10 G Projects that are going to change the world (via Matador Network)

THE G PROJECT is a campaign sponsored by G Adventures and the Planeterra Foundation which will give one lucky visionary the chance to receive $25,000 to make their world-changing idea become a reality. The top 16 projects, as scored by a crowdsourced, public voting system, will be whittled down to…

Feature Photo: Africa One Day, G Project Submission

10 Projects That Could Be the Change We Want to See in the World (Competition)

I do think women can have it all, just not at the same time. – Madeliene Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State

More than ever women are taking on the roles of mommy and provider in what feels like an unsteady juggling act. They are still earning less than men (for every $1.00 a man makes, the female equivalent makes $0.77), but are the breadwinners in 53 percent of households where both partners work.

Women are also putting in longer hours and earning higher degrees and salaries than their predecessors, yet they are much less satisfied and happy as compared to working women in the 1970s.

The infographic below was sent by Julie Ander, one of our readers who is a women’s activism enthusiast. Julie stumbled on the infographic and found it to be an “excellent visual analysis of how modern women try to adapt to nowadays’ working and motherhood life and how they stand compared to men.”

We’re grateful to Julie for sharing this insightful look at how women are trying to have it all despite the price that comes with it.

Source: Great Business Schools

Why Women Are Burning Out Before 30 and Drowning as Working Mothers (INFOGRAPHIC)

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

With hundreds of thousands of people fleeing from the deadly violence in Syria, many find themselves refugees in the second largest camp in the world. Homeless with few professions, they come carrying stories of horror from a life turned upside down. Yet as more people continue to cross the Jordanian border, Al Zaatari may soon host the largest refuge camp in the world, with over two million people seeking solace.

FROM ALJAZEERA

Al-Zaatari refugee camp near Jordan’s northern border with Syria is the second largest refugee camp in the world. On days when violence in Syria worsens, between 2,000-4,000 Syrians flood into Zaatari, and the stories they tell are horrific.

“Things are happening in Syria that our minds couldn’t even imagine,” 65-year-old Nada Salim Abdullah, who has been in the camp four months, told Al Jazeera. “People were being captured and they were slaughtering them like chickens.”

Abdullah, who fled his home in Deraa with his family, spoke of atrocities committed by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Other refugees told Al Jazeera of atrocities carried out by opposition forces.

Nearly half a million Syrian refugees have crossed into Jordan since the conflict began, and according to Jordan’s interior ministry, the Zaatari camp is now the fifth largest population centre in the country.

If the trend of violence in Syria generating this number of refugees continues, Zaatari will become the largest refugee camp on Earth by the end of the year. Dadaab, near the Somali border in Kenya, is often referred to as currently being the largest, and is estimated to be hosting nearly 500,000 refugees…Continue Reading

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

Syria’s People Are Becoming the Largest Group of Refugees in the World

By Liz Schaffer

At the turn of the 21st century, Bordeaux was in trouble. Dusty and lifeless, the once majestic stone city was crumbling. So understandably, contemporary Bordeaux feels a little like a phoenix from the ashes. With eons of soot removed from its opulent medieval churches, Baroque-era facades and Art Nouveau town houses and its once questionable docklands transformed into a playground for the hip and design conscious, Bordeaux is once again a European gem.

Surrounded by the ancient vineyards of Aquitaine and one of the world’s largest UNESCO world heritage sites, Bordeaux now blends Old World elegance with cutting-edge design. It’s a classic French beauty with bite.

Timeless Bordeaux shines bright in the heart of the city. Gothic wonders sit amongst narrow streets and century old squares. There’s the St.-Andre Cathedral, which boast sword-like spires; St.-Seurin Basilica, that sits atop an ancient crypt; and the 18th century Place de la Bourse. This particular attraction comes with a modern twist. An ultra thin miroir d’eau, a haven in the heat, reflects the palace-like building, transforming traditional architecture into contemporary art.

Tradition also reigns supreme on the food and wine front. Long famed for its culinary prowess, Bordeaux has foodie treasures aplenty. Frequented by Jacques Chirac, La Tupina, and its cuisine de terroir, is both earthy and rich. Here flavours evolve, the cellar is noble, herbs hang from the ceiling and the menu is thoroughly French – lamb cooked for seven hours and French fries cooked in duck fat. Similarly, Chapon Fin, one of Bordeaux’s oldest restaurants, is a Mecca for food and history lovers. Dating back to the time of the revolution in 1789, this Art Nouveau restaurant, which comes complete with a grotto, attracted the Paris elite (who were greeted by valets in period attire) and has had Clemenceau, Sarah Bernhardt and Toulouse Lautrec dine at its tables.  Accompanied by perfectly matched wine, their degustation menu is bold, inventive and blissful.

History also runs thick in the surrounding Chateaus and vineyards. Built largely from stone and prone to glowing in the sunlight, these building, and their wineries, are both imposing and beautiful and come complete with manicured gardens and rich aromas. Wineries can only be visited by appointment so it’s best to join a tour. BordoVino offers small trips with young, wine-loving guides who know the area’s history, impart their wine tasting knowledge (one must see, smell, swirl, smell and savour) and hold rather unconventional degrees.

It’s the converted docks alone that prove Bordeaux is no longer ‘La Belle Endormie’. Here an old warehouse the once housed German submarines now hold regular art exhibitions, Le Garage Moderne, a junk filled hanger, doubles as a contemporary art gallery and Fonds Regional d’Art Contemporain, which collects the works of contemporary artists, take to heart Bordeaux’s modern sensibility. The piece de la modern resistance is Seeko’o Hotel. With a jagged white exterior that plays with light and shadow, high design décor, electric gadgetry aplenty, mirrored ceilings and a chic air, a night spent here feels like a night spent in a living art instillation. This unorthodox urban landmark proves that Bordeaux can do contemporary. And it can do it remarkably well.

About the Writer

Liz Schaffer is an Australian-born freelance travel writer and photographer who set up in London hoping to live behind a blue door and fall in love with famous faces. When not pounding the pavements of Notting Hill she’s lost in Antarctica, climbing hills in Patagonia, swimming in the Adriatic and eating her way around Italy. Her work has appeared in Yen Magazine, International Traveller, Sublime, Lost in London and Australian Traveller. Read her articles on her personal blog: http://lizschaffer.wordpress.com/

Feature Photo by  Ted Drake

All other photos by Liz Schaffer

Insight: Bordeaux, the French Phoenix

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

A booming population coupled with greedy resource consumption and continual expansion of industry has taken a drastic toll on the environment over the last 30 years. Now, satellite imagery taken by Google Earth Engine allows you to actually see the change, not just hear about it. These images document the drastic transformations that have taken place on Earth over the last 4o years.

FROM FAST COMPANY

The booming economies of Gulf oil states. The rise in the global demand for meat. The continued migration of Americans to sprawling metropoles of the South and West. These major social and political trends of the past two decades aren’t just stats and figures–they’re stories inscribed into fast-changing landscapes, just as visible on satellite imagery as they are on the news.

Using satellite data from Landsat–the United States Geological Survey’s satellite imagery program that’s photographed Earth since the 1970s–Google constructed timelapses of some of the most rapid changes to the built environment that have occurred throughout the past couple decades…Continue Reading

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

Photo by AZRainman

Decades of Drastic Change on Earth in Pictures

“You’re going to see big growth in the Shandy beer category this year, with a number of new players coming to the table,” said Alan Newman, founder of Traveler Beer Company. “It’s our mission to introduce drinkers to a craft beer Shandy that is deliciously refreshing, sessionable, and true to the spirit of the American craft beer movement.”

Curious Traveler Shandy, is a vibrant American wheat ale brewed with fresh lemon and lime, giving it a distinctively refreshing flavor. Tenacious Traveler, is an American wheat beer brewed with real ginger and premium clover honey. Tenacious is the perfect balance between sweet and spice. And the recently launched Time Traveler, a lively wheat beer, is brewed with real strawberry — perfect for those long summer days when you’re looking to kick back, relax and and take it all in.

And just in time for fun summer travel plans, Traveler Beer Company is launching a sweepstakes called “A Ticket to Ride” on their website and Facebook page. The Grand Prize includes two Eurail passes, two round-trip airline tickets to Europe (travel voucher for $1,000 per airline ticket,) two Curious Traveler backpacks and $500 traveling cash.

You can also enter to win a Ticket to Ride Backpack through The Culture-ist by Subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter and leaving a comment below. The contest ends at 12 p.m. EST on June 2, 2013. The winner will be contacted via email with details.

Good luck and happy traveling!

*Note you must be at 21 years of age to participate in this giveaway.

Giveaway: For the Love of Shandys – the Ultimate Trip to London, and Beyond

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

Project Have Hope is a non-profit organization that seeks to empower women in the Acholi Quarter of Uganda by providing education to both the women and their children and assisting the women to establish business opportunities to promote economic stability and sustainability. By selling handmade jewelry made of paper, coins and glass, the women can help support themselves.

The organization’s newest collection, Hope Cures, features necklaces and bracelets that promote cancer awareness. For every purchase made from this collection, one dollar will be donated to the Uganda Child Cancer Foundation. Cancer is prevalent throughout Uganda,  but with limited resources and poverty widespread, treatment comes all too late, if even at all. While 60 percent of cancer deaths occur in third world countries, only five percent of research spending happens there.

Each color in the collection represents a different type of cancer. By purchasing Hope Cures jewelry, you can help support funding for medical treatment for children in Uganda who are afflicted with cancer.

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

 
Photos via Project Have Hope

From Paper to Jewelry: The Women of Uganda’s Acholi Quarter Finally Have Hope

11. Dan Barber: How I Fell in Love with a Fish

12. Carolyn Steel: How Food Shapes Our Cities

24 TED Talks That Will Change the Way You Think About Food

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

A new campaign encourages women in Saudi Arabia to speak out against violence. The No More Abuse Campaign is King Abdullah’s first step to create gender equality in his kingdom. This anti-violence initiative encourages women to step forward with reports of violence and abuse. In a nation that falls 131 out 148 countries for gender equality, this is the first positive step towards a promising future for women‘s rights in Saudi Arabia.

FROM BLOG HER

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will reportedly see its first-ever anti-domestic violence advertisement, which is intended to encourage women to report abuse.

The ad is part of the No More Abuse campaign, begun by the country’s King Khalid Foundation.

According to the No More Abuse site, “The phenomenon of battered women in Saudi Arabia is much greater than is apparent on the surface,” it says. “It is a phenomenon found in the dark. We want to achieve justice for all women and children exposed to abuse in all parts of the Kingdom.”

It’s a watershed moment for the nation, which is known for its gender inequalities. According to Human Rights Watch, women in Saudi Arabia are still treated as minors under the guardianship system, which requires them to receive permission from their husbands, brothers or fathers in order to travel, study or work….Continue Reading

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

No More Abuse: Saudi Arabia’s New Anti-Domestic Violence Campaign

Read More About The Importance of Fair Trade

The Unfair Trade: An Insightful Look at How Coffee Gets From the Farmer to Your Cup (INFOGRAPHIC)

By Amelia Rynkowska

I am constantly drawn to old wood cabin eateries. It could be the Nordic in me or just the rarity of being able to appreciate a wilder, gritty and more distinctive composition in comparison to the plethora of soulless concrete structures, with only their names differentiating them from next-door fast food joints, to carouse through.

The Old Place is one of these personality fertile wooden formations, with malleable twisted beams and weathered planks, revealing stories like the scars on the back of an aging hand or a frantic handwritten declaration. It is a characterful ‘historic’ post office turned restaurant offering cowboy style dining, where contented staff serve up hearty staples such as beef stew and chicken pot pie (there are vegetarian and fish options), all either locally grown or sourced and always seasonal. Dishes are served in iron skillets with mottled silverware to adorn the broke back mountain set dressed tables.

It is a place deeply rooted in the community and has nurtured relations with the mighty rocks of the Santa Monica Mountains since the 1870s. The original family still own it, locals work in it and people like me frequent it to feel like Ali McGraw circa Steve McQueen and to expand my stomach in a place, which has not been sterilized by greedy pockets, nor serves thawed food for a fast flutter. Its popularity is testament to a community that cares and appreciates its resistance to expand and sell out by cashing in on a popular tourist destination. They do not kowtow to hungry diners and in doing so have solidified the loyalty of returning regulars even if the dish they have requested on occasion is, ‘sold out’.

Almost always booked up and with a capacity of only 69, the main dining hub is similar to a frontier saloon, made up of dark wooden booths, mirroring the bar, which is first come first serve and lined with merry diners and Stetson-wearing locals. Paintings, memorabilia and homely dining room trinkets adorn the walls. A local youth house band could spontaneously show up at any time, Thursday through to Sunday, and will serenade you as you sip on your pre-prohibition larger and tuck into your fully loaded baked potato. Yes, they do play a rendition of The Band’s, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. For larger groups, the Mail Room is an atmospheric back room where nostalgic inked personal notes and old letters litter the shelves on the wall. Lit by gothic style candles dripping to form wax turrets, it is more congruous to pirate cabin quarters and I am sure treasure maps of secret hikes have been penciled on scraps of old ordering pad paper. On the way to the restroom, look out for the wondering albino peacocks, who cozy up to the warm motorcycle engines parked outside.

Whilst digesting the home skillet baked cookie dessert one night last week, I realised how invaluable old values are, how old places, engaging spiel and visceral recognition experienced on a full stomach nurtures the human spirit and in the technology centric age we live in, a hark back to the Wild West, conversing merrily over simple, unadulterated food is cerebral medicine and an emotional tonic.

GET CULTURED: Read More From Our Insight Community

About the Writer

Amelia Rynkowska is a London born writer who obtained her degree in International Relations before pursing a career in fashion journalism. Her spontaneity saw her migrate to Los Angeles where she is now based and focuses on writing about sustainability, travel and lifestyle. Her interests include health conscious culinary experimentation, poetry and film photography. Follow her on instagram: AmeliaRynkowska for more ethereal Californian imagery orwww.spottedbylocals.com/losangeles for bite sized reviews of local gems.

Photo by fleuropean

Insight: At The Old Place, Talking Invaluable Old Values over Pre-Prohibition Beer

By Lane Florsheim

JR’s artistic career began when he found a camera on the Paris subway and embarked on a photographic tour of European street art. Ever since, he has used photography as a means of breaking boundaries and forcing people to see each other in transformative ways.

By displaying immense portraits of individuals who are part of a certain identity in public spaces around the world—often illegally—JR brings the lives of divergent groups of people together. His work challenges the deep-rooted perceptions and judgments that can produce human conflict.

In 2006, for his first major project, JR posted huge portraits of “thugs” from the suburbs of Paris throughout the city’s bourgeois districts. The photos, which included one man with a raised gun and many others making striking facial expressions, were called Portrait of a Generation.

They could be seen on the sides of buildings, bus stops, and restaurants, as well as in smaller corners of the city—at the back of a newspaper box or affixed to a garbage truck.

A year later, with the artist Marco, JR created Face 2 Face, the biggest illegal exhibition ever. Across eight different Palestinian and Israeli cities and on both sides of the security wall, he displayed portraits of Israelis and Palestinians, face to face.

The individuals in the portraits predominantly posed making silly facial expressions, forcing the viewer to see someone else in a light they are not used to.

JR’s work blurs the customary lines between subject, viewer, and creator. In the communities where his projects are based, JR befriends the residents with whom he works, engaging them as models and as collaborators. His subjects eventually become the project’s viewers, as they walk past the imposing images during their daily routines.

JR’s most recent project is entitled INSIDE OUT. He began INSIDE OUT after receiving the TED Prize in 2011. It is the world’s largest participatory art project, encouraging anyone to upload their portrait onto the project website.

