Category Archives: Environment

The 5 B’s

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I’m wishing there had been a bit more buzz about this being designated Pollinator Week by the U.S. Senate. Here it is already Thursday, leaving just three more days to officially geek out about bees and such until Pollinator Week, always the last week in June, rolls around again in 2013.

There’s plenty to geek out about. The worrisome decline in bee populations over the past few years is putting our food supply at risk. After all, every third bite or sip we take is dependent on pollinators. Butterflies, bats, birds and beetles are pollinators too, but bees do most of the work. There’s actually more than the five B’s, since small mammals, moths and wasps pollinate, too.

Still, we can be hopeful that pollinator-dependent food crops (coffee, chocolate, melons, apples, pears, peaches, vanilla, etc.–pretty much everything) will make it. Hives of entomologists are working on the mysterious colony collapse disorder, the term used to describe the unexplained disappearance of an alarming number of honeybees in North America and Europe. And perhaps it’s a good sign that New York City is suddenly finding itself with more bees than it can handle.

Factoids abound at the Pollinator Partnership website, which is up year-round. The niftiest feature is a tool that lets you enter your zip code to find out what you should plant in your yard to promote pollinator health.

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Follow me to the Philippines

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Next Wednesday, January 23, I’ll be departing for the Philippines. Like we told you last month, I’ll be traveling there to report on the rebuilding efforts after the damage caused by Typhoon Bopha last month.

Photo By Nacho Hernandez

I’ll be going to to Sta. Josefa where at least 366 families in two projects were significantly affected, with homes damaged or destroyed. More than 250 pigs were lost, as well as 90 goats. Rice, corn and banana crops were significantly damaged, and initial estimates from Heifer communities place damages at $550,000.

I hope you’ll check back in on the blog periodically, as I intend (depending on connectivity) to blog while there about the families affected by the typhoon and also about Heifer’s Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction program, which helped our project participants prepare for the typhoon.

In the meantime, you can give to Heifer’s Disaster Rehabilitation Fund. While Heifer is not a first responder, as part of our program work, we help our at-risk communities prepare for the potential impact of disasters.  Even so, natural disasters often overwhelm a community’s ability to respond. Our Disaster Rehabilitation Fund is a pool of money that can be accessed by country offices affected by disasters that exceed their ability to cope.

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Water-logged: A Water Use Infographic

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Water is a vital resource for agriculture, sanitation and for all human existence. Yet 780 million people do not have access to clean water. In recognition of World Water Day on March 22, Heifer International is highlighting the need for those struggling to emerge from poverty to have reliable access to water.

If you already turn the faucet off while you brush your teeth, thanks. Every little bit counts when it comes to respecting and preserving our planet’s supply of clean water. But there are plenty of other choices we all make each day about what we eat, buy and wear that affect our water supply even more.

Graphic by John Houser

This World Water Day, take a moment to consider everything that water makes possible. Tell us in the comments what steps you have taken to make sure there’s enough clean water for everyone.

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Treat Them to Trees

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This time of year when so many of us are talking about trees — which one to buy, how does it smell, what happens if my dog eats the branches — we should all take a minute to say “thank you” to the life of a tree and the environmental protection they provide.

Trees for environmental protection

Photo by Geoff Oliver Bugbee, courtesy of Heifer International.

Trees are essential to life on Earth. Heifer recognizes their simple yet extraordinary virtues and gives many varieties of trees and saplings including acacia, fodder, forest and fruit to families in the communities where we work. And trees seedlings are Passed On to other families ensuring the sustainable cycle that’s key to Heifer’s development model.

Did you know?

  • Trees breathe out oxygen and breathe in carbon dioxide.
  • Trees hold water in the soil and moisture in the air.
  • Trees provide food and medicines for birds, animals and people.
  • Fast-growing trees put nitrogen back in the soil, serve as windbreaks and provide fodder, fencing, firewood and fruit.
  • Multi-purpose trees that families plant along the contours of hillside plots and between rows of crops can provide shade for animals and high-protein fodder.
So as a “thank you” to trees for how much they give us,  I’m gifting trees to my friends and family this holiday season. Hope they breathe a little better.

Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

This holiday season, give trees for your loved ones dedicated to environmental protection.

This post is part of our What to Give series, where we’re helping you choose the best Heifer gift for your loved ones. Read previous What to Give posts here, and subscribe to the What to Give series here.

Still don’t know what to give? Visit our full catalog page here.

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Sustainable Sourcing and Fair Trade for All

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Earlier today, I was at the William J. Clinton Foundation in New York attending a conversation on Sustainable Sourcing and Fair Trade for All. The event brings together a small group of prominent leaders who, together, are transforming supply chains around the world. Heifer International CEO Pierre Ferrari was invited to the event on behalf of Skoll Foundation, Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative, Avina Foundation and Fair Trade USA. Unfortunately, Pierre was unable to attend, but I was pleased to accept on behalf of Heifer.

