling to come up with some ideas around self-care during your menstruation, perhaps the following can inspire you:
It's time to change our attitudes towards menstruation and it's time to start taking more care of ourselves during this special time.
]]>Let's start with distinguishing it from equality. Mary Guy and Sean McCandless of the University of Colorado Denver (3) states "that “equity” and “equality” are terms that are often used interchangeably, and to a large extent, they have similar meanings. The difference is one of nuance: while equality can be converted into a mathematical measure in which equal parts are identical in size or number, equity is a more flexible measure allowing for equivalency while not demanding exact sameness. For example, a child entering school who does not speak English is at a substantive disadvantage compared to their native English-speaking classmates. Though the entire class may receive equal instruction in language, the non-English-speaking student requires additional tutoring if their training is to be equitable with that of their classmates."
It seems that various organisations (4) agree on social equity being defined as "fair access to livelihood, education, and resources; full participation in the political and cultural life of the community; and self-determination in meeting fundamental needs.” As you can see, the topic of equity is a nuanced and complex philosophy, requiring an understanding of multiple facets of humanity - society, demography, psychology, anthropology. But you don't have to be an expert in any of these to see or experience some of the effects of inequity being played out in society today.
I spoke with some of my closest and dearest friends to understand the human side of the definition and how they perceived and or experienced equity or lack thereof. Here are their insights…
Leonard Age: 41 Born: Brunei Bred: Perth and Melbourne For dough: Banking & Finance Analyst For fun: snowboarding, gaming, rock climbing, scuba diving
For me and probably many people in similar circumstances it's the experience of cultural ambivalence, having migrated here when I was 5 years old, there's parts of me that relates and connects with the dominant culture and narrative yet simultaneously marginalised/rejected by it. An ongoing feeling of belonging yet not belonging that leaves me in a purgatory position where I don’t identify with any particular place as 'home'...a continuous experience of being told you are different by the external but not feeling different internally.
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Candice Age: 34 Born: Malaysia Bred: Malaysia and Melbourne For dough: Software Implementation Consultant For fun: mountaineering, hiking, travelling, eating
I've felt inequity due to the illusion that immigrants are less proficient compared to the local talent in the job market. As an immigrant from a developing country, moving to Australia - a land of equality and inclusivity - one would assume that we have a fair go in employment. Working in many multinational organisations within Malaysia that were internationally best of breed put me in good stead for the Australian labour market. However, I did not personally experience equity and inclusiveness, because a preconceived opinion based on my cultural heritage has been formed before being presented with the opportunity to prove otherwise. I've instead had to almost commence my career again at an entry level to overcome certain equity hurdles. I'd love to see hiring managers put through a short course or information session regarding unconscious bias prior to hiring. Or be educated on challenging outdated stereotypes.
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Emma Age: 37 Born: Adelaide Bred: Melbourne For dough: Marketing Manager For fun: spending quality time with loved ones
When you're a young girl you're told that you can go and conquer the world, so you accumulate education and experience but then you end up sitting at home taking care of babies, not applying any of it. Whilst I love my children I don’t feel satisfied being at home, it's not enough for me. The dilemma is that you can't walk into full time roles, being a part time resource, they're rare or I suspect, don't exist. It's the same with a lot of women who I speak to in my mother's group. They're highly capable individuals that go back to work full time for a whole year just so they can then ask to go part time. I don’t think that's fair. The number of roles and the caliber of opportunities is not there for people in my position. People are feeling forced to be out of the workforce and aren't being utilised to their full capability. Another equity issue that I'm experiencing is missing out on superannuation and career progression. Career paths of my husband and I are equally important so I don't think it's fair to say that it's the woman's sacrifice that she needs to make for her family. Because I've had three children, that's seven and a half years of my career that's impacted my superannuation accumulation. It's also impacted opportunities to work in the right career or at least they're few and far between. Businesses like the one I've worked in, in the past were supportive but those types of businesses are few and far between. Larger businesses are coming on board and taking into consideration this plight by implementing flexible working. I know it's resource consuming to implement these changes but it would be wonderful if more businesses would be more open to it. Little things like being able to work remotely and allowing flexibility would make things so much easier. It starts with a better understanding and empathy towards those that have different needs and then the willingness to put that understanding into action.
