Women without plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints 👣
Greetings for the day!
Welcome to the 3rd day of the Green Menstruation Challenge!
Today we have Luísa in our show. She will share with us about her personal hygiene.
Good morning!
Good morning, thanks.
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Luisa João, I am 35 years old.
Ok. Which of these pads do you use?
I use this one, the reusable pad.
Why?
Because it's more practical and economical for me. It allows me to save money.
But for my daughter I buy this one, the disposable one.
Can you tell us, why?
Because my daughter doesn't accept to wash.
So you think that using washable menstrual pads is more sustainable?
Yes, for me reusable pads are more suitable. After using I can easily wash and dry.
Over 100 billion sanitary napkins, tampons and applicators are dumped into landfills every year. When wrapped in plastic bags, feminine hygiene waste can take centuries to biodegrade. The average woman uses over 11,000 tampons over her lifetime, leaving behind residue far beyond her lifespan.
Here are some other steps you could take to make your period more sustainable (and potentially healthier):
1) Choose reusable menstrual hygiene products like menstrual cups, period underwear and reusable sanitary napkins.
2) choose organic cotton if you can ― and support transparent brands.
3) Demand that corporations make plastic-free sanitary products.
4) Help make menstruation a bigger public policy priority.
Exciting Reminder: Celebrating Four Years of Our Startup!
Hello everyone!
As we mentioned earlier, we are celebrating the fourth anniversary of our startup! To mark this special occasion, we are featuring all our past campaigns on our platforms, starting with the ongoing "Ladies Without Plastic."
Don't miss any of our interesting webisodes! We are sure you will learn a lot from us and discover new things.
Stay tuned and join us in celebrating our journey!
Our Africa Educates her Campaign season 5 is on going.
Green Menstruation - Day 2
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the second day of our environmental challenge Women Without Plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints!
The main objective of this campaign is to educate women and girlson the benefits of green menstruation and empower them in making reusable pads.
Most menstrual pads are made from 90% plastic. Plastic products can take up to a thousand years to decompose in landfills or in the ocean. Considering the affordability and environmental impact of sanitary pads, cloth is an effective option.
Our guest today is Luquenia Rodrigues, she will tell us about her preferences regarding pads and personal hygiene.
Lady good afternoon!
Good afternoon, Thank you!
What's your name?
My name is Luquenia Rodrigues.
How old are you?
I am 18 years old.
Alright. Which of these pads do you use?
I use this one, the disposable.
Why?
Because I like this one more.
Why doesn't the washable pad appeal to you?
I feel distressed and not comfortable.
Have you ever used the cloth pad?
Yes once, but I didn't like the experience.
What concrete did you not like?
This caused me diaper rash, and I also don't feel good seeing and smelling smell of blood.
Ok, thank you!
One sanitary pad could take 500 to 800 years to decompose as the plastic used is non-biodegradable and can lead to health and environmental hazards. One sanitary pad has plastic equivalent to five plastic bags, so one woman is using menstrual hygiene products equivalent to 60,000 - 75,000 plastic bags.
Every household needs to ensure that sanitary waste should be properly wrapped. The rules say that sanitary waste should be kept in the dry waste bin and should be handed over separately.
What is Green Menstruation?
Green menstruation is the term used where women use biodegradable menstrual hygiene products, green because they are environment friendly. The products include menstrual cups, organic cotton based pads, reusable cloth pads, and period panties. These options are not only environment friendly but also pocket friendly and really good for women's vaginal and reproductive health.
In a scenario, where safe menstruation for every female is imperative, the debate over sustainable menstruation is still far. This is the perfect time when along with period education we can make women aware about sustainable menstrual hygiene products and the impact on the environment.
World Population Day, observed every year on July 11, is a significant occasion dedicated to raising awareness about global population issues. Established by the United Nations Development Programme in 1989, this day aims to highlight the importance of population dynamics and their impacts on sustainable development.
