February 1, 2010 at 2:34 pm (Haiti)
I smiled over my morning coffee when I read this headline: Haitian food distribution efforts focus on women. It’s about time. Seeing the news images of jostling, fighting and full on stealing in food lines has been so disheartening, knowing because of that aggression less food will get out and, that which does get distributed, won’t necessarily get to those who need it the most (especially children). Most, no, all of the aggression I’ve seen in news images on TV are of men. Of course that makes sense. Men are physically the strongest, often most able to get to the food lines because women are caring for children, and many men are just trying to provide for their hungry families. But there are also some men who abuse that physical power to take advantage of the situation. There have been problems with donated food being resold on the streets of Port au Prince – out of bags clearly marked “not for resale.”
Changing distribution strategy like this is nothing new. The UN World Food Program has used such an approach in other disaster zones to great success. When women are given food they are far more likely to wait their turn calmly and to make sure it gets to their children, elderly parents, as well as to the men in their household. So the men aren’t actually left out, they just have to be nice to their wives to get fed.
Speaking of husbands and wives, my own dear husband, Steve, will be leaving soon for Haiti. He’ll be working with two fabulous organizations, Medical Teams International and Haiti Foundation of Hope. He’ll work a week in mobile health clinics in Port-au-Prince followed by a week in HFH’s community health program in northern Haiti. This is his fourth trip to work with HFH’s community health program, a program that empowers community members (men and women alike) to be agents of health change in their own communities. The Haitians he’ll be working with are true change agents, the real future of a brighter Haiti. I appreciate your prayers for him and for the rebuilding of Haiti.
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January 28, 2010 at 2:17 pm (Haiti)
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January 27, 2010 at 3:06 pm (Bambootique, Honduras)
Check out our brand new Have A Heart earrings, just in from our jewelry cooperative in Honduras. The earrings are part of our collection of pewter jewelry, with the pewter being made from recycled soda cans collected and processed by Lencan (indigenous) artisans. These earrings are just $19/ pair and are in a very limited supply, so grab them soon if you want to give them for Valentine’s Day. They are of course fair trade and, being from recycled materials, are eco-friendly to boot.
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January 19, 2010 at 3:09 pm (Haiti, In the News)
I have wept each day since the earthquake hit Haiti last week. I find myself compulsively drawn to CNN’s news 
coverage but then so burdened by the despair, the death, the horror. Especially hard for this pregnant mom are the images and interviews of moms and children. Yesterday MSNBC’s medical correspondent interviewed the mom of a 5-year old with a broken leg. The mom had just found out her daughter’s leg was infected due to lack of antibiotics and would have to be amputated. In front of her small child she told the interviewer she’d rather her daughter die than be an amputee. The fear and despair in that child’s face when she heard her mother utter those words tore me to the core.
But in a tragedy with a death toll possibly topping 200,000, THERE IS HOPE. This hope is all I, and even more so every single Haitian now in mourning, have to cling to. There are the news stories of dramatic rescues of the living still taking place, a full week after the quake. There are the stories from our dear friends, Dr. Joe and Linda Markee, now serving on the ground in one of Port au Prince’s few remaining hospitals. There is the outpouring of generosity from foreign nations, including ours, and the promises to make sure that aid continues beyond the immediate to help Haiti rebuild. There is the above picture, of the Terre Blanche clinic about 120 miles north of Port au Prince. It is still standing and is expecting the arrival of the wounded from Port au Prince seeking medical care. Haiti is a largely Christian nation and the images of the newly homeless singing hymns together in the face of the destruction is a testament to the hope the Haitian people still somehow have.
Like so many Haitians, my hope and comfort comes from Jesus Christ. The horrific images I see on TV make no sense to me but I believe in the words of Jesus in John 11:4 when he says “…this is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” May small stories of hope encourage and lift your spirit as well in the face of so much sadness.
For more on how you can help in Haiti visit Haiti Foundation of Hope.
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January 13, 2010 at 2:58 pm (Haiti)
I am utterly dismayed by the news of the 7.0 earthquake to strike Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. In a country where 85% of the population already lives in poverty, infrastructure is almost non-existent, and the government is perpetually unstable, this earthquake’s effects will reach farther than we are even yet imagining. Information out of Haiti has been slow-coming and, when the dust settles and TV crews can get footage out, I believe we will discover a major city of 2 million, just a short flight from Florida’s coast, has been totally destroyed.
I spent just a short week in Haiti in 2004 as part of a disaster assessment following Hurricane Jeanne. While I have not returned my husband, Steve (MD, MPH), has since traveled multiple times to Haiti to participate in the community health work of Haiti Foundation of Hope. HFH works in an area north of Port-au-Prince that, as far as we know, has not been heavily damaged by the earthquake. However the founders of HFH, Dr. Joe and Linda Markee, are leaving later this week for Port-au-Prince in cooperation with Medical Teams International to see how the two organizations can help at the heart of the disaster.
