We want to join with our friends at the Canadian Federation of Sexual Health, and OptBC to 'Heart Your Parts' on this Valentine's day.
February 14th is always a special day to us because it not only marks our birthday as a company, but also because "LOVE" is such a big part of the work that we do. We've been known for our sexy campaigns in the past,and as we like to say, 'putting safe sex in advertising where it belongs." But we also do some work that's more heart-felt than risque.
We particularly love working with Chee Mamuk (Aboriginal program of the BC CDC), on their sexual health campaigns around HIV.
Last month, we did a photo shoot with a group of six people who are all affected by HIV in some way for a new book that Chee Mamuk is putting together. All the participants talked about how love and support from their communities is so important. One woman who is HIV positive told us about how she was able to get healthier because of her partner, and how his love and commitment - as someone who is HIV negative - was the ultimate support that allowed her to get help and get healthy. We're just working on the layout of this book now, so stay tuned for when it launches.
All of this work reminds us that love is the only way that we can conquer stigma around HIV, and love is the best way we can support those living with HIV. You can also check out a short video we did for Chee Mamuk and the First Nations Health Authority about the Around the Kitchen Table program.
We're very committed to all our work around sexual health, and harm reduction. Another project with 'heart' that we're working on is the Toward the Heart Website and e'zine. Check it out! We're looking forward to connecting with more people who are doing sexual health work in our communities. Stay tuned.
David Ng is a Hello Cool World veteran with experience going back a decade. David first worked with us when he was just 14 years old as a participant in the youth advisory group for the sexual health education program Condomania. Now an accomplished videographer passionate about the issues of gender and power, he is currently on sabbatical in South Africa while he pursues a Masters in Gender Studies with a focus on international development.
The three days at the CDC Conference was a whirlwind of mid-week fun. The team was there to live-tweet CDC conference happenings + their projects around First Nations health and social media promotion. Many attendees recognized and were aware of our projects and campaigns. We did live tweeting & video interviews throughout the conference, so stay tuned for our vlog post highlighting the event. We asked people what community health meant to them & what community health looked like in First Nations communities. We also interviewed Dr. Evan Adams who explained the connection between community health and the new First Nations Health Authority. The wellness model takes a mind, body, spirit approach.
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Hello Cool World has been pleased to offer our Canadian shoppers Good Clean Love products in the Hello Cool World webstore since December. In our work we strive to be as sex-positive as possible and, as our Creative Director Kat likes to say, we are in the business of "pleasure management." So when we connected with Wendy Strgar, an Oregon-based entrepreneur and loveologist, it was a perfect match.
Good Clean Love makes natural, organic products to enhance intimacy and loving relationships. On her blog, the Good Clean Love Daily, Wendy addresses questions and topics around building and sustaining healthy relationships. "True happiness comes as a result of sustained emotional investment in other people," writes Wendy.
Her products, including love oils, body candy and lubricants, bring lovers closer together. "A sex life is actually a fairly accurate reflection of your overall health. Hundreds of studies link a satisfying sex life with reduced stress, illness and depression. Sexual activity is even associated with longevity."
Michelle is a freelance writer and anthropologist with a Master of Public Health from UBC. Her passions are promoting health and building community. She's worked in grassroots community organizations in Vancouver, Victoria and Oceania.
Orgasm Inc. is a fine and funny film about a subject that in 2011 shouldn't be shocking, but that still is. The shock factor, for me, was not in any explicit sex scenes, but in the revelation that after Kinsey and decades of feminism, not to mention South Park, too many women and men still have no idea how to find the clitoris! What should be shocking, but is intead business as usual, is how big pharma preys upon our desire for desire in order to pitch us more pills. Orgasm Inc. is playing in several cities this June - including Vancouver's Cinemateque. For details on upcoming screenings click here.
I went to to the film with friend and research associate Cindy Masaro when it was part of SFU's conference "The Medicalization of Sex". Then I caught up with director Liz Canner to do an interrview with her. We'll be posting clips of the interview as part of our Hello Cool World Vlog series. We'll also be talking to Cindy about her research and thoughts on the film. For more about the film, links to the trailer etc. read on...
David Ng is a Hello Cool World veteran with experience going back a decade. David first worked with us when he was just 14 years old as a participant in the youth advisory group for the sexual health education program Condomania. Now an accomplished videographer passionate about the issues of gender and power, he is currently on sabbatical in South Africa while he pursues a Masters in Gender Studies with a focus on international development.
Maria Martin is interning with Hello Cool World as part of her community nursing course at VCC.