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Michael
Age: 38 Born: South Africa Bred: Perth and Melbourne For dough: Business Analyst/Management Consultant For fun: food & wine critic and artisan of the finer things in life
I have a slightly different take on equity. I believe by being your authentic self, it opens the door for equity. We may not necessarily call opportunities that are presented to us as equity in the moment but that's an education piece. By educating ourselves of ourselves, taking ownership of one's own biases and being self-aware, we're able to heighten our understanding of nuance in ourselves, our community and our environment. This allows all of us, in our own way to leverage the privilege we have today, to extend it out and pull each other up & forward. As individuals we don't always have to rely on decision or policy makers to do that for us, however, it does help having the path smoothed out to make those changes easier for those who do not have access easily.
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From only four people we can see the varying experiences each one of us may have when it comes to the topic of equity. But I think it's fair to say that it's a complicated subject matter. There is however, a common thread that runs through each of the examples we've showcased. It's the need for empathy as a first step in understanding the challenges diverse groups are facing and what each of our needs are. We believe that if we start here we can drive the conversations that take social equity from a concept and philosophy into a pragmatic realisation of constitutional goals that can be implemented, tracked and measured to benefit all.
Humanity will never be able to realise its full potential if it does not have full access to the resources it needs to get to where it wants to be.
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Healthy, sustainable product choice is easier than you think. Many people don’t really understand the incredible impact our purchase habits can have. We look for cotton products that are simple and convenient, but behind the scenes the price tag is colossal.
A small change in the way you make purchases of cotton goods, from clothes to tampons can have an empowering impact on the lives of vulnerable communities and ensure our planet is still beautiful for generations to come. When it comes to menstrual hygiene products, choose ethical cotton over unethical. Choose organic.
If you stop to think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense that environmental abuse and community disadvantage go hand in hand. If you want to make the biggest profit, you’d want to exploit the most vulnerable people to do your labour and supply your land and you’re not going to care what happens to them once you move on.
Historically these fragile communities have suffered in silence. Thankfully, those singular voices are no longer alone. Lotus.Eco are proud to partner with the Environmental Justice Foundation, a not for profit NGO who are working hard to stand behind those who need it most and help cease injustice to people and environment.
One of the things EJF are assisting with is a circular economy, which is much more like the pre-industrial era way of using products and packaging. With a circular economy we can really look at eliminating waste and reuse and repurpose our resources instead of continually replacing them with new.
It’s our great pleasure to introduce you to the UK based Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) who do incredible work internationally. This topic circular economy is especially important to us at Lotus.Eco due to cotton production practices that can have enormous environmental and human impacts. How the cotton in our organic tampons is obtained and maintained is something we want to be conscious of. EJF is helping the situation and contributing to the circular economy around cotton production to help make sure we are purchasing from the most organic and sustainable supply possible.
Our use of cotton is inevitable, at least until we find an alternative source. In the interim, there are companies like EJF that make cotton production more ethical and environmentally safe. Click here to read more about the fabulous work they do in this space
What actions can we as menstruators take in our everyday lives to make better choices for the environment and its people?
When it comes to doing your part in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable living it’s not just the planet you save, you are also looking after yourself and your family better with less toxic materials and ensuring the people who harvest your products or live on the working land get their fair due.
This is so incredibly easy to do, it’s just a matter of spending a few extra seconds to make really healthy choices when you purchase your tampons. That’s it.
Every time you make a globally conscious choice you make a difference to a waterway, a village or a forest somewhere on the planet.
As well as a healthy planet we also want a healthy life for you, so let’s keep working, let’s keep finding those places where we can make a great change and see a better world, right now.
Follow us on our journey at Lotus.Eco and feel great about your choices.