Bill Clinton and Paul Rice

President Bill Clinton (right) and Fair Trade USA President and CEO Paul Rice (left) at the William J. Clinton Foundation in New York on Dec. 11, 2012.

The Fair Trade concept can be traced to cooperation in the 60s, 70s and 80s that was formed out of a shared sense of justice and solidarity for coffee producers in Latin America. The result of this solidarity led (and still leads) to tangible improvements in the income, health and education of coffee growers. From there, simple technologies and support from various organizations transformed producers into processors and later into exporters. Income grew for coffee farmers, and so did the organizations supporting them. As momentum for Fair Trade increased, additional crops or goods were included, such as bananas, cacao, handicrafts and others.

Years later, what began as an expression of solidarity is now generating significant revenue and demanding more and more professional support for the organizations involved. That means the Fair Trade conversation has changed, although it retains its spirit.

At the William J. Clinton Foundation today, we talked about “sustainable sourcing,” which takes environmental and social responsibility into account when procuring resources like coffee, and the barriers that keep sustainability from full integration into supply chains. Additionally, we discussed Fair Trade USA’s Fair Trade for All vision, which sets out to double “the impact of Fair Trade for farmers” in the next decade and “improv(e) lives throughout the global coffee supply chain.” Fair Trade USA’s vision is centered on: 1) strengthening farming communities by investing in cooperatives and partnering with others to provide support services, with a focus on quality and business capacity, 2) including more farmers, farm workers and communities in the benefits of Fair Trade, and 3) engaging consumers to increase market demand for Fair Trade Certified products and grow sales and impact.

According to Paul Rice, president and CEO of Fair Trade USA, these elements provide a “new model for capitalism that aligns the interest of farmers, consumers and the Earth where everybody wins. The journey begins with the farmer/producer and brings the heart back into business and awakens the mind of consumers.”

As you might expect, today’s conversation was engaging and motivating. Tune in later this week to read my perspective on the event and how Heifer International fits into the picture.

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Abastecimiento sostenible y Comercio Justo para todos

Hoy más temprano, estaba en la Fundación de William J. Clinton en Nueva York, asistiendo a una charla sobre Abastecimiento Sostenible y Comercio Justo para Todos. El evento juntó a un pequeño grupo de líderes prominentes que juntos, están transformando las cadenas de suministros alrededor del mundo. El Presidente Ejecutivo de Heifer International, Pierre Ferrari, fue invitado al evento de parte de la Skoll Foundation, Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative, Avina Foundation y Fair Trade USA. Desafortunadamente, Pierre no pudo asistir, pero yo estaba encantado de aceptar de parte de Heifer.

El concepto de Comercio Justo se remonta a la cooperación en los años 60, 70 y 80, el cual se formó desde el sentido compartido de justicia y solidaridad por los productores de café de América Latina. El resultado de esta solidaridad condujo (y todavía conduce) a mejoras tangibles en el ingreso, salud y educación de los cultivadores de café. Desde ahí, tecnologías simples y apoyo de varias organizaciones transformaron a los productores en procesadores y después en exportadores. El ingreso creció para los agricultores de café, como también las organizaciones que los apoyaban. Mientras que el ímpetu del Comercio Justo aumentaba, se incluyeron cosechas y bienes adicionales, como las bananas, el cacao, artesanías y otros.

Años después, lo que comenzó como una expresión de solidaridad, ahora genera beneficios significantes y exige más y más apoyo profesional de las organizaciones involucradas. Esto significa que el discurso del Comercio Justo ha cambiado, aunque mantiene su espíritu.

En la Fundación de William J. Clinton hoy en día hablamos de “abastecimiento sostenible”, que toma en cuenta la responsabilidad medioambiental y social  en la búsqueda de recursos como el café, y las barreras que evitan que la sostenibilidad se integre por completo en las cadenas de suministros. Además, discutimos la visión del Comercio Justo para Todos de Fair Trade USA, que propone doblar “el impacto del Comercio Justo para los agricultores” en la siguiente década y “mejorar vidas a través de la cadena global de suministro del café.” La visión de Fair Trade USA se centra en: 1) fortalecer las comunidades agricultoras invirtiendo en cooperativas y asociaciones con otros, para proveer servicios de apoyo, con un enfoque en la calidad y en la capacidad de negocios; 2) incluir más agricultores, trabajadores agrícolas y comunidades en los beneficios del Comercio Justo y 3) comprometer a los consumidores a aumentar la demanda en el mercado de Productos de Comercio Justo Certificados y aumentar las ventas e impacto.

De acuerdo a Paul Rice, Presidente Ejecutivo de Fair Trade USA, estos elementos proporcionan un “nuevo modelo para el capitalismo que reune los intereses de los agricultores, los consumidores y la Tierra, donde todo el mundo gana. El trayecto comienza en el agricultor/productor y trae el corazón de vuelta al negocio y despierta la mente de los consumidores.”