JR prints and sends the portraits back to the project’s participants who can then post them in public in support of a cause or idea that is important to them. INSIDE OUT: The People’s Art Project, HBO’s documentary on the project premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 20, tracking the evolution of JR’s undertaking.

While in the city for the premiere, JR also parked a photo booth truck in Times Square and in Red Hook and the Rockaways, two of the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy, to take more portraits for the project.

Portraits could be seen lining former boardwalks and other parts of the affected areas, accessible to non-natives via the New Yorker’s Instagram account, which JR took over during his stay in the city.

JR’s website describes his pervasive projects as being an uninvited art from, but whether welcome or not, his portraits create common experience between different groups of people around the world—a service for humankind that should no doubt be widely appreciated.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Lane Florsheim is a senior at Tufts University where she is studying International Relations. She loves writing and reading about culture, politics, and women’s issues. Lane delights in jewelry making, captivating novels, and travel and exploration. Her personal website is available here. Follow Lane on Twitter @laneflorsheim.

Photo by Salotte 1 

This Artist’s Iconic Exhibitions Challenge the Prejudices that Lead to Human Conflict

For most of us, coffee is that one thing we simply can’t live without. But when we’re on the road, nothing brings us that sense of comfort, that kick that gets us going, and that rush that keeps us smiling, quite like a good cup of coffee. We’ve rounded up a few ambrosial stories about some of the best coffee shops in the world.

Blue Bottle: Innovative Coffee in Brooklyn

We had heard through the grapevine that there was a coffee shop in Brooklyn that was using mysterious bulb-like bottles to brew  potently good coffee. The roots of this strange, but delectably innovative coffee shop were tethered to its first (and very humble) stand at farmers’ markets in California. Catching the eye of bohemian hipsters…

Where to Kick Back with a Cup of Coffee in Copenhagen

Few things in the world are as versatile and ubiquitous as a cup of coffee that lends itself perfectly to be enjoyed in a multitude of settings. In Copenhagen, the variety of cafés and coffee bars rival those in Palermo or Paris. As the weather gets even nippier, here are three locales…

Drink Coffee: The Best Cafés in New York City

Don’t be fooled by the clichés, New Yorkers love to relax, preferably with a cup of snobbishly good coffee and some kind of Apple device within the confines of a low-key hipster spot . The city is ridden with coffee shops that will most likely disappoint, but it also offers some of the most innovative cafés that rival…

Coffee in Singapore

While most people spend their layover in Singapore scrambling to hit well-known hawker stands, I chose to sip lattes and gnash on gourmet vegetarian cuisine at some of the city’s coolest cafés. Hip coffee joints are popping up all over Singapore’s spotless streets and a desire to slow things down just a bit has many…

Localista Cafe: The Local and International Merge in Ubud’s Gallery/Café

Stand outside Jl Suweta 5 in Ubud, Bali, and you won’t know which way to turn. Through one door is a glimpse of the world.  An underground stop in London. Chinese dragon dancers in Bangkok. Holy week in Andalusia. Visitors, many of them international, are surrounded by a stunning gallery of…

In South Africa’s Khayelitsha, Hope Brews in the Township’s First-Ever Coffee Shop

Visit a train station first thing in the morning in any first world city and you won’t be surprised to see a blur of take away coffee cups. Expecting to see the same at a train station in a township in South Africa…

17 Coffee Shops Around the Globe That Guarantee a Rush

By Dana Curatolo

If you’re searching for a local approach to Italy, and cultural immersion with all the bells and whistles of iconic Tuscany, you must head to Arezzo. During my first trip there in 2009, I didn’t want Florence (too many students) and I didn’t want Siena (still too many students), so I settled upon Tuscany’s third largest city. It is a humble place and not particularly picturesque when you first approach the city. Its train station is at the base of the city and creates a certain level of grittiness. However, venture five minutes up Via Roma until you reach Corso Italia (which is the main pedestrian road that leads to the historic center of the village), hang a left and you’re in Eastern Tuscan heaven.

I was staying right off Piazza Grande– the crown jewel of Arezzo. Again, this is why I loved it there so much. In a region where tourists typically smack right into a glorious piazza upon visiting, Arezzo makes you work just a little harder for it. It’s built on a slant, so there’s certainly some climbing involved, but when you reach the top, boy is it worth it. The piazza is a focal point to its famed antiques fair, which occurs the first Sunday and the preceding Saturday of each month. It’s an art hub; Arezzo is a stop along the trail of Piero della Francesca, along with Sansepolcro, Monterchi and Urbino. Along with antiquities, it is also a hub for gold production and a great place to buy local jewelry. It is a minefield for wine bars, osterias and local butchers. The people are friendly, the food is delicious and it’s an overall joyous place. Its historic charm paired with gritty edginess really amplifies Arezzo’s likeability. Since 2009, I have returned to Italy three separate times, and still, it is my favorite.

Eat: Il Cantuccio and Osteria Brancaleone

About the Writer

Dana Curatolo is a NYC-based travel publicist. When she’s not helping promote new hotels, emerging destinations and culinary hot spots, she’s traveling for fun— usually for the food. Check out her blog at danacuratolo.tumblr.com

Photo by torremountain

Insight: Tuscany’s Best Kept Secret Lies in the Heart of this Historic Town

The best hangover foods around the world (via Matador Network)

An Irish breakfast. That’s the ticket. Photo: JaredFrazer WORLDWIDE, hangover cures run the gamut from the salty to the spicy to the sour to the wet, but depending on what country you live in, what hangover remedy you reach for might vary. Here, a compilation of hangover foods from around the world…

Feature Photo by jamieanne

12 of the Best Hangover Foods From Around the World

By Rebecca L. Rhoades

When Binita “Bini” Pradhan first came to the U.S. from Kathmandu, she was surprised to learn that there were no Nepalese restaurants and no stores that sold her favorite Nepalese foods. Trained as a chef in Bombay, India, and by a mother who cooked for the Nepalese royal family in the 1960s, Bini sorely missed the foods of her homeland, which has sparked her lifelong passion for cooking. She toyed with the idea of opening her own restaurant, but as is the case for many immigrant women, making that dream a reality seemed impossible. Then last year, a friend introduced her to La Cocina.

Located on a quiet residential street in San Francisco’s Mission District, La Cocina is a nonprofit organization and incubator kitchen that provides affordable kitchen space and hands-on technical, legal and financial assistance to low-income immigrant women who wish to launch, grow or formalize a food business.

Like Bini, anyone interested in joining La Cocina’s program must first submit a business plan and undergo a rigorous interview process. There are three qualifiers: entrepreneurial spirit, low-income based on San Francisco HUD standards, and, of course, delicious food. Only three businesses are accepted each quarter.

“When women come to us, they already have a general idea of what their business will be,” says Angie McKee, Retail and Catering manager for La Cocina. “Of course, all of them know how to cook. They’re fabulous cooks. Their food is delicious. But cooking for a business is totally different from cooking for a family.”

Once accepted into La Cocina, businesses enter a six-month pre-incubation period, during which time they are offered technical assistance on everything from branding, marketing and logo creation to help with adapting their recipes for a mass market. This is followed by the incubation period, when the business becomes operational, which can last anywhere from two years for packaged products to upwards of five years for prepared foods. “With our businesses, we’ve found it takes much more to open a restaurant than it does to sell a packaged product,” notes McKee. Graduation is organic. Businesses continue to grow throughout the incubation period until they can no longer produce in La Cocina’s small kitchen or until they become economically self-sufficient.

Today, Bini is the owner of Bini’s Kitchen; her business is thriving with the help of La Cocina’s pre-incubation program. “She’s rapidly moving into incubation because she’s such a driven woman,” says McKee. She sells authentic and delicious dishes like Gurkha Chicken, Yellow Daal Tadka and Cucumber Raita for home delivery through her website, biniskitchen.com, and every Friday, you can find her at the city’s popular Off the Grid food truck gathering at Fort Mason, her first formal selling location, where she peddles her homemade turkey and vegetarian momos, a type of steamed Nepalese dumplings served with tomato-cilantro dipping sauce. And everything is made with Bini’s special blend of spices that she grinds and sun-dries herself.

As I sample some of Bini’s delectable momos, another La Cocina entrepreneur, Alicia Villanueva, stops by with some of the best-smelling tamales I’ve ever eaten. Alicia, who emigrated to the U.S. from Mazatlan, Mexico, 10 years ago, is the owner of Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas, which is currently in incubation.

“Alicia is the perfect example of someone whose business is growing to the point of graduation,” says McKee. “She was making 50 tamales a week when she started; now she’s making 3,500 tamales a week.”

Alicia also employs six workers, and in the true spirit of giving back to the community that helped her succeed, she pays for all of them to take English lessons.

“Right now, I am working on my American dream, giving my kids the best and saving for their education,” says Alicia. “I have six ladies working for me, and I feel like they are another kind of family. I have to support them. When I was accepted [into La Cocina], my life really changed for the best. In the end, I have the satisfaction of knowing that this is my business. And as I always say, the best tamales are stuffed with love, and the best people are stuffed with my tamales.”

About one mile south of La Cocina, in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood, is 331 Cortland Street. Here, in a tiny storefront carved into even smaller kiosks, are two of La Cocina’s success stories: Eji’s Ethiopian and AnDa Piroshki. I had a chance to speak with the owner of AnDa, Anna Tvelova, who came to California from Sochi, Russia, five years ago.

“When I first got here, I barely spoke English. I wasn’t even able to read about what needs to be done to open a business,” she says. “La Cocina has been like a GPS for my business. They connected me with specialists—people who do web design and logo design—who work pro bono or for a very little fee. They connected me with other businesses.

“I use my mom’s recipe, but when I started making hundreds of piroshkis [Anna refers to them as Russian hot pockets], the recipe, the dough, didn’t work,” she adds. “Michel [Saus, president of the San Francisco Baking Institute] helped me for free. He took my recipe and scaled it up for the production.

“Getting into La Cocina has been an amazing opportunity. There are a lot of low-income, immigrant women who love to cook and who would love to start a business but think it’s so scary. La Cocina just makes it easy.”

From Kika’s Treats, a small artisan company whose handcrafted chocolate-covered organic baked goods can be found in such high-end retailers as Dean & Deluca and Williams-Sonoma, to La Luna Cupcakes, a one-month-old brick-and-mortar cupcake shop in San Francisco’s Crocker Galleria, La Cocina has helped establish 14 businesses since it was first founded in 2005, including seven brick-and-mortar businesses. Its biggest success story is El Huarache Loco in neighboring Larkspur, California. Owner Veronica Salazar of Mexico City came to La Cocina in 2005 with a desire to sell Mexican huaraches, corn masa cakes shaped like the sole of a shoe (huarache, in Spanish, means sandal), filled with beans and topped with a variety of meats and vegetables. According to McKee, Salazar now has 21 employees and is set to do a million dollars in sales this year.

“In terms of economic self-sufficiency, our women aren’t looking to make a million dollars,” says McKee. “When we ask them what economic self-sufficiency means, they usually say $50,000 to $80,000. They just want enough to live a good life, to support a family, but not to be millionaires.”

Of course, not every graduate of La Cocina is female. Take, for example, Koji Kanematsu, owner of San Francisco’s only onigiri restaurant, Onigilly, the first business run by a male owner in the entire program.

“We’re predominantly a women’s organization, but we do work with some men. We’re about 98 percent women,” says McKee. “But if there’s a guy like Koji who comes to us with an incredible product, we’ll talk to him and see if he really wants to be a part of the program and if he needs the resources we provide.”

Growing up in Japan, Koji enjoyed eating American fast food, so when he came to the U.S. seven years ago, he wanted to introduce Americans to traditional Japanese fast food. What exactly are onigiri? Simply put, they’re rice balls, traditionally made from white rice, although Onigilly uses a more healthy brown rice, formed into triangles and wrapped in seaweed. Each onigiri is also filled with a variety of toppings, from miso tuna to spicy shrimp, ginger beef to chicken teriyaki.

“This is the item I brought to La Cocina,” says Koji. “We did a lot of focus groups, and we improved the shape, the amount, the taste. Traditional onigiri is about 10 percent filling and 90 percent rice. But nobody likes to eat a lot of rice. So I changed the style. Now they’re about 30 percent filling and 70 percent rice.”

It’s a recipe that seems to be working. In addition to his thriving business in the city’s Financial District, Koji owns the Onigilly food cart, which can be found at various spots throughout the city as well as Fort Mason’s Off the Grid.

“When I first started my food business, I had a hard time getting information,” says Koji. “But once I joined La Cocina, they connected me with a lot of industry professionals, volunteers, even lawyers. I could ask anything, anytime.

“The program is really organized. Every month, we had to set up a goal. For example, I needed to make a recipe book or come up with a list of food costs. Those things really motived me,” he adds. “If I had done it by myself, it would have been really tough.”

Now, Koji has plans to franchise his business, with the hopes of opening 500 locations throughout the country.

Whether they dream of owing a food truck, a packaged product business or a brick-and-mortar restaurant, La Cocina helps San Francisco’s immigrant women—and men—take their country’s traditional foods and turn them into full-fledged businesses.

“La Cocina is a great program,” says Bini. “I would encourage each and every woman to come here and give it a try. They will guide you every step of the way. You will be in good hands.”

To learn more about La Cocina or to connect with any of the businesses mentioned here, visit lacocinasf.org.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Rebecca L. Rhoades is a writer and photographer with a passion for exploring the world and its cultures. After living and working as a medical editor for many years in New York City, she found a new life in Philadelphia and her calling as an editor of a travel magazine. When not working, she enjoys sleeping late, discovering great restaurants, and searching for the perfect margarita. Follow her on twitter @rlrhoades

All photos by Rebecca L. Rhoades

This Kitchen Incubator Helps Low-Income Immigrant Women Launch Successful Food Businesses

By Karina Schroeder

Meals at Asitane are fit for a sultan.

The Istanbul restaurant is a unique find in this ancient city, serving cuisine based on centuries-old Ottoman palace recipes. Succulent, exotic, and delicious, these dishes will stir your imagination and your mind.

Located adjacent to Chora Church, with the oldest Byzantine mosaics in Istanbul, Asitane is neatly tucked away from the crowds. It offers great outdoor seating and a view of the church.

Many dishes, like stuffed grape leaves with sour cherries, cannot be found in other restaurants. Yet they are all worth trying.  Each dish is listed with its original Ottoman name and recipe date. Some go as far back as the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

According to Asitane’s website, the recipes are taken directly from historic documents: “the kitchen registers from Topkapi, Dolmabahce and Edirne Palaces, books and memoirs written by visiting overseas state officials, documents in Beyazit and Millet Libraries, and a book entitled “Bir Ziyafet Defteri” detailing the circumcision ceremony in November 1539 of Beyazid and Cihangir, the two sons of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent.”

One dish from 1539 is ”Mahmudiyye” -stewed chicken flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and apricots garnished with Rezaki raisins and almonds. Imagine feasting on this alongside Suleyman at Topkapi. It’s an amazing, and unforgettable experience.

Photo by Karina Schroeder

About The Author

Karina Schroeder is an art, culture, and travel writer based in NYC. She writes two blogs, http://karinaschroeder.com and http://eco-impulse.net, and works as the New York Arts and Culture Editor for GirlAround Town.

All Photos except Mahmudiyye via Asitane Restautant

Insight: A Taste of Centuries-Old Fare In Istanbul

A Day in The Life of The Internet infographic

 

More Than 2 Billion People Use the Internet, Here’s What They’re Up To (INFOGRAPHIC)

The following is an excerpt from Fast Times in Palestine: A Love Affair with a Homeless Homeland by Pamela Olson. It is an emotional story of Olson’s experiences while living in Ramallah as a journalist and foreign press coordinator for a Palestinian presidential candidate. Olson’s gripping storytelling exposes the daily contradictions, tragedies and injustices surrounding a people under siege. (Available from Seal Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group. Copyright 2013.)

