source: news.com.au

An woman and her two young sons recently were kept off a Virgin Australia flight after the younger child had lost his shoes and was going to board in stockinged feet, according to an article by the Website Terminal U. After the carrier apparently cited a non-existent policy of Australia's safety regulator, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Karen Darley and her four-year and two-year old children were refused boarding on the flight and finally took another one when replacement shoes for the toddler were found.

Further complicating the matter is the fact that the family missed an alternate flight (for which she was not billed additionally by Virgin Australia), and therefore had to pay more than $800 for new tickets. Darley is seeking compensation for the second flight and a portion of the cost of the first flight.

Terminal U shared a quote from a CASA spokesperson: "CASA recommends that all passengers wear shoes on board. There is no regulation for wearing shoes, but airlines can set their own policies." Our emphasis was added. According to a news.com.au article, which Terminal U sourced, the airline does have a policy requiring shoes of "anyone who can walk."

As is often the case with discrimination against primalfoot people, there seems to be confusion as to why Virgin Australia actually kicked Darley and her sons off the plane. Both articles linked above claim that a safety regulation was wrongly cited. The airline does have a policy addressing this issue, but it's not clear if that was brought up by the airline only after the fact.

UPDATE, Nov. 2, 2011: Barefooter Bob Neinast informed us that Virgin Australia's posted Conditions of Carriage actually do not have a requirement that passengers use footwear. That said, the document does state that the airline "may take all steps it believes necessary to ensure the safety and security of its Guests," an excuse often used against barefooters when no specific policy exists.

Whatever the case, there is no regulation requiring that any Australian airline require shoes of their passengers. Furthermore, we believe that it's unnecessary for any airline to prohibit primalfoot passengers for reasons of safety. Under all normal circumstances, commercial airplane cabins are free of anything that can harm the feet. If emergency situations are a concern, hard hats and protective gloves are not required of or issued to passengers.

We hope that as the numerous benefits of primalfoot living come more into the public view, airlines and regulators will eliminate any policies requiring shoes of passengers.

Thanks to our advisory board member Moe Morales for passing this along!

Photo: LogoProducts4Less.com

David Wisotsky has seen discrimination from the campus cafeteria, library and police. His story was shared recently in an article of The Vermont Cynic. Though we could find no specific policies that addresses the issue of footwear in the university's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (PDF), the article claims David was cited by police for violating "other policies." He will soon defend himself at a "student conduct hearing" and is now working with the Student Government Association's diversity committee to draft legislation allowing students to live barefoot without fear of discrimination. David does acknowledge, however, that there isn't an organized group of barefooters...yet.

"Although we aren't a group right now, I know of a lot of barefoot students on campus," he is quoted in the article as saying.

We wholeheartedly stand behind David's efforts and have reached out to him via email offering any support we can give. There is an ever-growing community of advocates behind him.

It's important for the University of Vermont and all other institutions like it to understand that, although barefooters may not be organized or large in number, it's appropriate to allow for people to live shoeless if they so choose. It is a matter of personal choice and biomechanical health and does not harm anyone else. Though it is not a mainstream or widely-accepted lifestyle, that does not make it invalid or not worth protecting.

We will keep you updated on this story as plausible.

Steve Jobs, Credit: Apple, Inc.After reflecting on the recent passing of Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder and former CEO of Pixar, I thought it might be appropriate to share a few words on how Steve's influence has shaped my personal journey to founding and leading The Primalfoot Alliance. I write this not to compare myself to Steve Jobs - far from it - but instead to share how I try to use his example as a foundation for this organization's mission to advocate for people who go barefoot.

I have long been fascinated by Steve's leadership of Apple and Pixar. I've admired his dedication to excellence and his very open desire to "change the world" through his actions. Indeed, it's hard to use any device with a microchip inside and a color screen that has not been influenced in some way by Steve Jobs. I can't help but find it ironic that Apple's former "Think Different" campaign encapsulated Steve himself in its words about other visionaries:

"Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

As you know, we who choose to live barefoot outside of our home, the swimming pool or the green grass at the local park are often considered "crazy" by our shoe-centric society. We are misfits. We are certainly rebels. To many, we are considered troublemakers, though we have no intent of being such. We see things differently because we know that the status quo of wearing shoes all the time and the rules demanding we must do so are what's actually "crazy" - not us.

