Category Archives: Travel

by | April 18, 2008 · 1:36 pm

Disability and development

Next week I will be in Samoa for two conferences, the Pacific Disability Forum and an associated women’s meeting We will be focusing on human rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It will be good to have some sunshine to prolong our wonderful summer, but I am really looking forward to meeting disabled people from around the Pacific and talking to them about their issues. I am sure accessible information will be part of the picture. I am interested to know how inclusive development projects in general and information technology projects are, and how we can work together to make sure disabled people can increasingly participate in, and benefit from the development action.

I am also looking forward to talking to disabled women about their issues. I suspect they won’t be much different to ours, just a different angle.

It’s surprising how much work you have to do before going away for even a few days so this blog is very short. More on my return.

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Filed under Disability Issues, Disability Rights, Information Accessibility, Travel

by | September 28, 2007 · 6:28 pm

Shopping in Sydney

Just time for a quick shop before heading for the airport and home. This week has been successful on a number of counts, not least the shopping!

But this has been more than a shopping expedition in sunny Sydney. It has been very rewarding to be able to attend the Asia Pacific Forum of Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) twelfth annual meeting, hosted by the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. I particularly valued the opportunity to contribute to the panel on disability rights and the Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and encouraging to find other institutions, often in really difficult circumstances, prepared to travel the road to disability rights. Spending time among human rights professionals who are passionate about what they do, and focused on the issues is a good recharge of the batteries. It doesn’t mean that everyone agrees on everything, but it does mean that everyone is focused on human rights.

Great to have the conference in the same hotel we stayed in. Terrific hospitality – I can peel prawns very quickly and easily after so much practice! It was lovely to be welcomed to Australia by the people of the land, and to be part of the smoking ceremony which meant that the evil spirits would leave and we would be accepted among the local people. This was followed by an evening of song and dance with a blend of ancient and modern which was quite breathtaking. The harbour cruise was spectacular, and warmer than it would be on the Wellington harbour even in the middle of summer.

Also I got to catch up with some people I really like and respect who I met in New York during the Convention negotiations. It’s good to keep the international networks alive.

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Filed under Disability Rights, Travel

by | September 9, 2007 · 12:41 pm

Seoul Saga

The conference has finished and I am waiting to leave for the airport and reflecting on the experience. Long drives and early starts from hotel to venue, a vast and echoey exhibition hall, a handful of participants who are not Korean or Japanese, a day of variable workshops and interesting conversations, and an even longer drive home in rush hour traffic.

It is a luxury to have several days simply focusing on the Disability Rights Convention. Being able to encourage disabled people around the world to learn about and exercise their human rights has been enormously satisfying, and a far cry from working to get disability included in our own human rights legislation not so long ago.

The entertainment was good too – the amazingly elaborate and colourful court costumes, which I was told were very uncomfortable to wear. Korean music played on traditional and modern instruments by demure young ladies in traditional dress which was a fusion of traditional and modern. Lots of spicy Korean food.

We went shopping for amethysts with a charming and gracious hostess in the part of Seoul which is full of shops selling traditional fare and then wandered through a maze of intriguing lanes with little restaurants to a combined Buddhist temple and vegetarian restaurant run by a former monk who is famous for his local ingredients. Such a peaceful intimate place with gentle music, and interesting food served simply and elegantly, followed by a traditional performance. Sadly we couldn’t stay to the end.

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Filed under Disability Rights, Travel

by | September 4, 2007 · 12:35 pm

Travel Trauma

Yesterday was a bit of a mission. Heading off to Seoul for the World Assembly of DPI (Disabled Peoples’ International) meant the usual flight to Auckland, with a ‘just in time’ connection for my flight to Seoul. I asked for assistance to find my seat and said I needed assistance. This part is always a bit stressful. Will they give it in a way that is appropriate, not making me feel like some kind of total incompetent? The Korean people are gentle and courteous, and they never bully, unlike some.

All went well on the flight, albeit inconsistent. Things were identified on my tray, not really needed, but no direction to the emergency exit or assistance with the armrest controls – no one ever does that and it would be useful, or directions to the loo, not really needed for me but might be for other blindies or low visionaries.

On arrival though, it was a different story. I asked for assistance but there seemed to be no understanding at all so eventually I followed the last people off the plane and found my own way. Not too difficult it turned out but strange airports at the end of a long flight can be quite daunting, especially if they are crowded.

Despite promises there was no-one there to meet me. There was supposed to be an information desk, but it proved impossible to find. Finally after becoming distinctly hot and bothered, walking around a huge empty area with no visual clues I chanced upon an information desk with two young women, one of whom helped me find the desk, where they had no record of my arrival!

They did provide transport to the very comfy hotel where the room was fearsomely technological so by the time I worked out how to drive the lights and the shower it was pretty late and I was utterly had it.

A sense of deja vu also with the hotel getting my gender wrong, just like people used to in the UK in the seventies, and even worse my nationality, and yes you’ve guessed it, Australian.

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