***

Now that I was settled in Ramallah, it was time to start planning visits to Jayyous, the first Palestinian town I had visited, and Amman, Jordan to catch up with old friends. I asked my roomate Yasmine one evening, “Will it be hard to get to Jayyous from here?”
She said dryly, “For you, no.”

I winced. I’d forgotten she was a virtual prisoner in Ramallah. Like all Palestinian cities, Ramallah is surrounded by checkpoints, and Yasmine didn’t have an Israel-issued Palestinian ID that would let her pass any of them freely. To have any hope of getting through she’d have to go through an all-day ordeal to apply for a permit from Israel that would probably be denied. Even if it was granted, it could be revoked at any time for any reason. She’d once lost an entire year of college because Israel wouldn’t give her a permit to reenter the West Bank after she visited her family in Gaza.

She sighed wistfully. “When I was in college in Ramallah, my friends and I used to drive to Nablus in the middle of the night just to get the Old City’s famous dessert. Those were good days.”

“Now it’s impossible, huh.”

She scowled. “Now it’s all crap.”

At sunset, I walked to the curving street with the steep valley view and found a low wall to sit on and watch the twilight show. After a while I looked down and noticed a family standing under the wall and looking up at me.

“Marhaba,” I said.

They greeted me in Arabic. They were the first people I met in Ramallah who didn’t speak English, and when I asked the mother what her work was, I didn’t understand her answer. She pointed to her hijab and trailed her hand along it. I still didn’t understand, so she invited me down and showed me her hairdressing salon. Then she motioned for me to sit on her porch.

Nearly a dozen kids crowded around excitedly. They were a good-looking family, especially the flirty four-year-old Mustafa. As I chatted with them in my halting Arabic I was embarrassed to realize that, although I knew words like national, organization, director, busy, report, meeting, and ministry, I didn’t know the words for grandmother, child, or even family. I spent several days afterward filling in those blanks.

Dinner was placed on the table, and the family insisted I stay and eat with them. While we were eating the oldest son, Jamil, who seemed sharp and healthy but was small for his age of seventeen, pulled up his shirt and showed me an immense scar. It looked like someone years ago had run him partway through with a dull blade and sliced down from his heart to his waistline. I guessed it was from surgery, but he made a gesture like aiming an M16 and said, “Israeli soldiers.” He pointed to another scar on the meaty part of his calf, an entry and exit wound side by side. He held up seven fingers.

“Seven bullets hit you? When?” When in English sounds like “where” in Arabic, and he pointed to his backyard. It was on a hillside, which gave it a magnificent view—and also made it an easy target. I could barely believe he was still alive.

After dinner they walked me back to the road and made me promise to come back soon.

When I got home, Yasmine was making coffee for a visiting friend, an older gentleman who worked in the newspaper business.

Occasionally they would launch into a discussion in Arabic and I’d be left to my thoughts while we smoked a hookah on the porch. I began to wonder what percentage of the seven bullets that hit Jamil was my responsibility. I could have learned about all this much sooner. I could have protested or refused to pay taxes. Somehow, without my knowledge or consent, I’d let this happen.

Yasmine asked me what I was thinking about, and I told her.

“Habibti, it’s not just America,” she said. “Did you know France is one of the largest arms traders with Israel?”

She was right, of course. This conflict was a particularly intractable example of a much more fundamental disorder. Was it a problem with human nature, I wondered, or just a massive, temporary failure of imagination? Institutionalized injustices like slavery, Jim Crow, and Apartheid had once been mainstream, but the arc of history had curved away from them. And who could have guessed, when a fractured Europe was massacring itself in the depths of World War II, that two generations later there’d be a European Union? Why shouldn’t something similar be possible in the Middle East?

* Habibti means “sweetie”

About the Author

Pamela Olson lived in Ramallah for two years, during which she served as head writer and editor for the Palestine Monitor and foreign press coordinator for Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi’s 2005 presidential campaign. She’s published stories and articles in CounterPunch, Electronic Intifada, Mondoweiss, Israel’s Occupation Magazine, and The Stanford Magazine, and she also wrote an essay about disputed holy sites for the Encyclopedia of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. She lives in New York City. Visit her online at www.pamolson.org.

Book Recommendation: Fast Times in Palestine: A Love Affair with a Homeless Homeland

By Erica Jordan

Like many manmade disasters, the recovery of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico remains ongoing. And in many ways, it has just begun. The third anniversary of this manmade disaster just passed, yet the first phase of BP’s trial ended in April of this year, with the second phase beginning this September.

As other disasters occur throughout the world, the 2010 BP oil spill has virtually lost all media attention, slipping from the minds of many of us who were not directly affected by the disaster. Thankfully, there are altruistic programs and projects that continue to spread awareness and to aid in the recovery. One such project comes in the form of small, black, bird-shaped soaps.

In September of 2010, designer Tippy Tippens moved from Brooklyn to New Orleans to help the relief efforts there. Just a few months later in November of 2010, the BirdProject was born on Kickstarter.

The fundraiser was a huge success and today the BirdProject donates fifty percent of the profits from each product to the Gulf Restoration Network and the International Bird Rescue. To date, the BirdProject has given more than 18,000USD to the recovery efforts.

The Gulf Restoration Network continues to protect, restore and raise awareness for the regions affected by the BP oil spill, while the International Bird Rescue cared for birds that were rescued in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and continues to rescue seabirds and other aquatic birds affected by oil spills around the world.

The soaps are made from natural and locally sourced ingredients that embody various aspects of Louisiana. Cypress, a local plant, is used to scent the soaps in hopes that it will evoke personal memories or connections to the Louisiana bayou. Glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel, is used to promote the concept that there are positive ways to use manufacturing waste. Fair-trade olive oil, aloe and activated black charcoal promote sustainability and ensure a safe, moisturizing product that is healthy for skin.

As the soap is used, a white ceramic bird made of Louisiana clay reveals itself, acting as a keepsake and a reminder of the delicate cleansing process that goes into saving the birds. The color white symbolizes recovery. Both parts of these birds are made by local artisans; the soap by Emily Manger Davis of Sweet Olive Soap and the ceramic bird inside made by Brooke Cassady. The artisans are just two examples of the partnerships within the Louisiana community that work to create these symbols of hope.

Believing that all aspects of the business should reflect an “eco-happy” approach, care has been taken to use green options whenever possible. The gift boxes and tissue are made from 100 percent recycled paper and the notecards from 100 percent cotton with soy-based inks. The birds are even shipped using UPS’s crate to crate system, reflecting the BirdProject’s dedication to sustainable practices.

The BirdProject is the launch product of, Matter Inc. a company created to artfully aid society while fulfilling basic needs. Matter Inc. is one of the first of a growing number of members of the B Corps, an organization of companies that have been certified to be purpose driven and for public benefit. They are required to uphold standards of social and environmental responsibility in addition to accountability and transparency. In addition, Matter Inc’s founder, Tippy has been selected as one of the GOOD 100, a group of do-ers who are selected for their inspirational initiatives, which make a difference. Tippy has hinted on her website that there are five new products being introduced in 2013, so stay tuned to see what causes she is taking on next and what products she will design to represent them.

Read More About the Effects of the Oil Spill On the Gulf

ABOUT THE WRITER

Erica Jordan obtained a degree in biology and worked in the pharmaceutical industry before getting addicted to travel. She has since traveled extensively while teaching English in Japan, written a grammar textbook and sailed around the world as an interpreter and translator. Some of her interests include sustainability, modern art and hunting down cozy cafes. You can read about her adventures on Kizzling Around or connect with her on twitter @Kizzling Around.

These Artisan Soaps Wash Away Revealing a Keepsake that Symbolizes Recovery in the Gulf

 (via Matador Network)

Sangita Dey, a sex worker in Calcutta was driven from her village home by profound poverty. Or rather, profound poverty made her vulnerable. Given away by her mother who couldn’t feed her, she was married off as a young teenager. Sangita then became her mother-in-law’s slave, loaded with housework and starved. Sangita’…Notes from a red-light district, Calcutta

Meet Sangita, a Girl Who Became a Sex Worker in Calcutta’s Red-Light District

By Christa Russo

Peru is one of those places that make iconically beautiful countries like South Africa and Thailand feel a hint of jealousy. The nation’s thriving melting pot of cultures reflect a vibrant, diverse community, many with roots tied as far back to the Incas and other sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations. The country is riddled with archaeological sites that tell the story of these civilizations, which left a legacy that still lives on in the art, customs and traditions found in modern-day Peru.

I journeyed to Peru with avid hopes of climbing Machu Picchu and sipping coca tea with locals donning traditional Quechua garb. I did this, but also learned that this experience was only a minute sliver of the countless facets that make Peru a country with much to envy.

Lima

When traveling to Peru you’ll most likely fly into Lima, a city rich with Pre-Columbian ruins and enchanting Spanish Colonial architecture.

It was my first time visiting the country, so I was happy to be traveling with Globus, an experienced tour company that focuses on authentic cultural experiences.

We settled in for lunch at Tanta, one of Gaston Acurio’s restaurants. Dubbed guru chef of Peru, Acurio is known as the man who made Peru famous for its thriving culinary scene. Ordering a fresh juice with your lunch is a must, and I would recommend trying the tacu tacu, a traditional Peruvian dish incorporating a rice and beans pancake, a thin “sábana” (sheet) of steak, and a side of fried plantain, topped off with a fried egg.

With content bellies, we ventured to one of Lima’s vibrant food markets where we sniffed and sampled many local varieties of fruits, vegetables, fish and spices. Here is where you’ll find cherimoya, a soft fleshy sweet fruit that is white in color and has a velvety custard-like texture — hence its secondary name, custard apple – or aji limo, a spicy type of pepper used in Peruvian ceviche, a dish the country is famous for.

After perusing the market we set out to learn more about the colonial heritage of the city. Our group visited some of Lima’s most revered sites such as the Plaza de Armas, the Government Palace and the Cathedral of Lima.

From here we headed to the Monastery of San Francisco, a stunning example of Spanish Baroque architecture, where ancient cloister murals from the 17^th century adorn the walls and ceiling of the church. Catacombs, which lie below the monastery, contain an ossuary and secret passageways, lined with bones and skulls that are said to connect to the cathedral and the Tribunal of the Inquisition.

Later that evening, we enjoyed a magnificent dinner at Casa Garcia Alvarado, a historic home that once belonged to the Castro Iglesias family. The home dates back to Peru’s Colonial period, when its forerunners earned the titles, Count of Lurigancho and Marques of Otero, for services rendered to the Spanish Crown. It was later remodeled in 1932 and is currently owned by Ana Maria and Josefina García Alvarado.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Ana Maria who escorted us to the Grand Salon where we enjoyed pisco sours and hors d’oeuvres including the typical Peruvian ceviche I had quickly grown to love. The best part of the evening was listening to Ana Maria tell stories of her family history over a beautiful home-cooked meal. The entire experience was very personal and warming.

Cusco

Photo by timsnell

Tucked away within the striking Andes mountains range lies Cusco, the breathtaking Andean City, and the former capital of the Inca Empire. The city is peppered with luscious greenery, expansive farms, and ancient ruins, leaving you no other choice but to feel as though you’ve stepped out of reality and back into the 13^th century.

We began our journey at the ruins at Saksaywaman, or as locals call it, “Sexy Woman”. Here, alpacas roam freely while locals tend to the land, creating an atmosphere that slowed my fast-beating New York City heart to a placid pace. Although the ruins steal the show amidst this picturesque landscape it’s important to note that the Cathedral of Santo Domingo is worthy of a visit. The exquisite Gothic-Renaissance architecture and paintings tell the story of the destructive Spanish invasion.

Once a pagan community, the Incas were forced to bring Catholicism into their beliefs after the Spanish took over. Much of the artwork in the cathedral originated from the Escuela Cuzquena, or Cusco School of Art, which was built by the Spanish to educate the Incas with the methods and disciplines of European renaissance style artwork.

The Quechua painters were limited to painting scenes of European and Catholic importance. The restrictions imposed on the Inca artists meant that they were not permitted to sign their own artwork, so much of it is unidentifiable.

The Santo Domingo Monastery as well as the Kenko Amphitheater also proved to be worthy stops in this historic city.

Sacred Valley

We continued our journey down the scenic route to the Sacred Valley to visit the Temple of Saksaywaman. Here we joined an El Pago a la Tierra, also known as the Mother Earth Ceremony. The ceremony is performed by a shaman and spoken in the local language, Quechua. With every offering, Mother Earth received some candy for her sweet tooth, and a libation, which was poured onto the ground to quench her thirst.

Photo by Kaldoon

The next morning, we explored the Ollantaytambo ruins comprised of a town and the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial center.

Some of the stones used in the construction of the town were more than 350 tons, which had to be rolled up and down towering mountains in order to build the extensive terracing and irrigation systems in the Urubamba Valley.

After visiting the ruins, we drove over to a local house where we met the family and were granted a peek into their daily lives. The adobe house consisted of one small room and a small plot of land that allowed the family’s livestock –several  guinea pigs — to run free. These animals are seen as a delicacy, hence the children are not allowed to play with them as they are considered a food source rather than pets.

We explored the Sacred Valley a little further by heading over to Pisac, a quaint and friendly village where we found plenty of handmade Alpaca items, jewelry, bags, and hand-painted Incan pottery.

Machu Picchu

Photo by audrey_sel

The Incas built this estate around 1450, but abandoned it as an official site for the Inca emperors a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Before 1911, the site was unknown to the outside world until the American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention. Since then, Machu Picchu has been added as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Most of the outlying buildings (approximately 30 percent of the entire Machu Picchu site) have been reconstructed in order to give tourists a better idea of what the structures originally looked like.

There are a few ways you can explore this ancient mountain. If you have an adventurous soul, feed your adrenaline by taking the four-day hiking tour, which entails walking from morning until night and camping out on the mountain.

If you prefer to arrive a little more comfortably (as our group did) you can take the Peru Rail train through the Urubamba Valley while soaking in the verdant scenery. From there, you’ll board a bus up to Machu Picchu, which leads to the base of the ruins. No matter which way you choose to ascend the mountain, upon arriving be sure to have your passport stamped as proof that you’ve visited one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Quinoa and More

You can take a girl out of NYC, but you can’t take the foodie out of this NYC girl. Our tour wrapped up with some delegated free time, which I used to relax, exercise and indulge my curiosity of Peruvian food.

In Cusco, I set out to try as many different quinoa dishes as I could get my hands on: quinoa soup, quinoa entrees, and even quinoa mousse for dessert (it just so happens to be one of my favorite foods). The land is also rich in potatoes and corn, and meats such as alpaca and guinea pig are local delicacies, so of course, I was sure to try each at least once.

On the final day of the trip, I spent much of my time back in Lima’s colorful markets. The selection of fruits, which are used for everything from juices and desserts, to sauces and purees mesmerized me. When you’re used to getting most of your produce from across the country (and sometimes from across the world), you suddenly appreciate the privilege of visiting a place that has a bounty of local produce available year-round. So I savored the present moment by sampling cacao fruit, lucuma, aguaymanto, pepino, camu camu and noni.

I ended this fascinating journey in the same manner in which it began – indulging in a spicy dish of fresh ceviche while soaking in the vibrant culture of one of the most intriguing places on earth.

What’s not to envy about that?

Where to Stay

Lima: Atton San Isidro
Cusco: Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco
Sacred Valley: Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu: Sumaq Hotel

This tour through Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu was sponsored by Globus tours. To learn more about this specific trip view the Peru Splendors itinerary.

