Lunapads

Thursday, November 20th marks the 10th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.  For those who may not know, TDOR commemorates those who have died as a result of violent attacks caused by fear and intolerance of transgender & transsexual people.

On this day, in cities all around the world, people are mobilizing to stand in vigil to the growing number of trans people who have been the victims of hate crimes. It’s a day to memorialize those we’ve lost, and an impetus to bring awareness to the societal, institutionalized, and systemic discrimination that trans people face; discrimination that leads to violence that is ignored or under reported by most media outlets.

If you want to learn more, check out Remembrance and Action at Feministe; an article with special focus on the recent deaths of several trans women of colour.  I also encourage you to visit these Event Listings to see if your community has a ceremony planned.

Mourning the dead is an important way to honour those whose lives have been lost, but just as vital is standing together in the fight for the rights of those who are living. Violence like this can make us feel powerless, but we can effect change. We can come together to lend support & gather strength; to listen, to motivate and to inspire others.

It’s cold, it’s rainy and it’s dark – but that doesn’t stop me from riding my bike! Many people commute by bike year-round (even in snowy locales!) Here in Vancouver it’s not so bad, we have much milder winters than the rest of Canada and a great cycling coalition to encourage us.

This year the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) has decided to put on a ‘Bike to Work Week’ in November. To help make our rides safer this time of year I had the pleasure of helping make a fun little video reminding riders that being visible to cars is super-important in keeping you safe and getting visible can be a whole lot of fun!

A play on Olivia Newton John’s ‘Physical’ – we changed it to ‘Let’s Get Visible’ and had our own ‘Olivia’ sing more bike-appropriate lyrics. You may see one Sandra Allen in a couple shots! (Oh, and I should warn you now…this song gets stuck in your head!)

Presented by: VACC, B:C:Clettes (an amazing bike dance troupe!) and Momentum Magazine (the magazine for self-propelled people)

Videography by: Gwendal Castellan (of Long Road North fame) and David Niddrie (my boyfriend!)

Ride safe! (And have fun making your own reflective hot shorts - I know I’m going to!)

Technorati Profile
Last week, we were delighted to learn that our very own Lunapads Maxi Pad was picked by Grist among it’s review of eco-minded feminine products. Of course being picked is a bonus, but to us, it was great to see that Grist chose to cover the topic at all. Grist does environmental journalism with “news about green issues and sustainable living”. Grist strives to “to tell the untold stories, spotlight trends before they become trendy, and engage the apathetic.” Kind of like treehugger.com, but more light-hearted. Sarah Van Schagan covered the topic nicely, and will be doing a follow up story about tampon alternatives like the Diva Cup this week, so stay tuned!

However, one of their columnists, Umbra Fisk, gets me going every time she takes a “lite-green” stance on subjects near and dear to my heart. In her post in 2003 called “menstruation innovation”, prior to weighing in about natural alternatives like cloth pads and menstrual cups, she prefaces her comments by saying: “What we have here are small, popular disposable products, and generally speaking, the environmental impact of small objects is not worth fretting over… Even if you do want to reduce your contribution to this minor environmental woe, there is a shortage of options in the moon-mama market.”

Excuse me? Not worth fretting over? Minor environmental woe? Is 14 billion pads, tampons and applicators going into North Amercian landfills every year minor? That’s like saying that we shouldn’t worry about buying bottled water and switching to cloth shopping bags because, indivdually, we can’t make a difference. OK, maybe things have changed in the past 5 years and Umbra has seen the light. Nope. Last week, Umbra decided to weigh in on the cloth versus disposable diaper debate in her post called “Much a Poo About Nothing”. Well, we’ve posted about this issue before and know it isn’t easy always being green.

Using a cute but rather silly video, Umbra over simplifies the issue and completely missses the boat.

