Latest Deed

For most of you reading this blog, I'd venture to say that traveling is something you love to do (and if you are lucky do often) or at least you might hold a romantic notion about traveling to foreign places, eating exotic foods and experiencing new cultures and places. I certainly do. I love to travel. Its a priority for me. I love doing it with my family and 2 year old daughter, who I'm pretty sure loves experiencing new places too (though I think we could do without the 12 hour plane rides...). 

But there is a dark side of travel for many disadvantaged people in the world. Human trafficking is a life changing experience of complete terror and vulnerability, where people (often women and children) are taken away from their homes and families and then bought and sold into slavery. Currently there are an estimated 27 million people being held as slaves in the world. They are forced to work in the sex industry or in labor camps in industries such as cocoa. It is disgusting and maddening that such crimes are committed so frequently in our "advanced" society. How can we let this happen?

So for all of you travel lovers, here is a small way that you can help. Lusso Bags is a sweet little company with a sweet little product and a big mission. They work with women in India from the fairtrade group, Freeset who have traded a life in the sex trade for a new life as a seamstress to make beautiful organic cotton and fairtrade shoe bags and other bags to help organize your suitcase and your life. Five percent of the cost of each bag is donated to help stop human trafficking. Its a win, win. You get to fill your suitcase or your diaper bag full of organized little bags of whimsy, while you are supporting women in their journey into a better life. 

We love Lusso Bags for - their clean, yet whimsical design sense; their great blog,  The Lusso Report on traveling, packing, fashion and socially conscious living; and their motto "Help a little...Help a lot." So next time you need to organize something, shop Lusso Bags and remember how you can help them to end human trafficking with your support. Happy travels!

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When I first decided to travel abroad my reasoning was to see if people all over the world live, love, play and laugh just as I do in my community. Having just arrived home from a month long holiday I am still happy of the conviction that they DO. 

To highlight 3 examples of my own experiences on this last trip of communities helping me - being a part of the traveling community:

1. When my 2 sick children under the age of three, one with an ear infection, the other with bronchiolitis needed medical attention on the small rural Island of Rodrigues. The hotel owners wife, a trained antenatal nurse provided homemade throat soothing remedies and the local hospital with internationally trained doctors provided immediate FREE assessment and medication for both children. I doubt this happens in  many so called, developed countries. It was such a fresh and stressless experience.

2. Upon asking a local Mauritian man if he knew the phone number for a taxi to the airport and being offered by him to take us at our desired time just through good will.  The trip was a 20 minute drive each way and would have cost $30aud and then an additional airport fee. I do wonder in our own busy worlds if we too would offer the same to a traveller.

3. Upon arriving at Kuala Lumpur airport after an over night flight with the two over tired children by myself to find at least 200 people before me in the customs/immigration que. Then waiting for one hour and expecting to wait for at least another hour and a half before getting through with one screaming, over tired child on my back in a back pack and another upset child in the pusher; for this act of kindness I must say a massive thank you to the lovely family who let me take their position at the front of the immigration que. Another hour and a half would have been extremely unpleasant.

This list could very easily go on and on and it reminds me of the #30 days of GOOD Challenge on good.is which this month provides a daily challenge aiming to connect you with other people. It is currently at day 10.

The challenges so far are: 1. Send someone a postcard; 2. Have a conversation with a service employee; 3. Share an old photo with a friend; 4. Ask a relative what they did today; 5. Coordinate a group event; 6. Get coffee with a Co Worker; 7. Buy a friend a gift under $5; 8. Email a twitter Pal, 9. Video chat with a far away friend; 10. Feed a homeless person.

A GOOD gestured act is just so simple and it feels amazing too. I am always amazed at the snowball effect of doing one good thing on a regular basis has on my life. Give it a try and see if you can do the next 20 days of the GOOD Challenge.

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Invisible Children make some great documentary style films which young people can really relate to. I just finished watching the 6 bracelet dvd's that we stock. And loved everyone of them. Rosalin- the blue bracelet is told by a young American hairdresser about a 13yr old Ugandan girl born with aids. And Othello Sunday about  young Americans living in the refugee camps with the people. Each one of the dvd's is a fun movie watching experience to sit with friends and understand a little more about what is going on in Africa while actively contributing to a cause. A great educational tool which young people can relate to well, because it is told by young people, with great music and follows their fun, learning adventures. For anyone thinking about visiting Africa, or anyone who is looking for some educational, yet cool videos for their teen children. This would be a great party gift. Each dvd is packed with extra's, not only the bracelets handmade in Uganda, but extra film excerpts about what Invisible Children are about. The bracelets are made from reed, and make a cool fashion statement in themselves. 

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For the last week I've been visiting my sister and brother in law at their new house in Seattle.  I had heard wonderful things about this pretty little city and I was super excited to take a look.  It has not disappointed me!  Seattle is full of do-good companies and do-good products.  Every corner you turn there is a cool boutique stocked full of eco-friendly baby clothes and toys or fair trade and organic chocolates (delicious Theo!) and coffee (Stumptown from nearby Portland, OR) or recycled or repurposed fashion accessories.  It is inspiring just to walk down the street and have lunch at the local sustainable sandwich shop (yummy Homegrown!) and then grab a few necessities at the local pharmacy (Pharmaca) which has just as many regular medicines as it does homeopathic remedies and organic skin care lines.  

It seems that Seattle residents and businesses are really concerned about improving our planet and giving back to communities worldwide.  I hope that GoodieDo will be a part of a movement in Hong Kong and Australia to change people's buying and gifting habits so that we can just as much do-good product choice in those counties.  Sending our kudos and respect to Seattle and how it has made do-good a part of every day consumer life.  GoodieDo hearts Seattle!

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