Peru: An Armchair Tour Through Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Strawberry Hill, Jamaica

“Sublime mountaintop views, a refreshing island breeze and sumptuous gardens and landscaping make Strawberry Hill an unprecedented resort for those seeking comfort, relaxation and a rejuvenating alternative to the traditional getaway.

Developed as early as 1890 as a coffee farm, the grounds at Strawberry Hill reflect the historical timeline and environmental attentiveness of the property. The main canopy, which lines the original driveway, is composed of juniper (Juniperus barbadea) with specimens of cedar (Cedrela odoratissma), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus nicolae) and mango (Mangifera indica). Over the years, many species have been grown on the property, including flowers ranging from roses to giant philodendrons. As of present, three hundred and fifty endemic and exotic species have been catalogued.

The gardens are an ongoing project, considering that four out of a possible ten acres of terraced land, not including thirty-five acres of slopes facing South, North and South West, have been refined. The upper western slopes have been cultivated since the 19th century in coffee. The northern slopes are a secondary forest with a canopy of Clethra occidentalis, Podocarpus urbanii, Cecropia peltata and Hedyosmum arborescens. As a result from having been exposed to the prevailing winds, the upper southern slopes are completely covered with Panicum vulgaris (guines grass). The ongoing mission is to establish an expansion program that will include both amenity and commercial collections representing a portion of the past and future of tropical gardens and gardening in Jamaica.”

Finca Rosa Blanca, Costa Rica

Finca Rosa Blanca has 30 acres of hard bean coffee which is certified organic by the BCS OKO Garantie,  an international organic agriculture certification and is certified sustainable by Rain Forest Alliance and ICAFE, the Costa Rican National Organization for Coffee. The eco-resort planted over 5,000 native trees on the coffee plantations with the help of the environmental protection agency (MINAET) and local school children. These native trees produce shade and nitrogen for their organic coffee and have created biological corridors for the birds and animals of the area. The coffee is planted following the natural topography of the farm to avoid erosion and water waste and is protected by living fences planted with native shrubs and trees. Guests are encouraged to join a tour of the plantation where they will learn how organic coffee is grown, harvested, dried and processed. In addition to roasting and packing their own coffee, guests participate in a “catación” or a coffee tasting, learning how the professionals determine quality and taste.

Mesa Stila, (Java) Indonesia

“In a world where pollution, noise, crowds, unhealthy diets and stress are the norm, MesaStila offers an escape – indeed a true sanctuary from the noxious daily grind. Losari is an eclectic mix of ancient and modern; yet the essence of the retreat is defined through the calming and powerful environment in which it sits – encircled by eight magnificent volcanoes and set within fifty-five acres of gardens, coffee plantation and surrounded by dense tropical jungle.”

“MesaStila is nine hundred meters above the plains of Central Java and has been composed as a labor-of-love by its various owners over the years; supporting over one-hundred and eighty years of habitation in many forms – from plantation owners to resort guests. The property includes such relics as a Colonial-era railway station from the 1860’s, the prior residence of a Javanese Prince and the original plantation owner’s house from 1828; all surrounded by coffee trees that have been grafted and grown from the original Robusta-Arabica plants nearly two hundred years ago. MesaStila is a historical, cultural and wellbeing masterpiece!” (Healing Hotels of the World)

Belcampo, Belize

Beyond the eco-resort’s 3-acre organic farm lies a bio-diversity hotspot. Throughout the centuries, Meso-America has been at the epicenter of the tropical food belt. Today, Belcampo continues to honor the landscape’s exotic ecology and heritage by growing papaya, cassava, avocados, plantains and bananas and cultivating the four main tropical ingredients: cacao; coffee; vanilla; and sugar cane on the farm. Thirty acres is devoted to coffee cultivation; the owners have selected different varietals native to the Americas as a way of honoring the indigenous Belizean topography.

Gibbs Farm Lodge, Tanzania

For more than 27 years, Gibb’s Farm has practiced sustainable, environmentally-respectful farming methods. Everything on the farm—30 acres of coffee, 10 acres of vegetables and fruit, 5 acres of flowers and herbs and a working dairy and pig farm—is grown or raised organically with no harmful pesticides and only natural fertilizer and compost. The rich Arabica coffee is organically cultivated and the beans are cleaned and roasted right on the estate.

Filadelfia Coffee Resort, Guatemala

Owner, Roberto Dalton Matheu, beautifully describes the history behind the resort’s coffee plantation:

“My great-grandfather, Manuel Matheu Sinibaldi, was one of the first farmers who turned his land to coffee to overcome the Guatemalan economic crisis of 1870. What he lacked in experience, he made up for with initiative and a tireless spirit. It wasn’t long before he harvested his first coffee berries and set up a horse-powered mill to process both his own crop and the coffee from neighboring Antigua estates.

In 1874, just four years after the start of his new venture, my great-grandfather received a commission to grow one million coffee plants and distribute them to smaller farmers in the area. This was part of a Guatemalan President Justo Rufino Barrios’ plan to encourage the production of coffee in the Antigua region. And so began a long family coffee tradition in Antigua Guatemala.

Filadelfia Estate was developed by my grandfather, Manuel Matheu Ariza, and later on by my mother Elisa Matheu Cofiño de Dalton. Our plantations have endured revolutions, devastating earthquakes and a series of severe frosts that destroyed Antigua’s entire coffee crop twice, in 1881 and 1885. But they have also benefited from the rich soil fed by the ashes of the very volcanoes that cause the earth to shake under our feet every so often; from the temperate climate that allows our coffee to mature slowly and from our own valley starting at 5150 feet up to the rugged heights, over 6,500 feet, that give our coffee its distinctive flavor and aroma. Not least, the plantations bask under the bright blue skies and in the colonial beauty of a city that inspires its people to celebrate the baroque art of their buildings in their everyday activity – be it ringing the church bells, or picking coffee berries in the shady groves, strolling to work in the mornings under the purple outline of our volcanoes, or processing coffee beans in traditional mills.

We know you’ll enjoy our coffee.”

Munduk Moding Plantation, Bali

Munduk Moding Coffee Plantation Nature Resort and Spa is a luxury nature resort, spa and boutique hotel in North Bali on a working coffee plantation located close by Bali’s central lakes and Munduk hill station. The hillsides are covered with jungle, coffee trees, rice fields, and pretty much anything that grows on the island.

Munduk Moding Plantation works with local coffee farmers to pool resources, upgrade the quality through organic farming and sell to wholesalers directly. The hope is that this will lead to better revenues for local farmers and will protect the soil and water-tables in the area (organic coffee plantations use much less water than growing oranges and cash flowers while it requires shadow trees which, in turn, attracts a large variety of birds and stimulates the growth of many indigenous plants and flowers). Since the resort has switched to organic farming the staff has seen a remarkable increase in the variety of bird life such as swallows, singing bush larks, kingfisher, red jungle fowl, pink necked pigeons, plaintive cuckoos and spider hunters.

 Read More in Travel

All photos via the respective resorts

7 Stunning Hotels Situated on Coffee Farms

Kinsa, a health technology start-up, is on a mission to create the world’s first real-time map of human health that will help prevent the spread of illness. The organization has created a thermometer that leverages on the power and connectivity of your smartphone. Using the free mobile app, users can “track their illness histories to share with physicians, access tools to better manage and plan around their health problems, and view the “health weather” in their local area, including what symptoms and illnesses are going around.” No batteries, LCD or processor are needed since the thermometer feeds off the power of a smartphone.

Kinsa Smart Thermometer is currently on Indiegogo where the company is looking to raise $50,000 to put the product on the market. ”We are still seeking better ways to track infectious disease both at the level of the individual as well as the community,” says Ken Staley, MD, former White House Director for Biodefense and an advisor to Kinsa. “Kinsa’s approach is exciting because it engages consumers — it can provide real value for individuals — and at the same time aggregates information in a way that provides value for clinicians and public health officials.”

While it appears that the thermometer is initially being marketed to the Western world, we hope that Kinsa will expand its reach to third world countries where tracking the spread of disease can be difficult due to a lack of connectivity between rural areas and cities. Imagine how many lives could be saved if doctors could track outbreaks of cholera, malaria or dengue fever in real time. It may be the new preventative “medicine” of the 21st century.

To learn more about the Kinsa Smart Thermometer check out the video below (it gets interesting around the 1:25 mark):

Read More in Culture

Photo via Kinsa

This High-Tech Thermometer Connects Communities to Stop the Spread of Disease

By Charukesi Ramadurai

He is unable to focus on his game of carrom because of the loud noises of a couple quarreling in his building. The husband’s verbal and physical abuse against his wife is clearly audible. He walks over to that house and rings the bell and asks an inane question to the husband who opens the door, all the time staring in an intimidating fashion.

The bell was rung once more; an incident of domestic violence was prevented once more. This advertisement made by Breakthrough, an international human rights organization based in the USA, was inspired by the true story of a bus conductor in India who “rang the bell.”

The Bell Bajao (meaning “Ring The Bell”) campaign has been on in India since 2008, launched initially with the support of the Clinton Global Initiative. The primary aim was to get men – who are conspicuously absent in this discourse – to be active partners in the fight against domestic violence. This multimedia campaign has since reached more than 150 million people in India, through television advertisements, mobile video vans, social media campaigns and community mobilization programs.

The campaign was soon adopted by Pakistan, China, Vietnam and Malaysia, and is spreading to more countries. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is now its “first global champion” and he has linked it to his UNiTE to End Violence Against Women campaign.

But how will ringing a bell help? According to Bell Bajao’s ambassador Ban Ki-Moon, “This is a simple step but a very effective one, it interrupts what’s happening. It shows that people are watching and listening. It may give the woman the chance to escape. It helps to stop the violence.”

Take a moment to look at these chilling statistics. According to a 2012 survey by the Thomson Reuter’s Foundation, India has been ranked as the worst country to be a woman, among twenty. Also, UNICEF’s “Global report card on adolescents 2012″ shows that 57% of boys – and more disturbingly, 53% of girls — in the 15 – 19 age group in India — feel that wife beating is acceptable.

And the issue is by no means restricted to a developing country like India. According to a report from the Home Office, domestic violence accounts for almost a quarter of all recorded violent crime in the UK. And in any given year, there are 13 million incidents of physical violence or threats of violence against women from partners or former partners. As Ban Ki-Moon said in his speech about the movement, “Violence against women takes place in all countries and across all cultures.”

Domestic violence is a difficult issue to address everywhere since people hesitate to interfere, shrugging it off as a personal matter between the couple. The ‘Ring the Bell’ campaign seems to have made an impact in this respect. “Through base line and end line studies, we found that there was almost a ten percent increase in those who felt that the community should intervene and that women should take legal action when facing abuse.  Not only did people’s attitudes change, people actually did take action by reporting incidents to the police or finding other ways to interrupt the violence,” said Mallika Dutt, President & CEO of Breakthrough.

The campaign set in motion its next phase, the global launch of One Million Men on March 8^th — International Women’s Day — during the UN Commission on the Status of Women, in New York. There were events — speeches, social media discussions, protest marches, film screenings, musical performances, candlelight vigils — that took place at various cities around the world including New York, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Stockholm and Johannesburg. “This is a call to men to step up and make concrete and actionable pledges to help stop violence and discrimination against women. Promises could be submitted through video or text or pictures — the goal is to find ways in which men can share their promises and also report back on what steps they took to implement them, said Dutt.”

As part of the One Million Men launch in New York city, actor Sir Patrick Stewart spoke about his own experience of growing up in a violent household: “Rape and abuse aren’t lady problems that we need to fix with our lady solutions. Men and women need to work together on these issues, creating programs in schools, talking openly about solutions. The guy who’s going to go on to commit violence against women isn’t a nameless ogre. He’s somebody’s brother. Somebody’s son. He’s somebody you know, right now. So why wouldn’t you want to talk to him now, before it’s too late?”

For more information, see Ring the Bell Campaign.

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About the Writer

Charukesi Ramadurai is a freelance writer from India with bylines in the New York Times, Time, Forbes, Conde Nast Traveller, South China Morning Post and National Geographic Traveller, among others. She writes on travel, local art and culture, food, and social and development issues. Read more about her on www.charukesi.com or follow her on twitter.com/charukesi

Photos courtesy of Breakthrough

This Campaign Urges Men to “Ring the Bell” to End Domestic Violence in India and Beyond

Some countries require companies to give employees vacation leave. This infographic, created by the employee leave and FMLA experts at Employment law HQ, highlights the vacation requirements of countries around the world. The results are a bit surprising and, depending on your views, concerning, especially if you live in the U.S. It raises the question of whether some societies have become too work-obsessed.

Vacation infographic

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Photo by Trekking Rinjani

24 Countries That Actually Require People to Take Vacation (INFOGRAPHIC)

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

In rural and poor areas of the world, mother and infant mortality rates are astoundingly high. The social venture AYZH has come up with a simple solution to reduce infections that lead to fatalities during childbirth. AYZH is providing areas of India and Africa with inexpensive and environmentally friendly medical supplies with the JANMA Clean Birth Kit, a biodegradable jute bag containing simple tools recommended by the World Health Organization to provide sanitation and sterility at the time of childbirth. 

FROM GOOD

Zubaida Bai is an engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of AYZH, which works to provide cheap, simple medical necessities to rural women in India and other developing parts of the world. The JANMA Clean Birth Kit, made by and for the women of these underserved areas, has revolutionized access to basic, lifesaving birthing practices, providing healthier futures for both mothers and children.

2013 will see AYZH scaling its core product, the JANMA Clean Birth Kit, throughout India and assessing entry points for the kit in Africa, as well as expanding its product line to meet new needs of existing customers with other “kit style” products that support newborn health, postpartum hemorrhage, and menstrual hygiene.

Also in the works this year is an education campaign to increase awareness of the importance of clean birth practices…Continue Reading

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ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

Photo via Vinoth Chandar/flickr

The JANMA Kit is Reducing Mother and Infant Mortalities in Impoverished Areas Around the World

This news alert comes courtesy of Take Part

Three years ago, when BP’s Deepwater Horizon began leaking some 210 million gallons of Louisiana Crude into the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. government allowed the company to apply chemical “dispersants,” Corexit, to the oil slick to prevent toxic gunk from reaching the fragile bays, beaches, and mangroves of the coast, where so much marine life originates. But TakePart’s Ocean Expert expert and “Death at Seaworld” author, David Kirby, now reports that a number of recent studies show that BP and the feds may have made a huge mistake, for which everything from microscopic organisms to bottlenose dolphins are now paying the highest price.

Corexit dispersants emulsify oil into tiny beads, causing them to sink toward the bottom. When BP began spraying the Gulf, critics said Corexit is not only toxic to marine life on its own, but when combined with crude oil, the mixture becomes several times more toxic than oil or dispersant alone. Not surprisingly, BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley defended use of the dispersant saying it is s harmless to marine life,

In April 2012, Louisiana State University’s Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences was finding lesions and grotesque deformities in sea life—including millions of shrimp with no eyes and crabs without eyes or claws. Further to that, research has found:

• Toxins at 3000 times the acceptable level in gulf seafood
• Dead dolphins in record numbers, killed by weakened immune systems and brucella bacteria
• Blue crab populations wiped out
• Oyster beds not reproducing
• 60% of coral on platforms killed
• Toxicity to rotifers, base of food chain, is 52 times higher with Corexit

Mutated seafood is not the only legacy left behind by Corexit. Earlier this week, TakePart wrote about Steve Kolian, a researcher and diver who, along with his team, took water and marine life samples at several locations in the months following the spill after Corexit had been used. Now, they and countless other Gulf residents are sick, with symptoms resembling something from a sci-fi horror film, including bleeding from the nose, ears, breasts, and even anus. Environmentalists, fishermen, and Gulf Coast residents contend.