If you are looking for a way you can help, I strongly urge you to GIVE GENEROUSLY to Haiti Foundation of Hope. With Dr. Joe and Linda on the ground right away they will be able to assess the best way to use the funds given to meet immediate needs of those affected by this disaster.
Please also PRAY. HFH still has not heard from its in-country contacts, Pastor Delamy Bazilme and his wife Elvi. They live in Port-au-Prince so naturally we are all concerned. Assuming they are healthy and well, the first place they will be is out helping their neighbors and so prayer for their continued safety is essential. As a nation Haiti was already so desperately in need of miracles. That need is only now exacerbated.
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December 17, 2009 at 6:55 pm (Bambootique, Fair Trade Products, Portland area)
Bambootique is thrilled to announce that Portland’s Ten Thousand Villages store just added our products to the store’s great array of fair trade products! Ten Thousand Villages gorgeous store is located in the Pearl district at 938 NW Everett Street. They have an incredible selection of high-quality, high-end fair trade goods like housewares, rugs, furniture and of course personal accessories like Bambootique’s. If you’re in Portland and doing some last minute Christmas shopping this weekend, make Ten Thousand Villages your shopping destination!
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December 7, 2009 at 9:00 pm (Gift Ideas, Women's issues)
My friends over at World Pulse magazine just let me know of a great offer they’re running for the holidays. Buy a membership to their fabulous organization for yourself, get a free membership to give to a friend! Membership is $30 and includes a subscription to their paper magazine as well as access to all their great online information and inspiring stories of women worldwide. World Pulse is giving voice to so many women who would otherwise go unheard by the media. Join the conversation and get a friend involved too!
I’ve given World Pulse as gifts myself and every woman I’ve given it to has been so grateful to know such a publication exists. More information on this holiday offer here.
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December 4, 2009 at 10:18 am (Bambootique, Blog Specials, Fair Trade Products, Saving Money)
We’re now officially in the holiday shopping season and you may be starting to cross some names off your Christmas shopping list. You can still make Bambootique part of your holiday gifts without paying a cent in shipping costs, at least through December 14th. Use coupon code lipship at checkout and you won’t pay any shipping costs for orders over $25. You’ll also get a free holiday lipbalm to boot! This offer runs out December 14th.
If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area I also welcome shoppers to make appointments to swing by my home, either to browse or to pick up an emailed order. Sometimes it’s nice to see a product in person before choosing so you’re welcome to email a wishlist, come by and look it all over, and take home what you like. Please call (503-781-3244) or email (beth@shopbambootique.com) at least 24 hours in advance to arrange an appointment. I’m available most afternoons and many evenings, as well as some Saturday mornings. A hot mug of tea will welcome you as well as Christmas music and no shopping crowds! Little ones are welcome to accompany you too and play with Grace while you shop.
Here’s to a peaceful Christmas season focused on family, friends and Christ, the true reason for this season.
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November 27, 2009 at 12:43 pm (Bambootique, Events, Fair Trade Products, Portland area)
Join Bambootique this Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 at the fabulous wine bar and bistro, Oscar Albert, for an evening of holiday festivities and shopping!
Where: Oscar Albert Wine Bar and Bistro, 4847 SE Division, Portland, Oregon
When: Dec. 2, 2009, 5:30-8pm
Other vendors include:
Missionary Chocolates – Woman owned, delicious!
Apolloni Winery – Delightful wines made in Oregon
Global Sistergoods – Woman owned, Fair Trade Importers
Flavour Pals – Scone mixes, woman owned
Muddy Waters – Can you say “chocolate facial”?
I hope to see you there!
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November 22, 2009 at 12:15 pm (Bambootique, Events, Holidays, Portland area)
Bambootique’s Holiday Trunk Show ended a week ago today and I’m still walking on clouds! Thanks to the more than 70 of you who attended, shopped, snacked, chatted about fair trade and just let me get caught up on your lives. For the first time ever the trunk show was also a fundraiser and, together, we raised more than $1200 for Haiti Foundation of Hope’s community health program! Each of you who shopped can be proud that not only did each purchase support women artisans around the world, but you also contributed to improved health in a remote, rural part of northern Haiti. Thank you!
I also want to thank each member of my fantastic trunk show crew: My mom Nancy for baking great cookies and helping with Grace; my mother-in-law Florence for helping me tag piles of product; and to my fabulous girlfriends who helped me with prep and staffed the weekend (Karin, Katie, Jill, Heidi, Megan, Lorie, Mary Lee, Kristin, Hanna, Connie and Bethany). Thanks also to my wonderful husband Steve for doing all the heavy lifting and being my Guy Friday when things got overwhelming.
I also had some great contributors of fair trade samples from other like-minded companies including Kalahari Tea, Strictly Organic coffee, Numi tea, Divine Chocolate and World Pulse magazine. Thanks for providing great free treats for all our guests! They were much enjoyed, I can assure you.
Did you miss the trunk show? Stay tuned this week for new posts with a few great ways you can still shop Bambootique in the Portland area in plenty of time for Christmas. And of course there’s always online at www.shopbambootique.com, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There’s never a line or a long search for a parking space either!
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Beth