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With so many responsibilities and tasks in your day it stands to reason that you carry out a lot of actions on autopilot. Like what products zip into the shopping trolley as you weave around the supermarket, on the phone, while talking your kid out of the chocolate aisle.
It might seem like it’s not worth the energy to make a planet friendly choice when it comes to buying things like tampons, shampoo or coffee but there is more at stake here, quite literally the world’s resources, so it’s well worth pausing that auto pilot function for a minute to think about your product choices and the environmental impact each of them have. That one minute of thought you invest in can make all the difference to how tomorrow works out.
We get so used to excess packaging because it’s added to just about everything we buy. In marketing terms, it costs almost nothing but to the consumer it seems safer, newer and easier to have an extra layer or two of wrap. In actual fact we don’t need even a third of the packaging we get and even then, there are plenty of ways to reuse and re-purpose rather than add to landfill.
Think about just your bathroom products alone. Do you look for organic and natural lotions and soaps because you care about your health and the planet? That’s great but what about the packaging they come in, how organic are they?
When you do your tally it’s not just plastic containers and bottles you need to consider, it’s also the seals and wrappers that make up the whole product. Are many of them, or any of them made from biodegradable materials? Will they become compost when you are done?
Every single piece of plastic and wrapping has to go somewhere after you’re done with it, and it won’t break down, decompose or soften when it gets there. That really adds up to a lot of permanent waste very quickly, and that’s just from your home. Consider every bathroom worth of plastic on your block… in your suburb… over your state.
The magnitude of our lifestyle is staggering, on the flip side, our focus and work on changing things through using less packaging and biodegradable products can be just as impacting.
Ready for some good news? It’s already starting to change. The danger to our planet and natural resources is now so clear and so real that some industry products and brands like Lotus.Eco are already taking action to produce less waste and more materials that are biodegradable.
Your part in this is so very easy. All you need to do is take a few seconds to look for the products that encourage reusable and biodegradable packaging and make them your preferred option when you buy. That small action puts pressure on non-compliant brands and manufacturers to follow suit and give customers quality biodegradable and safe product packaging.
You can start by lessening your waste contribution every month simply by purchasing biodegradable tampons from the Lotus.Eco website, which also comes with compostable packaging.
]]>Better you. Better globe. Better tomorrow.
What made me want to travel solo? Many things. Mainly because I wanted to challenge myself to expand beyond my comfort zone. I'm also one to want to challenge the status quo and societal norms if I feel they no longer serve me or the wider population.
What I found when talking to people and researching for my solo travel was that most people held the belief that travelling solo as a female would be dangerous and uncomfortable at best. This made me want to travel solo even more to shake up this limiting belief and add more evidence to the opposing argument - that travelling solo is safe and great fun, especially for women. Gender should not play a role in determining the nature and experience of travel.
I took baby steps when it came to travelling solo. My first trip was a week and a half to Cairns to dive the Great Barrier Reef on a liveaboard and explore the Daintree Forest. I felt it was remote but still “touristy” enough to allow me to dip my toe into the experience. The trip being in Australia helped keep a feeling of familiarity whilst I traversed the other unknowns.
Unsure about how I'd handle not having friends around to point out interesting sights or discuss the topics pertinent to the location that I was visiting, it encouraged me to be more present to learn about the places I visited. Quite different to talking about it with friends and huddling over Wikipedia so we can answer each other's questions about why this and how that!
As an ambivert, I didn't know whether I'd feel lonely without having the constant interaction of friends. As a person who is comfortable with taking risks, solo travel gave me a different sense of liberation and responsibility knowing that it would be important to engage the world around me as well as take charge of my own experiences and push myself out of comfort zones into the unknown. My Cairns trip turned out to be incredible. I made a boat load of new friends, literally. At the end of the scuba diving liveaboard the whole boat was exchanging contact details to make plans for another dive adventure.
The next solo trip was even more incredible. My friend told me about a shark conservation project being run in Fiji. Without doing much research and still on the high of a very successful scuba trip, I booked my place to volunteer on the project and my flights to Fiji. I decided to extend the trip for a week and visit Hawaii whilst I was still in the Pacific.