Read the Full Story: http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/04/24/corexit-bp-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-effects-marine-life

The Effects on 9 Marine Animals: Photo Gallery

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Photo by lagohsep

Three Years After the BP Oil Spill, Life in the Gulf of Mexico is Dying, Mutating and is Toxic to Your Health

By Michael Cavanagh

Waiting pensively, my heart rate began to quicken as I stared at the gate in front of me. A bead of sweat formed on my brow, quickly turning into a stream of droplets as it ran the length of my cheek. There was nothing to be nervous about, I was assured, but the fact that there was a large carnivorous animal lying in wait did not dispel any anxiety. Trepidation marked my careful steps. As the gate slowly swung open, giving an ominous creak to mark the peril, fear grasped my chest with sudden force.

The guide urged me cautiously forward, with a reminder to be mindful of pace and direction. In short order I was mere feet from my destination. With encouragement, I slowly knelt with an outstretched hand. An anxious exhilaration sprang up from inside. I was petting a cheetah.

On a bright, sunny afternoon in Somerset West in the Western Cape of South Africa (30 miles east of Cape Town) a nine-month old orphaned cheetah was lying on the ground next to her handler, enjoying a leisurely petting from a visitor from halfway around the world. The scene was, in a word, surreal. Stroking the spotted fur, I was in disbelief. With one swipe, this beautiful creature could rip flesh from bone, a justified reaction for threat of danger. And despite reassurances from the staff or normalcy of tourists wandering the grounds, my flight mechanism was highly engaged, every shred of common sense begging me to flee.

This was an animal that feasted on antelope for sustenance. This was a creature that developed razor-sharp fangs over millennia to survive in the wild. But then came the realization that if this big cat wanted to cause me harm, it would do so with conviction of instincts. There was little chance of escaping now. And if I did run, I would somehow have to run faster than the cheetah- only 75mph.

As I continued to stroke the graceful carnivore I softly whispered “Good kitty” and prayed this one didn’t wake up on the wrong side of the den.

Despite the natural fear a mentally stable person should have when walking into a cage with a cheetah, the staff’s reassurances were well founded. The residents at Cheetah Outreach were all rescued as orphans, a reoccurrence that happens far too often across Southern Africa, and had grown up with daily interaction with humans. And although these graceful creatures were still quite a ways from domestication, they had learned to coexist in harmony with their two-legged caretakers.

The harmony is not a recent phenomenon, evidenced by the Egyptians’ fondness for the spotted cat. The ancient society held the cheetah in reverence, accompanying pharaohs and adorning art works. Yet recent history has not been as kind to the cheetah.

At the turn of the 20^th century there were approximately 100,000 free-roaming cheetahs in the wild. That number has dwindled to 7,500 today, 1,000 of which live in Southern Africa. The problem is indicative of the expansion of human populations. Once undisturbed wildlife habitats have turned into farms, housing livestock ripe for picking by carnivores that historically ruled these plains. The rural farmer, in protective response to dwindling numbers of food and income, traps and kills the threat, unaware of the ecological consequences. To vilify the farmer would be shortsighted. After all, the reality of his existence is no walk in the park. And when an outside threat to his livelihood presents itself, it’s hard to fault him for taking swift action. Yet, compassion only goes so far. To understand the farmer’s plight is reasonable, to sit idly by is indefensible. Cheetah Outreach is working to remedy the situation.

The organization, established in 1997 by Anne Beckhelling, is not simply a refuge for orphaned cheetahs. In the 16 years of its existence, Cheetah Outreach has focused on community-based programs to raise awareness of the problem and educate the public about solutions. This includes raising orphaned cubs to be ambassadors for the species and giving visitors and residents an opportunity to come face-to-face with the elegant cats. Being mere feet away from a cheetah certainly gives you a healthy respect for the animal. But Cheetah Outreach goes beyond raising awareness for their plight. It addresses the problem of poaching by introducing farmers to alternate methods of protecting livestock.

The most effective to date has been the introduction of Turkish Anatolian Shepard dogs. Bred in the Anatolian Plateau in Turkey, which shares a similar climate to much of Southern Africa, these impressive pooches are an effective deterrent. Standing at waist height and weighing in around 165 pounds, the Shepards are also remarkable athletes, reaching speeds just shy of the blazing cheetah. That combination of size, strength, and speed (as well as the typical canine senses of smell and hearing) is a formidable opposition to a cheetah, who would rather flee than engage in close combat. In addition, the Anatolians also gain a deep sense of pride for protecting livestock, often raised amongst the herd from 6-8 weeks old.

Cheetah Outreach breeds these extraordinary dogs and partners with select farmers to introduce them onto farms. Since the launch of the Anatolian program in 2005, livestock losses on participating farms have decreased 95-100%. Give those dogs a bone.

In addition to the cheetahs and Shepards, Cheetah Outreach is also home to a few different animals, also orphaned or abandoned. Among the residents are a Caracal, Black-Backed Jackals, Bat-Eared Foxes, and two inquisitive Meercats. The entrance fee to view and learn about the animals is just over $1 during the week and $.60 on the weekend, further reinforcing the organization’s efforts to welcome as many visitors as possible. Even the cheetah encounters (the nerve-wracking experience described above) are surprisingly affordable with adult encounters costing a bit more than $12 and cub encounters with cheetahs 18 months or younger costing double that price. Well worth the price, even if your stomach turns to knots.

Read More of Our Stories in GOOD 

To learn more about the commendable efforts of Cheetah Outreach visit the website here: http://www.cheetah.co.za/

About the Writer
Michael Cavanagh is a freelance writer in search of memorable locales, delectable cuisine, and delicious drink. An experienced world traveler, Michael views globetrotting as an adventure like no other. He hopes to share his discoveries with other oenophiles, foodies, nomads, and travel enthusiasts. Michael has been published in The Wine Enthusiast, PalatePress, Destinations Travel Magazine, Terroirist, and has a regular column at Examiner.

Chillin with Cheetahs: The South African Outreach Program That’s Saving a Species

By Tammy Allman

Translations by Jessica Wong

It’s pitch black. The dense silence is interrupted occasionally by the bark of a dog in the distance and is punctuated at regular intervals by the soft swish of twenty paddles spearing the water in perfect unison.

“Let it run!” booms a loud voice out of the darkness, and the swish of the paddles ceases, to be replaced by the sound of heavy and rapid breathing as the paddlers take a well-earned break and the boat is allowed to run to a stop in the water.

This is evening training with the Stormy Dragons, one of 98 dragon boat clubs currently registered with the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association.

Dragon boating is a physically intense and demanding sport and has a long and rich cultural heritage in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. In Hong Kong, dragon boating was a traditional pastime of fishermen, and today it is only they who observe the rituals associated with dragon boating in a spiritual context. But as the fishing communities dwindle and paddling, as it is now commonly known, becomes increasingly more popular with westerners – both within the expat community in Hong Kong and globally – many of the old traditions are in danger of being watered down, if not lost completely.

Jessica Wong, 28, who paddles for Stormy’s, has experienced paddling in both the new and old styles. She grew up on Cheung Chau Island, which she explained, “had a large fishing community, so dragon boating has been in my consciousness since I was very young.”

Later, “I had the privilege of paddling with the Tai Tam fishermen team (from Hong Kong Island) and for two seasons I only paddled with them,” she said.  She recalled that as a teenager she watched the Aberdeen fishermen’s races and gate-crashed the Stanley after-races party, but she didn’t start paddling herself until she returned to Hong Kong in 2009 after a period of studying and working overseas. “Since I love being on the water and outdoors, and also being from a mixed heritage, dragon boating was an obvious choice,” she said.

Wong explained that Stormy’s trained and housed their boats at Tai Tam Tuk – a small fisherman’s village between Tai Tam and the nearby reservoir – and as one of the few Cantonese speakers on the team, she assumed the role of translator, which fostered a relationship between her and the old fishermen there, such that they invited her to paddle with them.

Cheryl Fender, founding member of Stormy’s, explained that Stormy’s is one of the few dragon boat teams that train with the fishermen out of a fishing village. “I guess the traditional side is lost on many of the Western teams as they just train out of Stanley,” she said. “They don’t get invited along to traditional events such as the fishermen’s races. Whereas we’ve been very lucky to be invited to a few of them, so we get to see it first-hand.”

The fishermen teams are rich with stories about “back in the day” and how dragon boating in Hong Kong used to be. “Paddling with the fishermen, you always had this festive spirit: the colours, the flags, the food and all that noise; it was like a carnival atmosphere,” said Ah Fat, the main steersman at the Hong Kong Island Paddle Club.  But now that he competes as part of IPC, a Western team, “It’s much less of a celebration,” he said.

Ah Fat is from a long-line of Aberdeen fishing families. He says he was born – and lived until he was 20 – on a boat. He first became involved with dragon boating as a 10-year-old and is well-versed in the old traditions.  He used to follow his father to the different races until one day he was given the opportunity to paddle, and he is still at it. Now in his 50s, he is fit and athletic, his muscular arms toned from decades of paddling and steering.

He reminisces about how dragon boat racing – and the dragon boats and paddling technique – have changed over the years. He said the boats were traditionally wide and heavy and have gradually become more narrow and streamlined. The paddling technique has also changed: “It used to be paddling higher and now its paddling lower (on the body). Partly it’s in response to the boat as the lower stroke is more effective for the newer boats,” he said.

According to Ah Fat, the two main traditions involve how the boat begins and ends the season.  The boat blessing, to “awaken” the boat, is performed at the Tuen Ng festival, which marks the beginning of the racing season. This is when the dragon’s head and tail are attached. “You have to go to the temple to pray with the boat and you’d bring down statues of the gods or goddesses onto the boat and parade them around,” he said. “There’d be a lot of offerings going around and particular types of paper being burned. Special ceremonial drumming and dotting the eyes of the boat.”

According to Ah Fat, another tradition no longer practised involved the laying to rest of the boat at the end of the racing season. Traditionally boats were made of teak and would often warp and crack with the changes in temperature and humidity, so – once the head and tail were removed and stored back at the temple – it was practice to sink the boats under water by loading them up with stones. The boats sat there until raised and painted with a protective varnish, just before the next Tuen Ng festival.

Dragon boating is thought to have originated in the Pearl River Delta of China more than 2000 years ago.  It is reputedly one of the oldest forms of water sports in the world. Chinese folklore suggests that dragon boating and the Tuen Ng festival evolved from the ancient story of a hugely popular politician, the warrior and poet Qu Yuan.  Qu Yuan was so distressed at his banishment from his home territory by the Emperor that he drowned himself in protest. He was held in such reverence by the local people that they raced out onto the water in their boats, spearing the water with their paddles, shouting and splashing as noisily as they could to drive away the fish, the evil water spirits and the water dragons away from his body.

Such legends and the way the ceremonies are observed vary in nuance from one fishing community to the next. However, they all reflect a deep reverence for dragon boating.

“The fishermen wouldn’t let women or foreigners paddle,” said Ah Fat. “The dragon was a male god and everything related to the male god, the women weren’t allowed to touch.  Even when they put the boat under the water, the women weren’t allowed to touch the boat.” And Westerners?  He explained with a chuckle: “The way it used to be said is that ‘gweilo’ (the Cantonese term for foreigners) was ‘white ghost’ or ‘foreign devil’, so why would you get a ghost to paddle a boat? How can that bring good luck?”

But as outside interest in the sport grew, communities realised the need for change. There were benefits to be had from opening up the sport. Women were keen to become involved and as the fishing communities were being dispersed, dragon boating was seen as an important way to keep the community spirit alive.  Also, crucially, there was money to be had by opening the sport up to ‘landlubbers’ and foreigners.

Ah Fat explained that the women were initially allowed to compete in the early 1970s, once the boats had been modified: “We took an identical dragon boat,” he said, “and took the dragon head off and changed it to a phoenix, which is considered a female energy in Chinese culture…So at first the women had the phoenix boats and whenever females paddled, it wouldn’t be called dragon boating, it would be called phoenix boating.” Time progressed, however, and the older generations were no longer involved in the sport and phoenix boating came to an end. Now women compete in dragon boats except, typically, in the 50-man dragon boat, where women are still forbidden due to its spiritual significance.

According to Stanley Residents Association spokeswoman, Cadence Cheng, “By the early 1970s, the expats were racing against the local Chinese. So to make the [Stanley] races fairer for all – because the Chinese teams dominated the race – around 1975 the organisers allowed expats to compete in a category of their own. This was followed by the introduction of a ladies’ competition towards the end of the 1970s.”

Today, according to the Stanley Residents Association, the Stanley races are the largest one-day dragon boat event in the world and hold the record for having the highest competitor turnout. Novice corporate teams can purchase a package of 10 training sessions plus the race day admission, including steersman and trainer, for HK$25,150.

“It’s a good thing that there are more people paddling, for sure,” Ah Fat said.  “But then you lose the traditional, spiritual side. So if you lose it, what is important is that you remember the history. At the very least you remember, even if it’s no longer practised.”

Lister Woo grew up in Wan Chai and has represented Hong Kong internationally at the world championships and now owns and runs Asia’s main dragon boat equipment manufacturer and supplier. He said, “I started in a way as a corporate crew – a bunch of friends started paddling together – and from that went to a proper paddling club and got serious.” Woo thinks that including corporate teams in the competitions are a good way of raising the sport’s profile and engendering interest: “I think it’s definitely a good thing. It’s a brewing ground for the more elite athletes.  The good guys tend to stick around,” he said.

Ah Fat acknowledged that opening up the sport has brought a more professional dimension.  But “without a shadow of a doubt, paddling with the fishermen was always much more fun,” he said, chuckling at the memory.  “With the fishermen’s teams anything goes: you want to smoke on board? You want to drink your beer on board? Sure you can, unless it’s during a race. But with IPC it’s no drinking, no smoking on board. ‘It’s not so good for your paddling if you smoke,’ they say. ‘You won’t breathe as well’.”

He says his paddling style now is very much a combination of both traditional and western techniques: “It’s a process of merging from the furious fast arm-stroke that I grew up with, to incorporating the longer stronger stroke of the Westerners that I’ve been shown since.”

Does he think the Western approach to dragon boating is the better way? “It’s just different,” he said laughing. “If it’s a longer race you can guarantee the gweilos will win. But when it’s a short distance: forget it. The Chinese, the fishermen, will always win.”

Read More Stories in CULTURE

ABOUT THE WRITER

Tammy Allman obtained a degree in English Literature and worked as a high net wealth tax adviser for 14+ years. Following a move to Asia she is now studying for a masters degree in journalism. She has lived in Hong Kong for the past four years with her partner, Jonny, and their little girl, Maggie. Some of her main interests include literature, travel and the study and practice of yoga. She is a supporter and volunteer for the Cambodian Children’s Fund, a Cambodian-based charity.  Follow Tammy on Twitter @TammyAllman1

Paddling With Dragons: A Centuries-Old Fisherman’s Sport Enchants the Modern World

Amsterdam might be most well-known for its canals, tulips, red-light district and cannabis cafes, but the historic Dutch metropolis could equally be defined by its extraordinary art scene.  Once home to the likes of Rembrandt and Van Gogh, the city’s creative streak is still very much alive and thriving – it would literally take visitors weeks to navigate all the galleries and public exhibits on offer!

But if you really want to absorb Amsterdam’s cultural landscape, a stay at one of its quirky art hotels is a must.  Having popped up across Europe in recent years, these innovative, unique properties are the ideal way to get a true feel of an area’s artistic vibe.