Sometimes, however, it feels like the barefoot lifestyle is a pretty crazy thing for which to advocate. On a phone call a while back, this organization's vice president Daniel Howell, PhD, and I shared with each other about how we never expected to be in this position. He never expected to write and publish The Barefoot Book. If you had told me just a few years ago that I'd go barefoot all the time AND start an organization to advocate for those who want to live barefoot without hassle, I'd have though you were - well, you know. Label it however you wish, but I love to go barefoot and I love to advocate for the feet of anyone who cares to go without shoes.

Ever since the beginning of this organization, it has been important to me that The Primalfoot Alliance "think different" about how we advocate for bare feet (In many ways, I don't have respect for the status quo). I wanted to have a smart, dedicated group of advisors to help along the way. Over the past 18 months Daniel, the advisory board and I have been working to slowly build interest and support through social media. We've posted information on our modern Website to educate the public about living barefoot, created effective resources that barefooters can use to advocate for themselves "on the go," and successfully held "Your Day Without Shoes" in June for the first time to encourage people to go barefoot because they want to - not because a shoe company wants to sell more product.

We want to be an organization that can't be ignored because we're changing things for bare feet for the better. The advisory board and I have had many discussions about ways for this alliance to raise funding to enable all the programs we've talked about. I would like to see a drastic expansion of "Your Day Without Shoes" next year. Daniel and I have spoken more privately about an all-new primary message for The Primalfoot Alliance in 2012 and new ways of approaching the dreaded confrontation about your bare feet in the local store. There have even been discussions about taking a clear, well-developed case to government boards, councils and legislative bodies throughout the U.S. in order to receive their official support. More information about our initiatives will be released in the future, but let me say that they're REALLY exciting!

Crazy? Maybe so. Genius? We hope so. Challenging the status quo? You bet.

Some veteran barefooters who are reading this might think these things can't be done and that such change is impossible, but I refuse to try old ways of advocating that have failed and I refuse to quit trying new ways. If one technique doesn't work, we'll think different and try another. We'll keep banging the drum of bare feet until we are heard and society wakes up to the cold, hard fact that it's wrong to discriminate against people who simply don't want to put on shoes to go shopping, eat out, visit the library or even work - who just want to let their feet be feet first. We shouldn't have to wear shoes because someone else tells us to.

Mr. Jobs, in his 2005 commencement address to Stanford University graduates said something that, I think, applies perfectly to barefooters and The Primalfoot Alliance's mission:

"Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Finally, he wrapped up his speech with a quote from the back of the final issue of The Whole Earth Catalog:

"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

We will, Steve. Thank you.

Smiles,

Michael Buttgen
Founder and Chief Primalfoot Officer
The Primalfoot Alliance

p.s. Did you know that Steve Jobs enjoyed going barefoot?

by L. Daniel Howell, PhD, Vice President of The Primalfoot Alliance

By all accounts, Hawaii is one of the most barefoot-friendly places in the United States. Bare feet are generally welcome in the shops, markets and eateries on this beach paradise.* Accordingly, public schools on the islands have also been traditionally accepting of barefooted children.

Until now.

Back in December of 2010 a news article emerged from Maui in which public school principal Fern Markgraf declared, “the olden days (in Hawaii) when kids all had bare feet are no longer acceptable.”  This declaration, however, begs the question: Why? What threats to bare feet exist today that did not exist in the “olden days”? Why are bare feet in Hawaiian schools – once the norm – no longer “acceptable”? Is it possible that Fern Markgraf and the rest of Hawaii is just falling prey to Western ‘civilities’?

On June 1, 2011, I mailed a letter to Mrs. Markgraf encouraging her to reconsider this position. I now make the letter available to the public as an open letter – a plea to all schools throughout America that prohibit (or even discourage) students from going barefoot on their campuses. As a professor of human anatomy, Vice President of the Primalfoot Alliance and author of The Barefoot Book, I am thoroughly convinced that requiring footwear on children damages their feet for life. If you are a school administrator, I – on behalf of the Primalfoot Alliance – urge you to reconsider bare feet in the classroom. Please contact us; we would love to talk with you further about this important health issue affecting our school children.

***

RE: Footwear on schoolchildren

Dear Fern Markgraf,

Thank you for your dedication to improving the lives of children through education. As an educator myself, I know it’s a tiring and often thankless profession (yet also rewarding).