Not only do I disagree with her assessment (by lazily using a flawed 2005 study from the UK that has since been revised to state the opposite) that cloth and disposables are an environmental wash, but she doesn’t address the health impact of using disposables. Most disposable diapers use super absorbent polymers that can be harmful to babies (especially boys). Disposable diapers are made with pulp from virgin forests and laden with plastic that sit in landfills for 500 years. Yes, cloth diapers use water and energy to manufacture and clean, but water is a renewable resource and today’s high efficiency washers and dryers make a huge difference too. Her conclusion that it is a wash and not worth fretting over allows the apathetic to remain apathetic, which goes against the Grist mandate to engage the apathetic.

Why do I care so much? Well, not only did I use (new and hand me down) cloth diapers on both my babies (and some elimination communication when ever possible) but it is obvious to me that this debate works equally well for the cloth vs disposable menstrual products debate. (ie: pad/tampon disposables are made from pulp, use chlorine bleach and leach dioxins in tampons, contain harmful chemicals and gels to make them more absorbent, etc.!)

If you care to weigh in, please do so here. Better yet, set up an account with Grist and tell Umbra what you think by commenting on her post!�

 

A Livejournal thread I came across the other day stirred up some feelings for me, so I thought that I’d post about it.  It seems that there is an impression out there in certain communities that Lunapads and a few other “major” pad making companies are “big” and therefore “bad”!

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather.

There are a few issues that I’d like to explore: first, is Lunapads a big company or a small company?  Next, what does it mean to be “big” and why does this necessarily mean “bad” in some people’s eyes?

By most standard definitions of small business, Lunapads is a speck of dust.  That said, we have worked pretty darn hard to create what we have, and are justifiably proud of it - we have 5 fabulous employees, sell our locally-made products all over the world, own our own office space, and have turned thousands of women on to washable pads.  My verdict: small business with big impact.

So what’s the anti-Lunapads sentiment about?  I suspect a couple of possibilities, as I know them well myself.  First is a general anti-business stance.  I was heavily into this in University - basically the idea that anyone who was out to “make money”, no matter how, was “bad” - it was just all about greed.  I decided to become a social worker or activist who wouldn’t have to dirty my hands with capitalist muck.  All very well and fine, except it didn’t really jive with the feminist view that women should have equal power (including economic) and be able to decide their own destinies (for example running their own businesses).  It was all a bit of a conundrum for me until I discovered that business could be a powerful force for the kind of change I believed in, and that my willful ignorance of financial matters could “cost” me and my desire for a greener, more just future, big time.

A further issue seems to lie in the perception that Lunapads are “expensive”, with the implication that we are making an excessive profit.  Without getting into too much detail, the fact is that we actually make very little (if any) profit, yet like a “big” company we take on responsibilities and large expenses such as annual registration with the US FDA (menstrual pads are classified as medical devices and resellers must comply with a myriad of regulations) securing product liability insurance,  paying for medical and dental benefit policies for our staff, and donating hundreds of pads to women and girls in developing nations - all of which adds up to a small fortune.  

As I see it, at its heart, Lunapads is a group of women seeking to help themselves and other women to be healthier and feel better about themselves while reducing environmental harm.  Our mission also includes building a successful business as an example of women’s business savvy and financial competence, not to mention supporting our and our employees’ families financially.  In fact, I often think of Lunapads as an eco-feminist political agenda that has taken the form of a business in order to maximize its impact.  When viewed from this perspective, I ask those who take issue with our size if these are not in fact values that they share, as I have a feeling that they probably are.

As someone who has cut and sewn more than her fair share of pads from home and beyond, I have the greatest of respect for the DIY/WAHM/SAHM pad-makers out there.  If their products are what work best for you, then honestly I couldn’t be happier.  But please don’t judge Lunapads for choosing to see how far we can take this (and we have lofty plans!)  We’re all here for the greater good.