WestCord Art Hotel

To experience a different facet of Amsterdam – away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre – this is the place to go. Located in the Westerpark District of Amsterdam on the edge of the harbour, guests to this eccentric property are first greeted by brightly-painted cow sculptures. From there, the hotel is decked with colourful artwork from famous Dutch painter Herman Brood and its Arts Brasserie cafe is plastered with funky art posters.  Overall, this hotel is a vibrant, warm and slightly more budget-friendly option for an artsy Netherlands stay.

Hotel The Exchange

Sharing the same co-founders as The Lloyd, the Exchange is a design hotel with stunning and sometimes strange décor (imagine sparse rooms dotted with mannequins and draped in rope and wire). Centrally located and just a hop, jump and a skip away from the infamous red-light district, the hotel has partnered with the Amsterdam Fashion Institute to create 61 entirely original quarters. The concept is that rooms appear to have been “dressed” as if they were fashion models –which certainly produced some interesting results!

Dutch Design Hotel Artemis 

This trendy hotel hosts various art exhibitions throughout its ground floor and features a sleek, modern design inspired by renowned Dutch artists. But what really makes this hotel different is its approach to food and drink – here, cuisine is considered just as much of an art as a painting or a sculpture. Ingredients are skilfully combined to create mini masterpieces on the plate; concoctions can include eggshells as sauce containers, strawberry-filled oyster shells and fruit cocktails served in pear skin.  The food and drink design menu at the hotel’s Restaurant-Bar De Stijl is always changing, so be sure to expect the unexpected!

Hotel Droog

If you want to spend the night at this one-of-a-kind art emporium, you’d better book early – there’s only one bedroom on offer!  The rest of the vast space in this 17th-century heritage building is occupied with exhibitions, exclusive design stores, a carefully landscaped “fairy tale” indoor garden and a chic café and tearoom.  But if you do get a chance to sleep here, the airy, contemporary boudoir is well worth the effort.

The Lloyd Hotel

Formerly serving as both a prison and artist studios, the halls of the Lloyd Hotel today boast an impressive Cultural Embassy program. Special projects and events ranging from visiting art collections to musical performances are regularly on offer, with the majority available free of charge.  A calendar of what’s on is accessible on the hotel’s website and is worth checking out before planning your visit. In terms of accommodation, the hotel’s 117 rooms are created from the collective talents of more than 50 Dutch designers, all differing in size and interior, promising a unique visit each and every time. Its sliding scale of affordability makes it accessible for starving artists and executives alike thanks to a range of one-to-five star chambers.  And did we mention there’s a fully-stocked library where book readings, exhibitions and lectures are frequently held?

This post comes courtesy of Kristen McKenzie from HotelsCombined.com

A Cultured Night’s Sleep: Navigating Amsterdam’s Art Hotels

Our Planet is Sick and So is Our Food System — Here’s How to Nurture Both

By Maria Russo

Roni Weiss, organizer of the New York Travel Festival, announced during today’s premier event that Jason Cochran is Frommer’s Travel new editor-in chief.  The announcement was made before the panel discussion “Spike the Baby! (And the Other Rules for Dodging Travel Scams),” which was presented by Cochran himself.

The New York Travel Festival was held at the Bohemian National Hall on Manhattan’s Upper East Side; it will continue tomorrow with individual customized tours throughout NYC’s neighborhoods. A line-up of prominent travel writers, editors and TV hosts came to the Main Stage to discuss a range of topics. National Geographic’s Digital Nomad, Andrew Evans presented a riveting keynote speech about letting go of the idea of a “bucket list” filled with glamorous travel destinations and embracing a new kind of travel that takes travelers out of their comfort zones.

Robert Reid, Travel Editor for Lonely Planet, duked it out with TV host Valarie D’Elia in a friendly debate about various travel-related topics. Ross Borden, Founder & CEO of Matador Network joined Joe Diaz, Cofounder and Chief Product Officer of AFAR Media and Grant Martin Editor-in-chief of Gadling in an panel discussion addressing the next generation of travel media.

Visit Mexico hosted a spicy tasting event in the venue’s light-strewn bar where attendees sampled Tortas Ahogadas, Mexican ceviche from El Mitote and several types of Mezcal from Oaxaca. Representatives offered authentic recipes and valuable travel information about Mexico’s vibrant cities and natural attractions.

A gorgeous gathering of culinary artisans and restaurateurs offered samples of local cuisine from the Hudson Valley alongside experts who shared information about some of the regions best (authentic) attractions. The room showcased the Valley’s steadfast commitment to supporting a sustainable food movement.

There was also an effervescent tasting and panel discussion with industry insiders Josh Bernstein, author of Brewed Awakening and the app Craft Beer New York; David Naczycz, co-founder of Urban Oyster; Gene Muller, founder of Flying Fish Brewing; and Jeremy Cowan, founder of Shmaltz Brewing and president of the New York City Brewers Guild about beer trends, brewery tours, and ale trails in New York and New Jersey – two states that contain more than 120 small breweries and brewpubs, many of which are new and within two hours of Manhattan.

The event was brimming with opportunities for the public to chat with industry insiders in an intimate and welcoming setting. “Unlike most travel events I attend, I made great connections, met cool people [and] learned new things,” said seasoned travel writer Jeanine Barone in a tweet sent out during today’s event.

It appeared that the majority of attendees were impressed with the range of interesting events and panel discussions, but it was hard to ignore the wave of excitement when Weiss announced, during the last panel discussion of the day, that Cochran would be leading the future of Frommer’s Travel. No other details about the editor’s plans for the site were revealed, but it’s safe to say that with Cochran’s extensive experience, Frommer’s is in good hands.

Major Announcement at NY Trav Fest Reveals New Editor-in-Chief of Frommer’s Travel

“Never mix business with pleasure,” they say.  But that’s exactly what married couple Mandy Chan and Jason Ginsberg decided to do when they moved from Canada to Hong Kong in 2009 with their two young children to establish their own fine vintage wine business.

It was the biggest gamble of their lives. Having no experience of the wine industry or first-hand knowledge of the Chinese market for wine, Chan and Ginsberg gave up their successful careers and sold their Toronto property to fund the purchase of their initial portfolio.

Four years later they have established themselves as a highly successful online merchant in Hong Kong’s lucrative fine wine market, which is now the world’s largest, surpassing even London and New York.

Selling wines was a friend’s suggestion. Hong Kong had just abolished duties on wine to encourage trade and China was wine-thirsty.  “As we began to consider it seriously, we quickly saw the huge business potential,” said Chan.  And Hong Kong wasn’t entirely foreign to them: Chan’s parents were living in Hong Kong and Chan also lived in Hong Kong as a child. Relocating here seemed a natural choice.

Ginsberg admits they were complete novices: “We knew nothing about the wine business,” he said. “The only thing we knew about wine was that we liked to drink it!”  They enrolled in formal wine schooling and for the next year they worked on a business plan.

“We knew we should be looking at the higher end of the wine market…because Hong Kong loves luxury,” said Chan. Ginsberg added, “The operational costs of running a business in Hong Kong are so much higher than in the rest of the world.” Basics like office space and housing were much more expensive as was the state-of-the-art storage facility the couple purchased to ensure that the wine would not spoil while in transit to a steamy Hong Kong.

The secondary rare and fine wine market is completely different from the traditional wine retail business, Ginsberg explained: “It’s more like trading commodities because of the way the prices fluctuate.” They felt this played to their combined experience: Ginsberg in trading, as a former real estate professional, and Chan’s computer programming skills as a former software engineer. “Its also relatively low barrier to entry,” said Chan. “If you have this type of stock and you price it and market it well, you’ll most likely do well.”

Due to the financial crisis they were buying at a particularly good time. “There were people who needed money and they had too much wine,” said Ginsberg. “We were lucky enough to pick up a really, really good collection. The best wines you could possibly want to learn from.” They also invested heavily in Burgundy and in bio-dynamic wines. “We had no idea what to do and we bought way too much of the bio-dynamic wines,” he said.

In the first few months of Ginsberg+Chan, they operated from their apartment while they worked on marketing and building their brand.  “Our strategy was to just be the best price in town. And at that point we could do that because we had bought so well,” Ginsberg said.

“It was the frothiest wine market that there’s ever been,” he said. “The appetite for first growth Bordeaux was unbelievable,” referring to the group of First Growths of Bordeaux – Chateau Mouton, Margaux, Lafite, Latour, Haut Brion — widely regarded as the blue-chip investment grade wines. “We would buy wine from the US and by the time it had arrived two-weeks later, it was sold and had appreciated in value by five percent,” he said.

According to Ginsberg, it was a steep learning curve. Due to inexperience they didn’t spot the peak of the market soon enough; “I bought a lot at the top of the market and when the market started to decline, I didn’t sell fast enough,” he said. “We went from complete highs to complete lows. And that was really scary.” However, a diverse portfolio of trading and investment stock and a strong returning private client business kept their profits healthy, even though prices were declining.

From trading out of their apartment, they now have a team of five and are based in a trendy loft-style office space, complete with tasting area and on-site storage for a small number of wines. Ginsberg said they have outgrown their current office-space in less than two years. “We’re growing in multiples,” said Chan. Their main storage facility lies 20 km away, a state of the art, temperature-controlled warehouse that houses around 10,000 bottles.

They specialise in purchasing older and rare fine wines from private collectors and respected traders and they mostly cater for private clients and professionals in the wine trade.

“We are first and foremost stock holders,” said Chan. “We aim to combine the old world of wine mercantilism with the new world of online marketing.” They want to create a real sense of the shop’s identity and their personalities for their online purchasers. They say the look and feel of their website is more human and their service more personalised than other fine wine merchants in Hong Kong. If you call them it’s likely one of them will answer the phone, and all their gifts are hand-tied and their merchandise hand-delivered. “We interact with our clients as much as we can,” said Chan.

Client dinners and tastings are “basically just fun gatherings to meet our customers and open up some good wines together,” says Ginsberg. “The hardest thing is getting people to leave when the tasting is over,” he said. “They all want to stay and drink!”

Ultimately, it’s the quality of the inventory that they say draws people in. “We’ve always wanted to have this list that when people look at it they ogle,” Chan said. But to understand how good that list is requires an educated eye and palate.  “The way we’ve structured our portfolio and the presentation of our company is that it’s more geared towards people who are already wine connoisseurs…We’re really aiming at the wine geeks.”

They now have a solid brand in an industry in which reputation is everything.  “We only work with well-known dealers who have been in the market for years and years,” said Ginsberg. Authenticity is a key issue: “Everyone is really cautious,” he said. “Fakes do slip through the cracks and we’ve seen some,” so they make it a priority to examine all bottles when they arrive to their warehouse before they are put up for sale.

Ginsberg+Chan remains inventory-focussed but is seeking to broaden the business. “Hong Kong is still considered a young market,” said Chan. Pointing to more mature markets such as England where merchants successfully combine wine investment with wine services, they said they are currently working on plans to offer private cellars; for a minimum of HK$120,000 paid in monthly instalments over two-years, clients will work with an advisor to create their own cellar.

And so far their big gamble has paid off. “The fact we are working together, we still love each other and we get to hang out together,” said Ginsberg. “It’s been hands-down five times more successful than we ever hoped it would be. On every level.”

About the Writer

Tammy Allman obtained a degree in English Literature and worked as a high net wealth tax adviser for 14+ years. Following a move to Asia she is now studying for a masters degree in journalism. She has lived in Hong Kong for the past four years with her partner, Jonny, and their little girl, Maggie. Some of her main interests include literature, travel and the study and practice of yoga. She is a supporter and volunteer for the Cambodian Children’s Fund, a Cambodian-based charity.  Follow Tammy on Twitter @TammyAllman1

How One Canadian Couple Took a Leap and Became Fine Wine Merchants of the East

BY LANE FLORSHEIM

We had reached what we dismissed as a stretch of subdued spectators less than a mile from the finish line.

Four friends and I had been running alongside my roommate Jen –who was a first-time marathoner –somewhere between miles 20 and 21, shouting, “Cheer for Jen! Our friend Jen is coming up — would you yell for her?” to the thousands of people lined on either side of the street.

We received mixed reactions. Drunken BC students hollered and chanted, extending their arms for yards and yards of high fives. Some spectators were puzzled, trying to read our Sharpie-printed shirts and yelling encouraging catchphrases. Others didn’t respond at all, taking in the race and looking amused at our energy and cheerleading efforts.

So when we crossed this stretch of onlookers who seemed less than enthusiastic it was a bit perplexing, but neither unsettling nor alarming. We continued to run on toward the finish, quieting our spirited calls a bit.

Then, for the first time, I heard someone — one of the spectators? a runner? a police officer? — say something that stopped runners bound triumphantly for the finish dead in their tracks.

“Something’s happened.”

“There was an explosion. Two bombs went off at the finish line.”

***

If the purpose of random acts of violence is to terrorize then, yes, in the short-term, these horrific acts do instill an immediate, gripping sense of fear. They work in the short-term because no one is certain of what happened. Details are scarce and scattered and people begin to wonder if there is more to come.

As information slowly becomes available, it inevitably produces more questions: “Two bombs went off? Did people die? Two people died? Who?”

No one knows where to go or what to do — especially in a city and setting where such violence suddenly and shockingly destroys the notion that security is a given.”

**

My mind raced to the mobile tracking services we had been using all day to follow our friends’ progress. If the tracking was accurate, at least two of our friends and the groups that had been running alongside them during the difficult last stretch should have been at the finish line when the bombs went off…

In the midst of chaos, my awareness turned to a woman across the road. She was easy to see, clad in a hot pink jacket, running top, and visor — and visibly breaking down to the point where she was having trouble standing upright.

She had been falsely told that two bombs went off on a Boston-bound train. Her husband and child had been on a train running from Wellesley into the city to meet her at the finish line.

A few of our friends were comforting her, and she joined a small group that had started to form between us, Jen, and other Tufts runners and their supporters. Many of us were doing our best to keep the runners warm, and to formulate some kind of course of action to help.

Outside our moving huddle, strands of yellow “Caution” tape flanked the sidewalk and soon obstructed our path. We ducked under it and stumbled upon a medical tent, where our marathoners joined a line to receive space blankets. I was standing by myself, surveying our surroundings, when a friend approached me and said, “We need to keep moving. They might want us to get confused and for things to come to a standstill, you know?”

Random acts of violence terrorize in the short-term.

At that moment, my brain — which had not been processing the enormity of the situation — shut down. Tears sprung into my eyes, followed quickly by the awareness that no matter what else occurred, this was not a productive response. Without thinking concrete thoughts, I became hyperaware that we were standing a few feet from a bridge.

***

Jen, who split off from us after finding the marathon team and coaches, spent two hours wondering if her family, who had been waiting for her at the finish line, was alive. Phone service was shut off, lest a cell phone detonate another bomb. A sobering realization that technology simultaneously connects us and holds the capability of harming us in unimaginable ways.

Jen’s experience that day ended as well as possible, as did that of the distraught women in pink, and everyone we knew at the marathon. We are all immensely fortunate.

Seeing the very graphic photo coverage and reading about the three victims is heartbreaking in the most literal sense. I ache watching and reading the news and am particularly horrified by the death of eight-year-old Martin Richard from Dorchester, who was killed at the last point of the race, which was ironically dedicated to the victims of Newtown, after congratulating his father on finishing the marathon.

Random acts of violence terrorize in the short-term.

At the marathon, we were frightened, confused, panicked, and disoriented. Today, we feel numb, empty, sad, hurt, and violated.

Random acts of violence terrorize in the short term.

But I am hopeful that this one, at least, will not serve its purpose in the long-term.

The vast majority of us are lucky, and I think we are all very conscious of that right now. But far from destroying our spirits, this horrific occurrence is bringing us together and making us stronger and closer than before. The emotional turmoil we feel when we are not sure whether loved ones are safe reminds us how fortunate we are to live another day in their presence.