I am writing because you recently cited footwear as a dire need and priority for your schoolchildren. You stated in a Maui News report that the “olden days (in Hawaii) when kids all had bare feet are no longer acceptable.” I certainly believe you are doing what you feel is best for the children in your care, but I think you are making a mistake that in the long run will harm the feet and health of the children in Hawaii.

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that prolonged shoe use damages our feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine. The use of footwear by young children is particularly problematic since a child’s foot is still developing; the shoeing of children sets them up for foot problems that last a lifetime. It is widely believed that footwear is needed “for safety reasons,” but after performing a thorough search for barefoot-related injuries I and others have found scant evidence to support this assertion. Indeed, the evidence indicates we should all go barefoot more for healthy feet and bodies.

I sincerely urge you to reconsider your requirement for footwear on your pupils. Schoolchildren have long gone barefoot in Hawaii without serious injuries. Indeed, the history of going shoeless in Hawaii is cause for celebration. As states on the mainland are realizing the harm caused by shoes and the benefits of going shoeless, Hawaii has a unique opportunity to lead the nation in promoting foot health through going barefoot. Schoolchildren in Hawaii have already demonstrated that going barefoot is safe and healthy for children. Perhaps a more sensible approach is simply to let children and parents decide for themselves whether shoes are necessary for them.

I am available if you would like further consultation. I love sharing the discovery that feet are healthiest and happiest when bare!

Sincerely,

Dr. Daniel Howell
Vice President, The Primalfoot Alliance
Author, The Barefoot Book

(Please note: The original letter was co-signed by Michael Buttgen, founder & President of the Primalfoot Alliance and Michael Warburton, research scientist.)

***

Related articles by Howell:
An Issue of Safety. Really?
Shoes: A Public Health Hazard

Related resources from The Primalfoot Alliance:
Our Position on TOMS' 'One Day Without Shoes'
National-TV Stories Provide Positive Looks at Barefoot Living
Frequently Asked Questions

* Jennifer Aniston has even made waves this week walking barefoot around the islands and according to an internet poll the vast majority of people think it’s "cool."

Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

To listen to KGNU's mp3 version of the interview, click the link below or right-click to save the file to your computer.
(NOTE: The interview begins at approximately 35 minutes into the file)

Listen to KGNU's "Morning Magazine" from Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

On their Meetup page they write, "Even if you have never taken off your shoes we will have simple starter hiking meetups as well as more advanced meetups for scrambling, handling downhills, and foot maintenance. We welcome Vibram Five Fingers and minimalist hikers to join us on our adventures! You don't have to be completely crazy to hike barefoot, just willing to learn and explore the world around you in a way you've never known."

One of the leaders of the group, Kriste Brushaber, has shared with The Primalfoot Alliance why barefoot activity has been so important to her. In June, she helped organize a hike for Your Day Without Shoes, an event that was celebrated worldwide.

For more information on The Front Range Barefoot Hiking Group, you may contact them at their Meetup page linked above.

Howell

Dr. Howell will be invaluable to the mission of The Primalfoot Alliance going forward. His knowledge of human anatomy and physiology plus years of experience as a barefooter will help lead the organization in fulfilling its mission of advocating for those who choose to go barefoot.

For more information about Dr. Howell and The Barefoot Book, visit his site at http://www.TheBarefootBook.com.

Image: Kriste Brushaber

The day kicked off with people in Australia and The Philippines participating barefoot in activities. In The Philippines, The Tampakan Barefoot Society participated in a fun run at 5:30 a.m. and practiced in a soccer league.

In Europe, participants could be found without shoes in at least Belgium, England, Ireland and Germany. In Cornwall, England, Dr. Stephen Bloor, podiatrist and Primalfoot Alliance advisory board member, led a group of 11 people on a hike through Degibna Woods next to Loe Pool. He later posted a very detailed journal of the experience, including,

"Our first barefoot hike was a wonderful introduction to natural walking and an unexpectedly joyful and exhilarating experience."

Dr. Bloor (third from left) and UK participants show their hiking feet. Submitted by Stephen BloorAcross the "pond" in North America, we know of participants who shed their shoes in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Ontario and 10 U.S. states from New Hampshire to Georgia to Oregon. The New England Barefoot Runners held a 10K run and exhibit as part of Market Square Day. In Independence, Missouri, adults and children met at a local park to chat and for the kiddos to play on the playground. Afterward some of the group then dined barefoot at a local Chick-fil-A restaurant and the kids had even more fun playing on the indoor playground there.