Highlighting Luisa’s Story
We are featuring the story of Luisa, a courageous woman who has faced immense challenges. Luisa has lost a significant number of her babies under five years old due to women's health problems like hepatitis B and the debilitating effects of poverty. The lack of financial resources to overcome life’s challenges has also made it difficult for her to keep all her children constantly in school. Luisa’s story is a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address women's health issues and provide adequate support for those in vulnerable situations.
INTERVIEW
Hello, good evening!
My name is Luiza Dembo João.
Miss How Are you?
I'm fine, thank you very much.
Do you consider yourself a woman living below the poverty line?
Yes, I do not have good financial conditions.
Could you tell us a little about the difficulties you face as a woman?
I face various kinds of difficulties in this poor country that we live in. People are always suffering from poverty, food parcel are always going up (very expensive) and the poor cannot buy.
How is your financial life going?
My financial life is not so good. For example, today if I have a job it is thanks to my aunt who took me in and invited me to work with her in a small snack bar that she opened, we cook lunches and serve the local community in this area.
Do you have higher education?
No, I don't have higher education.
Why didn't you reach this level?
Because I have no financial possibilities, I stopped studying in the 8th grade.
What are the main family difficulties you face due to lack of financial resources?
Well, I face many serious financial difficulties in my family.
Tell us a little about your maternal life. Have you ever encountered difficulties during pregnancy? Have you ever had an abortion or other complications due to lack of funds to look for the best doctors and the best hospitals?
Yes, I have been through these events. My husband doesn't have a good job either, so we're going through a lot of difficulties.
My first daughter, thank God, was born healthy, but my second baby had a problem with hepatitis B, and because of the lack of financial resources on my part, I couldn't go to the prenatal consultation and do all the analyzes to have a healthy pregnancy. My son was born with hepatitis B transmitted by me. I went through many difficulties, there was no way to fight this disease and cure my baby. Unfortunately, my baby passed away.
How many children do you have now?
I now have 5 children.
Were you able to solve the problem of the disease you had?
Yes.
When I became pregnant with my third baby, I was diagnosed with hepatitis B, my family contributed some money that allowed me to treat this disease. I started doing all the consultations and treatment before the baby was born.Thank God I had a healthier pregnancy, when my baby was born he took the vaccine, my relatives helped me a lot with the contribution of money to pay in the hospital. My baby and I have taken all the recommended vaccines, today we are healthy, my baby is 3 years old and is in good health.
How many children have you lost?
I lost 3 children.
Have you lost 3 children due to Hepatitis B?
Yes.
Did you only find out now that you had this disease?
Yes, I just found out now.
Before, you hadn't made this discovery because you weren't making the prenatal check-ups regularly?
Yes, I didn't use to do consultations. Whenever I got pregnant, I didn't usually visit the hospitals because I didn't have money to do the ultrasound, prenatal consultations to find out how the baby was doing, that's why my babies were born sick and died.
Tell us about the job you have now. Is this job a thriving one that allows you to do great things in life or not at all?
This work is more or less, it's not so prosperous, because our kitchen is new, we don't have many customers yet. It would be great if I had another job with a higher salary.
Do your children study?
Yes they study, but...
Haven't you been facing difficulties in paying your children's school fees?
Yes, we have many difficulties. For example, my first daughter is 16 years old, we enrolled her in a school where she is studying medicine. But since she started studying, we have only been able to pay for 2 months, the others until the end of the school year we have not been able to pay, for this reason she runs the risk of not continuing with her studies because her name will not be on the list of finalists.
With other minor daughters it is also the same thing, we find it difficult to pay school fees regularly. The money my husband and I earn is enough for daily consumption, buying food and water. But it is not enough to pay the tuition fees.
So has your financial hardship negatively affected children's lives as well?
Yes, it affects my children very negatively indeed.
And for now, you can't find solutions to solve this problem, other than finding a job with a very high salary?