Yes, I know we’re in Canada.. but many of you, our loyal customers, are in the US and tomorrow is Election Day! What happens in the US greatly affects Canada, along with the rest of the world, and so we’re in just as much anticipation as our friends down south. I’m sure many of you saw this same link on the BUST blog, but I thought I’d add it here just in case you didn’t. These are some very touching photos that the gal at Shakesville has put together of ‘young gals in awe of Obama’ - the photos are amazing (he’s a natural with kids) but so are the comments! It’s so incredible that we are actually feeling hope for a new America. Vote with your hearts - all the best at the polls tomorrow!

If you have a little person in your life, you won’t want to miss entering this fabulous contest. We have often mentioned in our blog our good friend Bridgitte, co-owner and brilliant mompreneur of the online store Natural Pod. When Bridgitte had her first baby, he suffered severe allergic reactions to everything he came into contact with. Bridgitte searched high and low for safe, natural and organic products that he could tolerate.

During that search she saw a local need for someone to provide beautiful and natural play toys that encouraged creativity and imagination. Since then, Bridgitte and her partner Allan have grown the business to be an online success story, recently expanding into the manufacture of wooden toys. The biggest hit so far is the Chef’s Kitchen which has received rave reviews from parenting magazines including Canadian Family Magazine and Mothering Magazine (featured in the “Best of Natural Toys” section in Nov/Dec’08).

Not only is Bridgitte incredibly smart, but she is also very generous. Natural Pod is offering this beautifully crafted chef’s portable kitchen (pictured) to someone in the Lunapads community. To be entered for a chance to win, simply fill out this form.

Looking for some high quality gifts for a special child this holiday season? I guarantee you’ll find something at their website. I always recommend Natural Pod to grandparents, as there is no shortage of items my children would love to receive for birthdays or Christmas that I approve of. You won’t find anything plastic here; all Natural Pod products have been chosen carefully for their heirloom quality, and will last for generations. $ saving tip: if you enter the contest, you’ll receive a promotion code for 10% off online orders (excluding the kitchen units). Act fast, as the contest and promotion expires November 21, 2008. Need some gift ideas? My favourite Natural Pod toys include:

• Geoprimo ~ a fun board game and puzzle that teaches geography
• Wooden Pallet Truck ~ this one takes a beating but still looks brand new
• Wooden Stir Xylophone ~ a melodic addition to our family band
• PlaySilks ~ the blue ones become a lake, the brown ones land, the coloured ones as pirate headscarves: the possibilities are endless!

Post a comment here to share your favourite (or wish list) items from Natural Pod!

Our Goods 4 Girls campaign continues to inspire scores of women to help girls in Africa. The latest inspiration is Anna Hawfield who, upon reading about Loretta’s trip to Kenya (which is a very moving blog post) contacted Lunapads to see how she could help while volunteering for International Volunteer HQ. Anna will be distributing Lunapads Goods 4 Girls Kits through the help of Africa Youth Trust, a local NGO that has overseen similar projects in the past. Anna will be in Nairobi for 6 weeks starting in November. To stay on top of her trip, check out her blog here at Cycle of Hope.

Just before leaving for her trip, Anna joined a women’s networking group called SECT (Southeastern Connecticut Women’s Network) and attended a local meeting of the Mastermind Group. “The core purpose of the Mastermind group is to work co-creatively with women locally and globally to facilitate them with empowerment projects in their own lives and communities. Mastermind recognizes women as an underutilized resource in the world. When these women are supported to realize their potential the quality of life world wide improves.”

In just a few weeks, Anna and generous members of SECT raised over $1,500 to fund the purchase of over 50 Lunapads Goods 4 Girls Kits. Way to go ladies! We’re looking forward to getting an update from Anna when she arrives in Nairobi and updates the blog with her story and pictures.

We are so happy to see how the act of global community service is spreading among the Lunapads community and beyond. Please contact us if you want to participate or share your story.

This summer I spent two months backpacking solo in Kyrgyzstan, a poor, landlocked country in Central Asia. I’d like to write and let you know how much your products contributed to my having a great time on the trip.

