Ladies Without Plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 2

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 girls on 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.

Interesting Links: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/11/live-cop26-ladies-without-plastic.html

World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Awards Program 2022 ($USD 20,000 prize) for innovative education projects

Application Deadline: 17 January 2022 

Each year, the WISE Awards recognize and promote six successful and innovative projects that are addressing global educational challenges. Since 2009, WISE has received more than 3,000 applications from over 150 countries. Today, 78 projects have been awarded, from a wide variety of sectors and locations for their innovation, positive contribution and ability to adapt and scale.

Requirements
Ongoing/existing education projects run by any type of organization such as colleges, universities, academic networks, schools consortia, civil society and community organizations, governments, international agencies and private-sector companies working in the field of education are invited to apply or nominate.

Benefits

Money Prize: Each WISE Awards winning project will receive US$20,000.
WISE Communications: Projects recognized by WISE are featured on the website, showcased and shared with the WISE community via social media.
Multimedia productions: Special documentaries and videos are produced to showcase the work of the winning projects.

WISE Books: Several WISE Awards finalists and winning projects have been featured in WISE Books which explore current challenges and solutions facing 21st-century education.
The Global Summit and WISE@: Representatives from Award winning projects are also given the opportunity to present and discuss their work at dedicated sessions during the global biennial summit in Doha, Qatar or WISE regional summits, WISE@. In addition, projects are offered an opportunity to participate in global events organized in collaboration with WISE.
Support to other WISE programs: Representative of former winning projects have been involved in other WISE projects, either through mentorship, participation in the selection processes, and fellowship programs.

Click here to apply: https://bit.ly/30yoR7z

U.S. Department of State TechGirls Program 2022 for next generation of young women in STEM (Fully Funded to the United States)

 Application Deadline: January 15, 2022 

TechGirls connects and supports the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by providing them access and opportunities to advance their skills and pursue their dreams.

The core of the program is a 27-day experience in the United States in partnership with Virginia Tech University (tentatively scheduled for July 2022). TechGirls participate in an interactive technology and computer camp, then travel to one of the following cities (Austin, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Portland or Seattle) for job shadowing at a tech company, and homestay and community service experiences. The TechGirls programming yields a multiplier effect as participants return home to educate their peers and create community based projects.

Requirements

Are between the ages of 15 and 17 at the start of the exchange July 7th, 2022;
Have demonstrated advanced skills and a serious interest in technology, engineering, and/or math in their academic studies;
Intend to pursue higher education and/or careers in technology;
Have strong English language skills;
Exhibit maturity, flexibility, and open-mindedness;
Will attend at least one additional semester of secondary school upon their return to their home country; and
Are committed to completing a community-based project upon their return home.

Covered Costs
The TechGirls program covers the following costs:

Visa Fee
Roundtrip international airfare from participant home country to the United States
Housing during program
Double occupancy dormitory accommodations
Meals during program
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Local transportation to group program events
Cultural events organized by Legacy International
Emergency health insurance

Click here to apply; https://bit.ly/3kMwCxj

BMZ African German Leadership Academy Training and Dialogue Programme 2022 for early to mid-career professionals (Fully Funded to Germany)

 Application Deadline: November 26th 2021 

The BMZ African-German Leadership Academy (African Academy) is a dialogue and training programme targeted at early to mid-career professionals. It is a space for joint learning and discussion on sustainability, governance and leadership.

With diversity at the core of its programme, the African Academy welcomes participants from a variety of sectors (civil society, academia and think tanks, public administration, business and media) to encourage transdisciplinarity and to promote networking and knowledge exchange among African and European actors.

Requirements

be a national or permanent resident of one of the participating countries be 25 – 40 years old*

work on issues relevant for sustainable development

have at least three years’ work experience (non-remunerated experience is also recognised)

have the support of their employer (written support required as part of application)

have a very good command of the English language (equivalent to B2 level of the CEFR)

be respectful of other cultures

be open to teamwork, reflection and a broad variety of working methods

Benefits

Subsidised travel to and from Germany

Accommodation for the duration of their stay in Germany

A monthly living allowance to cover living costs in Germany

Health, accident and personal liability insurance for the duration of their stay in Germany

Subsidy to help meet technical requirements of the programme

Please note that the financial support provided is not sufficient to cover participants’ families.

Click here to apply: https://bit.ly/3HvLYjH

Merkel: Germany hit by full force of Covid

 Germany is in the grip of a “dramatic” fourth Covid wave, Chancellor Angela Merkel has said on the eve of a crisis meeting with regional leaders.

Daily infections hit a new German record of 52,826 on Wednesday as European governments responded to a surge on much of the continent.

Belgium announced a series of measures in an attempt to avoid a lockdown.

“All the alarm signals are red,” said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, as he told people to limit personal contact.

“Europe’s map is quickly going red, and we are the same.”

Children in Belgium will have to wear masks from the age of 10, rather than the current age of 12. Working from home will become compulsory from Saturday for four days a week. Passes known as Covid Safe Tickets will be required in theatres, cinemas and museums.

A third booster vaccination will be rolled out for all Belgians by the end of April 2022.

Austria which imposed a lockdown on an estimated two million unvaccinated people on Monday, reported record daily infections on Wednesday. The Netherlands, which also reported record cases, has already brought in a partial lockdown.