I can find no solution to my Poverty other than a very high-paying job.
But is finding a job with a very high salary difficult at this time?
Yes, it's true.
Moreover, my husband also does not prosper, he does not have a good salary. We do not have a house, we have been living for 11 years in a small log cabin, we have large land but we are not able to build due to lack of financial resources.
Alright, thank you very much.
Our Commitment to Women’s Empowerment and Health
This day underscores the critical need to prioritize women's health, education, and empowerment as central to achieving sustainable development and ensuring a better future for all. Women’s reproductive health and the associated risks, especially in the context of overpopulation trends, are paramount issues that need urgent attention.
At our female platforms, we are deeply committed to the empowerment of all women, ensuring that no one is left behind. Our mission is to create spaces where women can share their stories, experiences, and challenges, fostering a community of support and growth. We focus on critical issues such as women's reproductive health, the risks of maternal mortality, and the impacts of overpopulation.
The Importance of Women’s Reproductive Health
Women’s reproductive health is a cornerstone of gender equality and sustainable development. Addressing the risks associated with maternal mortality, improving access to healthcare, and providing education on reproductive health are crucial steps in empowering women and ensuring their well-being. Overpopulation trends further exacerbate these challenges, making it even more critical to invest in comprehensive health solutions.
Call to Action
On this World Population Day, let us renew our commitment to women's empowerment and health. Let us work together to create a world where every woman has the opportunity to reach her full potential, without any barriers. By investing in women and girls, we invest in a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Join Us
Join us in celebrating World Population Day 2024 by visiting our platforms and engaging with the stories of incredible women like Luisa from around the world. Together, we can make a difference, ensuring that every woman's voice is heard and valued.
Did you know?
More than 40 per cent of women around the world cannot make decisions on sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
As few as one in four women across low- and middle income countries are realizing their desired fertility.
A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth (and in conflict settings, the number of deaths is twice as high).
Nearly one third of women have experienced intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence or both.
Just six countries have 50 per cent or more women in parliament.
More than two thirds of the 800 million people globally who cannot read are women.
Alert: Fraudulent Activities by UNDP Angola and Other Organizations
Dear Community Members, Partners, and Stakeholders,
I am writing to bring to your attention a serious and concerning matter regarding the fraudulent activities of UNDP Angola and other organizations who have been maliciously taking advantage of the hard work and innovative projects developed by my startup, Talentos Multiplus.
It has come to my attention that UNDP Angola has been falsely claiming that I work for them and that they compensate me for my contributions. These claims are entirely untrue and have been used to deceive not only myself but also governmental institutions, international organizations, and potential investors.
In a recent and shocking discovery, an investor whom I met casually at an event informed me that his organization had made a donation to me through representatives of UNDP Angola. To my dismay, I have never received any such donation, nor have I had any formal or informal relationship with UNDP Angola. My startup, Talentos Multiplus, is entirely self-funded, and I am the sole founder, sustaining the organization through my personal savings and dedication.
I want to clarify that the only contact we had with UNDP Angola was in 2022 when we participated in a competition funded by the Norwegian Embassy, where UNDP was one of the partners. However, this participation does not mean that we have any legal or continued collaboration with UNDP Angola, and it certainly does not give them the right to fraudulently take advantage of our work. Talentos Multiplus was founded in 2020, and all our projects were fully developed prior to our participation in that competition.
I want to categorically state that I do not work with UNDP Angola and have no affiliations with them. Their fraudulent actions and deceitful behavior have harmed my reputation and the integrity of my work. They have been engaging in content theft and misleading various stakeholders into believing that there is an association between us.
I urge all community members, partners, and stakeholders to be vigilant and cautious in their dealings with UNDP Angola. Please do not trust their claims regarding any association with Talentos Multiplus or myself. They are a harmful team engaging in deceitful practices, and it is essential to distance ourselves from them to protect our work and integrity.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