Once again, my fears and unknowns were hardly realised. The excitement of being able to participate in a marine conservation program overshadowed any fear of being lonely. Don't get me wrong, there were times where I was alone and felt it would be great if I could share this moment with someone but then I thought, I'm sharing this with myself and that's special.
The three weeks in Fiji were spent scuba diving, counting sharks, planting mangroves and cleaning beaches of litter; bonding with fellow volunteers over a beer after a hard day's work. The next week in Hawaii was equally amazing. My Airbnb host Stanley and his friends were warm, welcoming and loads of fun. We exchanged stories and questions about each other's culture while exploring the local hot spots of Waikiki. I met some incredible people from a ruggedly handsome dive master, pharmaceutical sales person to a motorbiking, 'grab life by the horns', compassionate go-getter named Patricia. Patricia and I are still in touch and she’s the reason I'm writing this blog at all. We're both hoping that this piece travels the world of the internet to inspire at least one person to jump in, push some boundaries for themselves and continue to inspire each other.
My solo travels continued, through Mexico, Slovenia, Belgium, Spain, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Tanzania. It’s opened the doors to lifelong friendships with my fellow volunteers, taking a chance at love in Hawaii and feasting on the best ceviche in Mexico. Most of all, I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone and understood that I was capable of so much more than my mind had previously allowed me to be.
I hope I've also been able to add another story to the piling evidence that travelling solo as female is more than possible, safe and extremely fun. You might just have the best time of your life. I sure did!
- Liya
]]>When travelling, we often see more than we will ever remember and, after resting our weary feet, we forget the number of steps it took to get there. Yet, it is the experiences along the way that stay with us forever. While building an itinerary for your next adventure, here are some ways to enrich your journey and connect with the place you’re exploring.
After a long week at work, you race home in record speed. But, when you’re going somewhere completely new, it’s an amazing chance to see how the local people get around. Try carving out time to walk between the city’s sites on foot, getting lost en route. Instead of jetting over the landscape at 20,000 feet, catch a coach and discover the scenery that connects points on the tourist trail. Take a small, local bus along rural roads, with only the name of your destination to guide your direction of travel. It will give you a rare opportunity to speak to your fellow passengers and find out more about their daily lives. It might not be the speediest route, but it’s an experience worth making time for.
Studies have shown that taking a photo can weaken your memory of the moment itself. Whether it’s a video from Machu Picchu or a snapshot of the Sistine chapel, there are sounds and sensations that simply can’t be crystallised on screen. Capturing the moment in digital pixels will never be the same as breathing it in for the first time. Being mindful and present in each new experience will create lasting memories. To keep a record of the places you’ve seen, try taking a Polaroid and scribble on the back how you felt when it was taken.
There are over 6,500 languages spoken around the world and 4,200 religions practiced each day. When we travel, we realise that our lives are a tiny fraction of the world’s history. While most travel itineraries pinpoint the cultural hotspots and landmarks, there are infinite ways to find out about a place and the people who call it home. Learning the language and speaking to street food vendors could teach you more about their culture than any guide book. Buying groceries from a bustling food market might introduce you to ancient recipes you never dreamt of tasting. Take every opportunity to interact with the people around you, whether it’s sharing a communal table in a favourite café or taking part in a live music night, there are any number of ways to form deeper personal connections with the country you’re exploring. Travelling expands your worldview and opens your eyes to life beyond anything you imagined.
Ibn Battuta once said “Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” In life, there are few moments that awe inspiring. Travelling is the perfect time to find them. Challenge yourself to form that unforgettable story. From watching live Portuguese folk music in the Alfama region to soaring through the sky on a zip wire in Ras Al Khaimah, there’s more than one way to take your breath away. Building these experiences into your travel itinerary will make an average trip extraordinary.
By venturing somewhere new and stretching out into the unknown, you never know what you might learn about the place or about yourself. The destination will dictate your path, but the journey may lead you to an entirely new one.