I brought my brand-new Diva Cup and three of my favourite Lunapads as backup. Comparing this to my packing habits prior to my switch to reusable pads, I found that I saved a lot of precious space—and weight—in my backpack.

On top of that, I didn’t have to worry about running out of supplies. And it’s definitely a plus not to have to worry about how to ask for (and bargain for) sanitary pads at the bazaar! This kind of self-reliance goes a long way in boosting my self-confidence when traveling alone in what is still a very male-dominated country.

Then, there’s the comfort factor. When you’re traveling eight hours a day, whether on a hot, cramped bus, on a horse that’s ready to run wild, or on foot across dusty mountain paths, the last thing you want is to have sticky, unbreathable plastic chafing your thighs. In a place where Western-style comforts are lacking, it’s good to know that at least your period wouldn’t create additional discomfort. I could focus on soaking in the travel experience, instead of obsessing about the discomfort in my underwear!

Last, but not least, using reusable menstrual products just makes so much environmental sense when traveling. Kyrgyzstan is a country with very little infrastructure. In the main cities, garbage pick-up is unreliable, and you can’t count on waste receptacles in public venues. Outside the city, garbage is simply burnt in one’s backyard (burnt plastic is not nice.) I also spent some time in the mountains with nomad families, whose lifestyles just didn’t produce much waste at all, and there was no system for handling garbage. It then struck me how irresponsible I would have been, if I had burdened their country with my used plastic pads. It’d basically be like dumping my garbage on someone else’s yard! And it’s not just any garbage—it’s non-biodegradable, it’s toxic, and it’s a biohazard (from the blood.)

[Tangent: Back in Canada, I’m starting to wonder why it is that, while we’re so careful about handling blood in medical environments, we also think it’s ok to leave menstrual-blood-soaked products in non-secure receptacles in public places. And the worst stench I’ve encountered was not from an outhouse in rural Kyrgyzstan, but in a woman’s changing room at a Canadian swimming pool, where the sanitary pads bin has evidently not been cleared for a while…]

Anyway, I’d like to thank you again for your hard work in creating and promoting alternative products that do so much good for the environment and for women’s well-being. I’ve always touted your products in the online forums I frequent, and you can count on me to keep spreading the word.

Best wishes,
Florence

On top of our good ol’ Myspace page and our new-fangled Facebook group we now have a twitter feed! It’s great for keeping up on all kinds of stuff happening ‘round here. Whether you’re waiting for new Moon Pad Bags to come in, or you want to know the latest sales or bonus offers or what our newest fabric will be, it will all be announced on twitter!

follow lunapads at http://twitter.com

Oh and did I mention that you can now listen to Lunapads radio on Last.fm? Well you can! We tend to get bored with the CD collection here at the office, and commercial radio just doesn’t cut it - now we can add songs we like to our Last.fm library, and have a never-ending supply of music to listen to while we work. You can even log-in and listen along with us, like a little virtual dance-party! Listen here.

If you’re looking for more in depth conversation about Lunapads products and want to connect with other users, I highly recommend our Facebook group. The gals always have helpful tips and tricks for fellow members.

There’s a little somethin’ for every Luna-gal out there in Electro-lady-land!

Let me share a story with you…

This summer my boyfriend and I went to help our friend out with his newly ‘inherited’ orchard (he’s the 4th generation to run Parsons Farm Market.) We lived in an ancient little camper with our cat, Tabitha (isn’t she just too cute in a bin of pears?!) on the edge of said orchard, with no water hook-up. This orchard has a fruit stand that all the food we grew was sold out of – and of course being a public place there were bathrooms, which also served as our bathroom. However, to get to the bathrooms from our camper at night you had to stumble down the road in pitch black, manage to scoot past the tractors and pallets, move around the bins of fruit, jump the large puddle at the end of the path – all while trying to hold those inane fears of ‘things that go bump in the night’ at bay.

This situation was less than ideal but luckily I had an alternative…the pStyle! An amazing little invention (much like the DivaCup!) that gives one the freedom to pee standing up without undressing.

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