Sweden is introducing a Covid vaccination pass from 1 December for the first time for concerts and other indoor events involving more than 100 people. “You who are unvaccinated cannot just carry on as normal; your most important contribution is to get vaccinated,” said Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren, who accepted the measure was tough but said Sweden was not isolated from the rest of the world.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said anyone who had not been vaccinated (or could show they had had recovered from Covid-19) would be banned from accessing public events or services. From Monday, negative tests would no longer be enough.

Neighboring Slovakia, where a record 8,342 cases were reported on Wednesday, is planning similar measures: workplaces and non-essential shops will be accessible only to vaccinated staff or to people who could prove they have recovered, says Prime Minister Eduard Heger.

Vaccination rates vary across the continent. Slovak take-up is among the lowest in the EU at 44% while the Czech rate is 58%, in Austria it is 65% and in Germany 68%.

Both Germany and Austria have reported queues at vaccination centres, but they have some of the lowest take-up rates in Western Europe.

• GERMAN SURGE: Warning of 100,000 deaths

Austria also has a very high incidence rate of 971.5 cases per 100,000 people, far higher than Germany’s 319.5.

As well as its lockdown for the unvaccinated, some Austrian officials are calling for tighter restrictions for others too, such as a possible night-time curfew.

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

Image caption,

Austria has reported a record 14,416 cases in the past 24 hours, two days after it imposed a lockdown on the unvaccinated

Although Germany’s overall death toll is far lower than that in the UK, 294 deaths have been recorded in 24 hours and Mrs Merkel spoke of an emergency with intensive care beds filling up in hospitals. The UK reported another 201 deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid on Wednesday, and a further 38,263 infections.

Mrs Merkel called for a faster booster drive, adding: “It’s not too late to decide to get a first vaccination.”

Many German regions are now only allowing vaccinated people access to most services, including bars, cafes, hairdressers and gyms.

Politically the situation is complicated as the outgoing Merkel government is set to be replaced by a coalition of Social Democrats, Greens and pro-business liberals who aim to present planned Covid measures to parliament on Thursday.

France is being hit by a fifth wave of Covid, according to government spokesperson Gabriel Attal, with more than 20,000 new cases reported on Wednesday for the first time since Augusts. But there are no plans beyond the current Covid passport as “we are coping better than previously thanks to the vaccines and the health pass”.

He said France was light years away from the situation a year ago, and anyone aged 50-64 could now make an appointment for a third Covid vaccination.

data in detail

Scroll table to see more data

*Deaths per 100,000 people

Filter:
The world
Africa
North America
Latin America & Caribbean
Asia
Europe
Middle East
Oceania

				New Cases 0 10 100 1k 10k **
Russia	242,241	167.8	8,651,561	JAN 2020 NOV 2021
UK	141,805	212.2	9,301,909
Italy	132,391	219.6	4,808,047
France	117,893	175.8	7,217,484
Germany	96,563	116.2	4,792,465
Spain	87,504	185.9	5,025,639
Poland	77,757	204.8	3,104,220
Ukraine	77,130	173.8	3,232,035
Turkey	72,127	86.5	8,233,649
Romania	50,755	262.2	1,706,882
Hungary	31,184	319.2	892,164
Czech Republic	31,053	291.0	1,819,158
Belgium	26,131	227.5	1,414,463
Bulgaria	25,074	359.4	632,762
Netherlands	18,561	107.1	2,201,010
Portugal	18,203	177.3	1,097,557
Greece	16,295	152.1	784,904
Sweden	15,057	146.4	1,177,094
Slovakia	13,229	242.6	518,635
Bosnia and Herzegovina	11,717	355.0	257,401
Austria	11,502	129.6	883,887
Switzerland	11,274	131.5	887,446
Georgia	10,509	282.5	755,046
Serbia	10,405	149.8	1,183,025
Croatia	9,500	233.6	501,327
Moldova	8,099	304.7	345,964
Azerbaijan	7,269	72.5	547,281
North Macedonia	7,232	347.1	206,077
Armenia	6,700	226.5	321,243
Lithuania	6,135	220.1	428,541
Ireland	5,492	111.1	469,386
Slovenia	4,830	231.3	355,979
Belarus	4,745	50.1	613,927
Latvia	3,499	182.9	231,824
Kosovo	2,978	166.0	160,872
Albania	2,955	103.5	189,125
Denmark	2,738	47.1	402,561
Montenegro	2,148	345.3	148,579
Estonia	1,610	121.4	205,096
Finland	1,188	21.5	162,476
Norway	922	17.2	216,855
Luxembourg	849	137.0	82,842
Cyprus	577	48.1	125,413
Malta	462	91.9	37,904
Andorra	130	168.5	15,618
Channel Islands	103	59.8	13,684
Gibraltar	98	290.8	6,153
San Marino	92	271.7	5,588
Liechtenstein	61	160.4	3,728
Isle of Man	60	70.9	9,970
Monaco	36	92.4	3,436
Iceland	34	9.4	14,255
Faroe Islands	5	10.3	2,615
Vatican	0	0.0	27

This information is regularly updated but may not reflect the latest totals for each country.

** The past data for new cases is a three day rolling average. Due to revisions in the number of cases, an average cannot be calculated for this date.

Source: Johns Hopkins University and national public health agencies

Figures last updated: 8 November 2021, 09:22 GMT

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