Kids young and...not so young went barefoot in the park in Missouri, including Primalfoot Alliance founder Michael Buttgen (right) and his family. Submitted by Michael Buttgen

In Colorado, The Front Range Barefoot Hiking Group met at the Denver Botanic Gardens for a barefoot meet, greet, picnic and hike. Mary Hartman, one of the participants, shared,

"It was so great to see so many new people out for the day, interested in the barefoot lifestyle! We covered every terrain possible, from mud to gravel to pine needles and a reflexology path."

In Colorado, barefoot hikers were able to experience a reflexology path made of smooth rocks. Submitted by Kriste Brushaber

While there were a few reports of people being hassled in businesses for going barefoot -- including one person who was eventually allowed entrance to a swimming pool without shoes -- participants reported that they were able to educate and dispel some of the common myths related to bare feet. Others just enjoyed getting more in touch with their feet again, one of the goals for the day. Our favorite comment came from Erica Gott in Ireland. She shared,

"Thank you for this day. My feet are getting tougher and tougher, but having a whole 'official' day of being barefoot encouraged me to stay the course."

It was our pleasure, Erica.

So on Your Day Without Shoes you ran, hiked, shopped, dined, played and more with just your own two feet! We can't be happier with the outcome of this year's event and look forward to many more fantastic days without shoes to come. You made Your Day Without Shoes the largest non-charitable barefoot day in the world in its first occurrance! Thank you so much, and stay tuned for more to come.

Both resources contain condensed messages about the benefits of living without shoes while also dispelling myths commonly associated with bare feet. They also list ways to get more information from our full Website. We expect that both resources will be invaluable tools in educating the general public, business management and others who tend to hold negative stereotypes about the barefoot lifestyle.

Those who are participating in Your Day Without Shoes this Saturday, June 11, are encouraged to use these resources to advocate for bare feet, in addition to the YDWS info flier (PDF).

It's with a great sense of gratitude that I announce some changes to the leadership of The Primalfoot Alliance. The advisory board has seen two of its members leave, but collect five new members in return. This came after some time of personal reflection on my part to determine who could bring valuable voices to the group. While I did not ask anyone who already sat on the board to leave, I gave all members the option to resign if they felt it necessary. At the same time, all five persons whom I approached to join the board graciously accepted.

Of those who sat on the board, Abbie Mood and Taryn Romanowich shared their intent to resign when the invitation was extended. Both shared that they have other projects on which they are working and that they wished to focus more time in those areas. I completely understand and appreciate where they're coming from and thank them so much for their input in the last year plus. They were instrumental in providing insight and feedback on the earliest discussions surrounding the formation of this group. Those included discussions about membership, the organization's stance on footwear and much more. I wish them only the best in their current and future endeavors.

Our vice president, Mauricio Morales, asked to be relieved of that title but remain on the board. I cannot thank "Moe" enough for his input that came very early in the formation of The Primalfoot Alliance. This included giving his opinions on the very idea of a barefoot advocacy group and giving input into the name of the organization. I look forward to continuing receiving his opinions and recommendations going forward.

Accepting new positions on the advisory board are two women and three men with excellent opinions and backgrounds related to primal feet. They are Dr. Stephen Bloor, a barefoot-lifestyle-friendly podiatrist in the UK; Deb Bosilevac, a stay-at-home mom and primalfoot ultra runner in Oregon; Darryl Edwards, a primal personal trainer in the UK; Melissa Humphries, a paleo nutritional therapist in Texas; and Wolf Starchild, a wildlife and forestry conservation expert in Canada.

With these changes, the full list of advisory board members for The Primalfoot Alliance is as follows:

• Stephen Bloor, DPM, UK
• Deb Bosilevac, Oregon
• Darryl Edwards, UK
• Daniel Howell, PhD, Virginia
• Melissa Humphries, Texas
• Mauricio Morales, Canada
• Michael Nirenberg, DPM, Indiana
• Leif Rustvold, Oregon
• Wolf Starchild, Canada
• Damien Tougas, Canada
• Mindi Young, Missouri

Please join me in thanking our exiting board members and extending a hearty primalfoot welcome to our new advisory board members.

Smiles,

Michael Buttgen
Founder & Chief Primalfoot Officer
The Primalfoot Alliance