Jen beautifully summed up the hope that will undoubtedly rise from this tragedy in a post on Facebook: “If I come away with anything, it’s that this race could not be less about the finishing times and medals and more about the community that the marathon brings together, and I’m certain that in the wake of this terrible tragedy, we will all come together and show whoever is responsible for these unspeakable acts that the city of Boston cannot be broken by terror attacks.”

The articles and stories people have been tweeting, posting, and sending are not focused on the perpetrator of the act, but, instead, have highlighted the day’s victims and heroes. Social media and opinion-editorial sections alike have come alive with calls for resilience and proclamations of love.

I cannot possibly claim to know what the legacy of Monday will be. But I am cautiously hopeful that it will involve a city’s pride strengthened, and people across that city — as well as this country and the world — valuing ever more deeply the love in their lives.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Lane Florsheim is a senior at Tufts University where she is studying International Relations. She loves writing and reading about culture, politics, and women’s issues. Lane delights in jewelry making, captivating novels, and travel and exploration. Her personal website is available here. Follow Lane on Twitter @laneflorsheim.

Photo by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

“Something’s Happened”: Reflections From the Boston Marathon

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

In the small Indian village of Piplantri, the community celebrates the gift of life by giving back to Mother Earth. For every baby girl born into the village, the community gets together and plants 111 fruit trees to honor her birth. In a country that still favors the birth of a son, this village embraces daughters and has created a tradition that benefits the people and the planet.

FROM TREE HUGGER

All too often, it seems that an increase in human population must come at a cost to the environment, like in straining resources and encroachment on once wild habitats. But one quaint village in India has adopted a wonderfully eco-conscious tradition that is actually helping to ensure a greener future with each new generation.

While in some parts of India, many expectant parents still say they’d prefer bearing sons, members of the Piplantri village, in the western state of Rajasthan, are breaking this trend by celebrating the birth of each baby girl in way that benefits everyone. For every female child that’s born, the community gathers to plant 111 fruit trees in her honor in the village common.

This unique tradition was first suggested by the village’s former leader, Shyam Sundar Paliwal, in honor of his daughter who had passed away at a young age…Continue Reading

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

In This Village In India, When a Baby Girl is Born, 111 Trees Are Planted in Her Honor

By Zenaira Khan

Femen’s ‘Topless Jihad’ campaign has received much media coverage in the last few weeks and has sparked heated debates amongst Muslim communities both in and around Europe. The group, which is no stranger to using topless protests as a means to call attention to violations of women’s rights, have been heavily criticised by both feminists and Muslim women themselves who have described their actions as feeding into a racist, colonial brand of feminism at odds with the central tenets of the Feminist movement.

Femen’s founder Inna Shevchenko claimed that “Topless protests are the battle flags of women’s resistance, a symbol of a woman’s acquisition of rights over her own body!”

There are several things wrong with this statement. It regards a woman’s freedom to remove her clothes in public as an indicator of liberation and the most effective form of activism. Rather than serving as ‘battle flags of women’s resistance,’ they show that the only way to attract media attention as a woman is by taking your top off and performing for the patriarchal gaze. When confronted by bare-breasted women, the violation of women’s rights in the Middle East is the last thing that will cross a spectator’s mind and in this way, Femen’s protests completely miss the point. Femen have laid waste to the centuries-old battle fought by Feminists against the sexual objectification of women.

Femen claims to “recognize the European values of freedom, equality and comprehensive development.” By assuming all Middle Eastern women to be veiled and oppressed by men in comparison to liberated European women, who have the ‘freedom’ to take their tops off in public, Femen are guilty of colonialism/orientalism (demonstrated further by Shevchenko’s claims that “They write on their posters that they don’t need liberation, but in their eyes it’s written ‘help me’”) and for this they have been heavily criticized by outraged Muslim women (many of whom identified themselves as feminists) who formed their own protest entitled ‘Muslim Women Against Femen.’

Controversial methods of protest aside, the ‘Topless Jihad’ debate has raised many important questions about the position of women in both Western and Non-Western societies. It is no secret that many women in North Africa and the Middle East lack the same basic rights as their male counterparts and that there is an ongoing but painfully slow struggle for their liberation. For example, in Saudi Arabia, women have only just been ‘allowed’ the freedom to ride a bike, but only if accompanied by a male relative.

It is disheartening to see that the media and society will only pay attention to a woman if she is naked and this way, Femen are making an interesting comment on how much we still have to achieve in terms of gender equality in the West.

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About the Writer

Zenaira Khan is a senior at the University of Westminster in London where she is studying English Literature. She loves reading, writing and cooking, and hopes to travel along The Silk Road one day. You can read more of her writing on her blog or follow her on twitter @zskha

Photo via Femen

Femen’s Topless Jihad – A Backlash Against Feminism?

Elqui Domos, a dreamy retreat located in the Elqui Valley of Chile was built with one purpose in mind: uninterrupted stargazing.

The hotel is located on a spacious property that blends seamlessly with nature. Guests can choose to stay in a Dome room, or in one of four observatory rooms.

“We realized that the forms and philosophy of the geodesic dome constructions were perfect for our objective and it was thus that we defined the basic requirements for the final design: the bed should be located in the highest place and have a roof over it that can be opened in order to watch the stars at leisure,” states owner and manager Esteban Zárate Rojas.

“Five years after the opening of Elqui Domos, we decided to expand its installations adding four cabins called ‘observatories’, whose architectural design achieved similar effects to those of the domes with regards to observing the skies from them and also being able to enjoy the different views of the valley.”

The hotel also has an astronomic observatory consisting of two domes that house Ceslestron telescopes.  The domes are motorized and  a digital camera is provided for the observation of the moon and planets.

Photos via James Florio for Elqui Domos 

At This Hotel in Chile, Your Observatory Room is a Gateway to a Star-Flooded Sky

Ever wonder where celebrity chefs are really dining? Sure, we know that Anthony Bourdain loves Momofuku and Mario Batali is a fan of Le Bernardin, but we’ve all already heard about how fabulous and haute these restaurants are. What would be even cooler is if we could get our hands on the names and adresses of little no-name eateries and restaurants where prominent chefs call themselves regulars.

Brothers Steve and Jared Rivera had that very same idea after Jared asked Chef Michael Mina for a few recommendations on where to find some good burrito joints in San Francisco’s Mission District. The chef suggested places Rivera had never heard of and that were not listed on Yelp. Later, with help from angel investors, the brothers launched Chefs Feed, an iPhone app that allows you to: choose your location, find your favorite chef among the 500 featured in the database and learn where and what he or she is eating in your city.

Users can also quickly find food based on proximity, neighborhood, cuisine type and more. Chefs Feed also allows users to build a personal network and flavor profile by tracking, planning, and sharing culinary adventures with friends. You can also receive live information from the chefs and people you follow and learn when new chefs and dishes have been added to the guide.

Feature photo by Skånska Matupplevelser

This New App Helps Foodies Find Neighborhood Gems Through Their Favorite Chefs’ Recommendations

The Nature Conservancy, an organization dedicated to protecting nature and preserving life, works in all 50 states and in 30 countries worldwide. Through the organization’s Gift Catalog, consumers can purchase an opportunity to protect the precious resources we need to survive and forge innovative solutions that benefit both nature and people.  For $15, you can buy a solar stove for a family in Haiti. For $50, you can adopt an acre in Africa or Australia and for $125, you can pay a wildlife guard’s salary for a month. In giving with The Nature Conservancy, you are helping to make a difference in the health of our planet and all of the people living on it.

Support a Marine Project      Buy a TILORI SOLAR OVEN for a Family in Haiti     Sponsor a Student

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

Photo by Alex Schwab

This Organization Sells Opportunities That Provide a Better Quality of Life for People Across the Globe

By Lane Florsheim

Anthony Bourdain has referred to it as “An important book on an egregiously underappreciated, under-reported area of gastronomy.” The Gaza Kitchen, by Laila El-Haddad and Maggie Schmitt, is a culinary journal of Palestine’s luscious food culture.

The cookbook boasts both an impressive collection of recipes previously unknown to most of the world, as well as images, essays, and profiles that paint a portrait of the people who have been cooking them for generations.

El-Haddad and Schmitt believe that the media’s portrayal of Gazans is one of contradictory extremes. Gazans are either depicted as the hapless, piteous victims of violence, or as the rage-filled perpetrators of it. “All that [Palestinians] are seeing now is images they don’t recognize,” says El-Haddad.

The Gaza Kitchen transcends these stereotypes, opting to tell the stories of individual lives being experienced against a complex political backdrop. “On the one hand, we wanted to document the cuisine of Gaza. It is very unique, singular, delicious food,” explains Schmitt. “Another part [of our work] was narrating the personal stories in the text boxes, looking at the households.”

“You can call it a documentary cookbook,” adds El-Haddad.

Indeed, each section of the book—from Salads to Seafood to Desserts, Conserves, and Beverages—is peppered with stories and photographs of the local food workers and home cooks who are involved in the culinary process from the time food is farmed to when it is served and consumed.

We learn, for instance, the story of Um Ibrahim, an 89-year-old woman who fled to Gaza after being driven out of her native village of Beit Tima. Her recollection of Beit Tima’s fruit orchards and vegetables—which contrasts strongly with a description of the UN provided rations of flour, beans, sugar, salt, and powdered milk—is presented beside the recipe for her former village’s famous kishik stew.

Food as a means of preserving local ties to villages like Beit Tima is a theme throughout the book. “These villages no longer exist on maps,” says El-Haddad. “You can taste them through food.”

Gaza’s cuisine diverges from classic Palestinian cuisine with its unique use of red chili peppers, red tahini, fresh dill and dill seeds, and the zest of eastern spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon.

However, even these key ingredients demonstrate the ominous political climate in Gaza. For example, red tahini is made from toasted sesame. Sesame seeds enter the region primarily through illegal tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, which drives up the price and renders red tahini unaffordable to the people who invented it.

The Gaza Kitchen is many things: a cookbook full of mouthwatering recipes, a collective portrait of a region under siege told through accounts of singular lives, and a commentary on the resilience of the human spirit. Few cookbooks teach readers about the origins of featured recipes in such a profound and educative way.

 ABOUT THE WRITER

Lane Florsheim is a senior at Tufts University where she is studying International Relations. She loves writing and reading about culture, politics, and women’s issues. Lane delights in jewelry making, captivating novels, and travel and exploration. Her personal website is available here. Follow Lane on Twitter @laneflorsheim.

A Culinary Journal, The Gaza Kitchen Presents the Rich Food Culture of a People Under Siege

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

In the slums of India lies a town uncharted by Google Maps. Saddened by the fact that their home was simply an empty space among other neighboring villages and cities, a group of courageous teenagers personally mapped out their town, and later used it for a polio vaccination campaign. Their incredible quest attracted international attention and was documented in the film, The Revolutionary Optimists.

FROM GOOD

These children living in the slums of Kolkata, India are young community organizers. When they realized their homes did not appear on Google Maps—instead there was a void, a blank space—they worked to count every residence on every street and map their own neighborhood.

They then used the map they created to organize a polio vaccination campaign, making sure every child in their community was protected against the disease.

Not bad for a small group of teenagers, and even more impressive when you consider the odds against them: poverty, lack of access to reliable water, the prospect of early arranged marriage and balancing basic education with generating income and putting food on the table…Continue Reading

READ MORE OF OUR STORIES IN GOOD

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

Missing From Google Maps: Children of India’s Kolkata Slum Turn a Void into a Positive Health Campaign

Curated by Kristin Kownacky

PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics is a cosmetics line that is giving back, one beauty product at a time. The eco-friendly  line donates 100 percent after-tax, distributable profits to charities that support urgent women’s rights issues around the globe. The company strives to end servitude and exploitation of women and children. Check out some of their cool products and support a woman or girl in need today.

Our Favorites:

Paint Me Brave
Paint Me Mysterious
Paint Me Empowered

Our Favorites:

Paint Me Sumptuous
Paint Me Provocative
Paint Me Tranquil

 Our Favorite:

Eco Sensual Lip Balm 

PeaceKeeper sources certain raw ingredients such as stevia and spearmint from developing countries such as India to support farmers who live on less than a dollar a day. The company also supports local farmers here in the USA — where they manufacture — by buying rosemary and other ingredients from them.

YUM GLAZES have been confirmed to be 95 percent organic and food-grade by the USDA, so they really are good enough to eat!

Our Favorites:

YUM Glaze Strawberry
YUM Glaze Blueberry

READ MORE IN WOMEN

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

Featured photo by Meanest Indian
Photos via PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics

These “Cause-metics” Fight for Women’s Health Advocacy, Education and Human Rights

By Maria Russo

During a recent trip to Belize, Anthony and I hopped over the border to visit Yaxha, the third largest ruin in Guatemala. The site itself calls for its own story as its rich history and astounding kingdom of ruins is truly a wonder. This story focuses on a small, yet incredible snippet of someone’s life who lived in the Mayan kingdom of Tikal, one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization.

On the way over to the Yaxha, our guide David, retold stories he had learned from archeologists he worked with while several of the structures at the site were still being excavated. One story, which roots lie in Tikal, (David provided a brief history of all the excavated ruins in Guatemala, hence leading to this story) was initiated while we were discussing the life expectancy of the Maya, which for some reason, made David think of his beautiful grandmother who bore 17 children and apparently still looked healthier and had more energy than most 40-year-olds. David told us that he dicovered his grandmother’s anti-anging secret one day when she brought over a large basket filled with raw cocoa.

He questioned his grandmother about the contents of the basket and she informed him that she had been creating a drink of raw cocoa, honey and vanilla for most of her life. She believed it was what kept her hips tight, her heart strong and her mind alive.

“Cocoa has been a popular ingredient in drinks in Mesoamerica for centuries,” David said. “In fact, just around 700 A.D. there was a Mayan member of the royal family aptly named Au Cacao, or ‘Lord Chocolate’ who was buried with the recipe of his favorite chocolate drink.”

I blurted a visceral reaction of “No way!” and David turned around from the front passenger seat and whispered: “Do you want the secret recipe?”

“You have it?!” I said almost shouting.

“Yes, is your pen ready?” David responded.

I always carry an open notebook when I travel, it’s just a habit I developed over years of being a writer, so I quickly responded “Shoot.”

David slowly and deliberately listed the ingredients Lord Chocolate used in his cocoa drink more than 1,300 years ago: “co–coa beans, hon–ey, all-a-spice…”. While I was jotting down each sweet word, I pictured a short, bronzed Mayan man relaxing in some remote location in the  jungle enjoying a drink very similar to the Mayan hot chocolates I sip down during the cold winter months in Princeton. So many years had separated our existence, yet we shared a common love of cocoa — amazing.

David went on to tell me that Lord Chocolate was even buried with what was believed to be the vessel that held his chocolate drinks, which sat next to an inscription that is believed to mean “refreshing.”

Later that evening, after we returned from the incredible tour of Yaxha, I pulled out the chocolate bar made from 70 percent Belizean cacao which I purchased back in San Pedro from MOHO, a shop that sold chocolate from a family-owned farm in Punta Gorda, and bit off a large chunk. I closed my eyes so I could focus on the subtle notes of coffee and caramel and quietly thanked Lord Chocolate for his sweet tooth, which just may have sparked the world’s fascination with this golden bean.

Recipe for Lord Chocolate’s Favorite Drink:

• Crushed cocoa beans
• Honey
• Allspice
• Chilies
• Vanilla
• Annatto
• Water

Photo by jamieanne

How We Got Our Hands on a Chocolate Drink Recipe From 700 A.D. Found in the Tomb of a Mayan King

By Molly E. McCluskey

Stand outside Jl Suweta 5 in Ubud, Bali, and you won’t know which way to turn.