Tell us about your best travelling experience and what it taught you. To find the products that will see you through your journey, click here.
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So what do we do with this dissonance between being too busy to 'do', but caring so much? My recommendation, as a self-proclaimed waste warrior, is to arm yourself with information and find an easy and regular way to 'do'. A little each day makes a big impact over the longer term.
Let's focus on the biggest problem at hand - plastic. If we look to minimise the use of plastic or dispose of it correctly when we have no other option but to use plastic, our collective efforts will make a huge impact over time. But it can get quite confusing out there when it comes to categorising plastics, especially understanding whether plastics are biodegradable, compostable or degradable. There's been a breakdown of how plastics are advertised to us so we want to break it down for you and help demystify some of the myths.
This awesome infographic was provided by WasteMINZ, go to their website for more https://www.wasteminz.org.nz/. Or download it as a PDF here.
Now, what to do with this knowledge. There are around 150 Industrial Composting and Organics Recycling facilities in Australia and growing. So it may be relatively easy to make sure you are doing your bit to sort your waste prior to it arriving at a waste facility. However, your waste may not always be sent to a recycling, industrial composting or organics recycling facility; it may end up in landfill. You can do some research with your local council to see if they send your waste to a landfill, recycling facility or industrial compost facility; then try to prevent it from going to landfill or petition for more environmentally friendly waste treatment facilities.
The easiest thing to do, is to swap out products that you buy that are not biodegradable and or compostable, including their packaging. A good indicator of whether a product or its packaging falls within an internationally recognised biodegradable or compostable standard such as the Seedling logo (EN13432; ASTM D6400; AS 4736-2006 standard).....
...or the Home Compostable logo (AS 5810-2010 standard).
If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by too much change, it might be easier to join a support group that champions and celebrates each small change you make. A group that we're proud to be a part of is the 1 Million Women network. It's a global movement empowering women to act on climate change through the way they live - check it out https://www.1.millionwomen.com.au/.
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We thought long and hard about what we wanted to say here. Did we want to talk about why we chose our business partners, what questions we asked and the open discussions we had with all parts of our supply chain, or what "good" looks like.
To be honest, it’s a bit of everything!
We started off quite idealistically with our approach to materials and who can produce them. What we found quite early on was that there was a big gap between expectations and actual reality.
It has been an 18 month long process on a bootstrapped budget to source manufacturers who have demonstrated the same commitment to organic and biodegradable quality solutions that we have been trying to create. This has been through a process of learning, understanding and seeing where the materials are grown, sourced and put together to bring you a solution that we feel proud to bring you. A solution that espouses our values of quality and environmentally consciousness.
By mapping out our end to end supply chain we have been very intentional about targeting partners who have been able to demonstrate the circular economy model that is critical for us. From material sourcing, to production, to delivery to you. Each element of this flow has been carefully selected after rigorous vetting and due diligence. And not to mention the way it all fits together into a circular economy. We want both ends of the supply and use chain to meet - allowing us to keen the cycle of creation and recreation going.
At Lotus.Eco, the journey is as important as the end goal. We believe strongly in being able to make and influence change as we navigate our way through this world that already has so much to offer!
To us, you are also part of this journey and we are so excited to see what we can create together.
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- Liya
]]>When someone asked you what your passion is, what do you say? It's a tough question to answer. How can you limit your interests and ideas to such specific constraints, and shouldn't passions also evolve as you evolve?
We understand that passions change…they should! Being passionate about different things is important - it shows growth, learning and evolution. Being passionate about something comes from trial, practice and repetition.
At Lotus.Eco we are passionate about what we do, but more so about the values that we stand behind. The "passion" we see as the energy to drive our intention and philosophy. We want to provide an alternative choice for menstrual products, ones that are environmentally, and you focused.
We aim to drive that sense of excitement and enthusiasm in everything we create and put out there into the world for you. We cannot wait to showcase the programs we are standing along with and the progress that we are collectively able to make by choosing better.
Hope you feel the same about Lotus.Eco soon as we head towards launch!
- Varenya
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