Through one door is a glimpse of the world.  An underground stop in London. Chinese dragon dancers in Bangkok. Holy week in Andalusia. Visitors, many of them international, are surrounded by a stunning gallery of photographs capturing cultures and experiences foreign to their own.

Through another door is a glimpse of the inherently local. A café with locally-sourced ingredients. Coffee as pure Balinese as its customers can stand. The only cupcakes in town, made from scratch in the tiny kitchen. Visitors, many of them local, are indulging in the tastes and aromas of Bali.

While it’s not unusual for visitors in each of the rooms to drift into the one another, each business has its own distinct clientele. The gallery attracts international visitors coming to see the work of a renown photographer.  The café has its loyal locals who come in for their morning cup.

The man behind both, Rio Helmi, of the Rio Helmi Gallery and Localista Café, enjoys the balance in such a together-but-separate arrangement. “It’s symbiosis,” he says in a low, thoughtful voice with a hint of wry. “And I think it works.”

This sort of balancing act is not new to Helmi. Born to a diplomat father and a Turkish mother, Helmi found in Bali a home to which he returned between extended stays in Australia and Germany, and schooling in Switzerland. After school, he traveled across Asia, lived in India and returned to Australia, where he rediscovered his childhood love of photography. In the late 1970s, he returned to Bali, which has been his base ever since. Then, he lived in the still-remote village of Kuta, in a hut in a coconut field.

“Living here in the seventies and early eighties was like being completely immersed, being immersed right up to your neck, in Bali, and everything that is Bali.”

***

Fluent in Indonesian and Balinese as well as English, German and French, Helmi has spent more than thirty years capturing the stories of Indonesia and Asia. During the eighties, he worked as an editor with various domestic media outlets, including the Bali Post. His work has been shown from San Francisco to Sydney to Spain. Considered one of Asia’s leading photographers, his work has appeared in Harpers’ Bazaar, Vanity Fair, the New York Times, and other global news services. His books include Memories of the Sacred, a retrospective of Bali, and extensive work on remote and isolated peoples throughout Indonesia. He’s a regular speaker at the renowned Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

I don’t know all this when I sit down with him in his gallery one day last spring. The gallery had been closed when I first visited Localista, a still fairly new shop in Ubud catering to locals in a town that seems to favor tourists. My angle, how do you open and run a thriving local coffee shop with Starbucks a few blocks away, quickly changes as I catch my first up-close glimpse of his work. Spanning peace and conflict, the far and the near, the young and the old, each photograph is nearly an assault on the senses.

The gallery is cool on an otherwise humid Balinese spring day. With the doors closed and the air conditioning humming slightly, the white walls offer striking contrast to the heat of the photographs. We’re sitting on one of those low, hip benches with a small table dividing us, him facing one direction, I the other, both slightly twisted so we can talk. The door to the café opens and the heat from its patio seating rushes through as the woman overseeing the café, Yuli, brings us coffee and cupcakes. The sounds of a motorcycle passing by drowns out my thanks and her response.

“Things have changed a lot,” Helmi continues after Yuli returns to the café that Helmi’s daughter runs. “When I first came, we didn’t have cars on this road, we didn’t have electricity. Eight o’clock at night everything went dark, except when there was a temple festival on.”

The temple is the palace of Ubud’s last king, which is steps from the gallery and café. It’s home to the king’s descendents, public performances and a limited number of private, ornate suites behind an imposing wall designed to keep tourists at bay. I walk past it on my now daily trips from my lodgings to Localista and the gallery, and on my last night in town, I’ll be a guest in one of the palace’s suites. The road to it is always busy with tour buses and motorcycles and taxis. The performances are bright and festive, with the sounds carrying for blocks.

“There’s been a big shift even in the past few years,” Helmi says. “Since the eighties and nineties, the leaps tend to come. They get quantum. They get quite dramatic.”

He turns to acknowledge guests that have wandered into the gallery from the street, then pauses to look out the window, as though seeing a Bali of long ago.

“Now, there’s a lot of young kids who don’t know or haven’t experienced half of what I’ve experienced. Balinese kids. I notice it when we sit down, when somebody dies for example, and we all get together and we’re sitting and chatting and it really strikes me. The memories are quite different.”

****

Long known as the cultural hub of Bali, and more recently made famous by Elizabeth Gilber’s memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, Ubud is brimming with shops by local artisans. Away from the party culture of backpackers’ paradise in Kuta, or the luxury resort- enclave of Nusa Dua, Ubud tends to attract a more introspective crowd. But with booming popularity has come a downside; outside interests buying land has driven up prices on everything from basic needs to dining out.

“The higher prices at restaurants have driven the living rates up and it squeezes out the smaller people, which I think is very unfair,” Helmi says. “The real estate land grab has pushed prices up so high. There are a few people making a lot of money but there are also people who are not. Ubud is different (as a result).”

One clear beacon of change in Ubud is the Starbucks only a few blocks away from the gallery; with its Balinese-style gong and a back porch that overlooks the Ubud Water Palace. For the price of a latte or a scone, customers can skip the cost of admission to the Palace and instead have a vantage point for the nightly dance performances. If you go looking for Localista and instead settle for Starbucks, you’re lost, and perhaps a lost cause.

Helmi is quick to say there’s nothing wrong with Starbucks, per se, and even admits to drinking a cup on the road now and then. But he says few things top locally-grown coffee, wherever “local” may be.  “It really hit me the last time I was in Spain,” he says. “Here’s this country with the most amazing coffee and they have a Starbucks there. So it raises the question, What am I doing here?”

Starbucks serves a purpose, perhaps, for the Westerns who come and can’t stomach Balinese coffee. It’s strong, and raw, and slightly greenish. My first cup of it gives me the shakes and makes me a tad queasy. Speaking with him, my hand trembles from a cup I had hours earlier as I take notes. You know you’re drinking Indonesian coffee, Helmi tells me, when your eyebrows stand up. But it’s not what’s being served in Localista.

“We try as much as possible to use local ingredients, but the local coffee is just too strong for people. Indonesians, we like our coffee like, “Bam!” you know?” He’s laughing as he says this, the raspy voice gaining octaves. “For us, it’s like, if you’re going to drink coffee, you drink coffee. Why mess around? Otherwise, have water.” But even at Localista, the local coffee’s been blended for a smoother taste.

“I was really excited about using only the local coffee for the espresso because I thought I’d found a guy doing quite a good roast,” he says. “I tried it on some of my Western friends, and they said, ‘You know, Rio, if this is the only coffee you’re going to run with, you’re going to lose business.’ And I was a bit sad about it, because I really wanted to have just local coffees.”

We’ve finished our coffee, our cupcakes, and our time. He has another interview on an exhibit he’s opening soon, and preparations to make for slideshow of local artists. The gallery frequently hosts such shows. Anyone who has anything interesting to share, can, he says. It’s the grown-up equivalent of show and tell.

I indulge myself with some time in the gallery, the photographs grab hold of me and won’t let go. Months later, I’ll be able to close my eyes and bring them back to mind.  The door opens, heat rushes in. The guests from the gallery wander over to Localista and have a seat at one of the small tables vacated by customers who are now wandering into the gallery.

Symbiosis.

The Rio Helmi Gallery and Localista are located at Jl. Suweta 5, Ubud, Bali, and are open daily from 10-8. Visit the Rio Helmi Gallery online at www.riohelmi.com.

About the Writer

Molly McCluskey is a full-time freelance writer who, when not traveling, is based in Washington, D.C. Follow her on Twitter @MollyEMcCluskey.

Photos via Rio Helmi

A Smooth Blend: The Local and International Merge in Ubud’s Gallery/Café

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

LUSH, a company that produces natural and organic beauty products made primarily from fruits and vegetables, is creating a more beautiful world by giving back to communities in need. The Charity Pot, a hand and body lotion made from almond oil, cocoa butter and ylang ylang oil is Lush’s way of supporting charities around the world. One hundred percent of  the cost goes to grassroots charities that fight for human rights, the protection of animals, and environmental conservation. When you purchase a Charity Pot the money will be sent to the charity on its lid — one of 350 charities worldwide. In just five years, the Lush team has been able to donate $3.8 million.

For more information on LUSH and the Charity Pot check out this video:

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

This Rich, Plant-Based Moisturizer Supports Charities Around the World

By Lane Florsheim

Last week, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter lit up red as millions of users switched their profile photos to the latest variation of the iconic Human Rights Campaign equal sign.

It was a momentous week for the Human Rights Campaign and for the LGBT community. On March 26, the Supreme Court heard arguments for and against Prop 8, the California law that bans same-sex marriage. On March 27, the Court turned its attention to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and woman.

The LGBT rights movement has a long and notable history of using symbols and color to represent its cause.Beginning in the Victorian era, gay men wore green carnations as an understated form of identification through which they could recognize one another. Oscar Wilde was known for wearing one in his lapel.

During the early twentieth century, red accessories such as ties and cravats succeeded the green carnation. Red eventually became famous as the color representing AIDS awareness.

The pink triangle, today a well-known symbol of the gay liberation movement, has its origins rooted in tragedy and human cruelty. It was first used in Nazi concentration camps to designate homosexual prisoners.

In the 1970s, the movement reclaimed the pink triangle, and a decade later, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT-UP) chose it as their symbol, turning its point upwards to indicate an active fight.

At around the same time, San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker created the movement’s famous rainbow flag in 1978 as a symbol to be used every year in the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade.  Each color in the flag represented a different facet of gay and lesbian life. Today, it is an internationally recognized symbol of gay pride.

The Human Rights Campaign equal sign, traditionally yellow with a navy background, is similarly recognizable, though it is important to note that HRC is a group focused primarily on marriage equality and does not represent the views of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

The unembellished but bold design was created by marketing firm Stone Yamashita as a means of furthering a unifying message for the organization. HRC spokesperson Charlie Joughin explained that last week’s switch to red was because red is a symbol for love.

Last Friday, the Supreme Court justices met to make preliminary decisions on the outcomes of the week’s cases. Right now, it appears that the justices are leaning toward dismissal of Prop 8, and the pivotal decision on DOMA rests with Justice Kennedy as the liberal and conservative judges are evenly split.

The ambiguous position of the judges is a disappointment to many. However, equal rights advocates can take a certain degree of comfort in knowing the public and political attitude toward same-sex marriage has shifted dramatically and quickly in recent years. Right now, support is as high as 70 percent among the millennial generation.

Let us hope that in the months before the Supreme Court makes its final rulings—most likely in June—the justices recognize the importance of equality that most of our country already has. And in the meantime, let your rainbow flag fly.

 About the Writer

Lane Florsheim is a senior at Tufts University where she is studying International Relations. She loves writing and reading about culture, politics, and women’s issues. Lane delights in jewelry making, captivating novels, and travel and exploration. Her personal website is available here. Follow Lane on Twitter @laneflorsheim.

Green Carnations and Pink Triangles: A History of Color and Symbolism in the LGBT Rights Movement

BY ERICA JORDAN

Born out of “a desire to combine a love of design with the hope to alleviate poverty among women around the world,” Raven + Lily truly embraces the empowerment of women through their feminine fashion collections.

Founders Kirsten Dickerson and Sophia Lin have built their message into the company’s “triple” bottom line; “People, Planet, Profit.” The two gather inspiration for their unique collections through travel experiences from around the globe and through the relationships they forge along those journeys. Nature, art and culture found in the countries they visit play a large role in design inspiration along with the visions of the local women they’ve partnered with.

Raven + Lily empowers women through local partnerships and sustainable employment opportunities, which meet fair trade standards, and also reinvests profits into training and educational opportunities for the women and their families. Some of these opportunities include encouraging the partner programs to help women create a savings account; providing further training and education; and job training for women in the community who have not yet secured employment.

“Our goal is to have women that are fully trained in design and production so that they can operate a successful business with or without the help of Raven + Lily,” says Dickerson.

Until then, each partnership is visited at least once a year, most recently through an ambassador trip to Morocco where volunteers were able to meet the artisan groups while shooting this season’s lookbook.

This summer, they will be embarking on another ambassador trip, with celebrity ambassador Jayma Mays to meet the artisans and to compile their Spring/Summer 2014 collection.

Dickerson tells us that the collections are developed around two yearly seasons, with each collection having a theme that is carried through all [of the] partnerships. “In this way,” she says “these groups of marginalized women from around the world are unified through design and hope for a better future.”

The pieces, which can be described as “modern and organic in nature with an ethnic twist,” reflect the beauty of the message of hope that they contain. In fact, some of the pieces are up-cycled from hurt to hope, such as beads used in pieces made in Ethiopia. These beads are created from bullet casings from previous war conflicts. Many farmers gather the casings from their fields and pass them on to women in the community who melt and reform the casings into beautiful jewelry.

Raven + Lily uses eco-friendly materials that are kind to the environment and to the people creating the items in their collections.  Dickerson and Lin are on a constant search to find high quality materials that also fit these requirements, beginning with their design process. Most of the materials and artisan techniques compliment the region where a partnership is located. Raven + Lily’s dedication to being environmentally friendly extends back home as well, with each team member personally seeking eco-friendly lifestyles.

“We truly believe in the model of creating sustainable income opportunities for women, not just charity or hand-outs. Each woman is valuable and needs to know that,” says Dickerson. “Raven + Lily provides opportunity to bring hope and dignity into the lives of woman who have suffered deeply.  The beauty of the products we sell is a reflection of the beautiful woman who made it and how her life is changing.”

For more information regarding how Raven + Lily is a socially responsible brand, check out their infographic here.

READ MORE IN WOMEN

ABOUT THE WRITER

Erica Jordan obtained a degree in biology and worked in the pharmaceutical industry before getting addicted to travel. She has since traveled extensively while teaching English in Japan, written a grammar textbook and sailed around the world as an interpreter and translator. Some of her interests include sustainability, modern art and hunting down cozy cafes. You can read about her adventures on Kizzling Around or connect with her on twitter @Kizzling Around.

From Hurt to Hope: Raven + Lily’s Design Collection Supports Women Artisans from Around the Globe

Jack Hagley designed this infographic to create a more tangible snapshot of  the world. The infographic brings attention to pressing global issues such as access to clean water, technology, education and shelter. When shared in this manner, it is shocking to see that only 7 people have a college degree and that 23 are overweight while 16 are undernourished or starving…

A Look at the World as 100 People (INFOGRAPHIC)

CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY

Just months ago, Richard Engel, an NBC News correspondent, and his crew were kidnapped by the hellacious shabiha militia in Syria. Enduring days of  brutal treatment, Engel fought panic and festering thoughts of torture and death. In the end, it was his will to survive that kept him calm and lucid through this horrific event.

FROM VANITY FAIR

The commander was waiting for us by the side of the road, just as he had promised. His name was Abdelrazaq, and he was clean-shaven and had bright eyes that made him look intelligent. He smoked a cigarette and didn’t let on if he was annoyed that we were an hour late. We’d gotten lost on the way, but didn’t tell him that.

I was on assignment for NBC News, and my team and I were on the Syrian side of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, one of the main access points between Syria and Turkey.

Abdelrazaq lifted our bags into his car. Boys scurried about, looking to carry luggage for tips. Men shouldered 50-pound sacks of fertilizer. The rebels mix fertilizer with sugar and pack it into propane tanks to make bombs that can knock the tracks off a Syrian tank or tear up government patrols. The rebels have used so much fertilizer that it is hard to find in Syria. It has to be carried in from Turkey, along with just about everything else. Guns and money and walkie-talkies and spies go one way across the two miles of no-man’s-land separating Syria from Turkey; the wounded and refugees go the other. The border crossing at Bab al-Hawa is the umbilical cord to the revolution…Continue Reading

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.

Photo by LeStudio1.com – Bernard Bujold

Kidnapped in Syria: One Journalist’s Story of Survival