Como seguramente espera, la conversación de hoy fue comprometedora y motivadora. Sintonízate esta semana para leer mi perspectiva sobre el evento y cómo Heifer International encaja en la imagen.

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Heifer Philippines Staff Assess Typhoon Bopha Damage

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Heifer International sent a photographer to the Philippines over the weekend to document damage from and record existing state images in the wake of Typhoon Bopha, which struck the southern island of Mindanao last week with hurricane-force winds and heavy rains. The photographer will return to the area in late January, along with a World Ark writer to record the situation and report on long-term agriculture rehabilitation plans.

Update 12/12/12: The following photographs are preliminary photographs; images from the professional photographer will be shared as they are made available.

Heifer Philippines

Meanwhile, Heifer International country staff in the Philippines continues to assess damage in the south from last week’s typhoon strike, and to help prepare for the rehabilitation efforts that will be needed to help project families get back on their feet.

Hercules Paradiang, Heifer Philippines country director, and his team are also working and talking with other nonprofits that are experienced in disaster response, as well as a federation of eight Heifer-organized self-help groups that have been supporting relief efforts since last week and will play an important part in on-the-ground rehabilitation work.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has also assumed direction of NGO efforts and is discussing longer-term rehabilitation partnerships.

Officials said 647 are confirmed dead, with another 780 missing. Total affected population is 487,364 families, or 5,412,140 people in 30 provinces in eight regions. Estimates of overall damage are as high as $173 million.

Specific to Heifer, at least 366 families in two projects in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur, were significantly affected, with homes damaged or destroyed. More than 250 pigs were lost, as well as 90 goats. Rice, corn and banana crops were significantly damaged, and initial estimates from Heifer communities place damages at $550,000.

Heifer Philippines country staff is asking Heifer International for immediate $50,000 disaster rehabilitation funding to help provide short-term food relief and materials to repair homes and a feed mill, such as tin for the roofs and raw feed ingredients for surviving animals.

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Heifer’s Corporate Partners Convene for Local Summit

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Heifer International will host its first corporate partnership conference today and tomorrow, at Heifer Village in downtown Little Rock. The summit, referred to as “Beyond the Bottom Line: Creating Shared Value Through Partnership,” will discuss the opportunities in public and private collaborations with a focus on values-based development and market-driven development. Visiting corporate partners include Elanco Animal Health, Danone Ecosystem, Garnet Hill and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Participants of Heifer International-Green Mountain Coffee partnership

Participants of Heifer Honduras project in partnership with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Photo by Russell Powell, courtesy of Heifer International.

“Everyone attending this summit has the shared belief that truly sustainable development requires collaboration across all sectors,” said Pierre Ferrari, Heifer International’s President and CEO. “We need to develop real solutions and concrete actions to achieve our collective goal of ZERO hunger, ZERO poverty, and ZERO ecological damage.”

The keynote speaker is John Elkington, a respected thought leader in corporate sustainability and the founding partner & executive chairman of the Volans, a future-focused business working at the intersection of the sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship movements. Elkington is also a visiting professor at the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management and UCL Energy Institute.

Topics for the conference include discussion on emerging trends and best practices in sustainable development, value chain collaboration, corporate philanthropy, cause-related marketing, employee engagement and impact measurement.

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Update from Heifer Philippines Staff

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Initial Philippines’ post-Bopha assessment shows loss of animals, crops

Heifer Philippines country staff continues to assess damage from Typhoon Bopha, but project officers and partners in the Sta. Jose community in South Philippines are reporting a number of homes damaged or destroyed, drowned livestock and lost crops.

Philippines Typhoon Bopha

Photo credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video, used under Creative Commons license.

According to Hercules Paradiang, Heifer Philippines country director, 366 families in two projects in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur, were significantly affected, with every family’s home either damaged or destroyed. More than 250 pigs were lost, as well as 90 goats. A building owned by a community group, comprising a feedmill and raw materials for feeds, which were just purchased, was also damaged.

Staff is reporting significant damage to rice, corn and banana crops in the fields as well. The reports, which are still sketchy and unverified, are trickling in due to continued difficulty reaching and communicating with families and staff in the field. Initial estimates of damage to Heifer’s projects overall is $550,000.

The official death toll from Typhoon Bopha, which roared ashore early Tuesday with 160 mile an hour winds, the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, stands at 418 with 383 missing and hundreds injured, according to the Philippines national disaster agency.

The storm has weakened and is moving slowly north-northwest toward the South China Sea, with central winds of up to 68 mph and gusts of up to 87 mph.

Aid continues to pour in from pre-positioned government stores, and international aid organizations are responding to the immediate, short-term needs. Heifer staff in the Philippines and at the headquarters office in Little Rock is collecting updates and information to prepare for the rehabilitation work that will begin soon.

In that, Heifer Philippines country staff will work with project families to repair and replace homes, replace lost livestock, repair animal pens and replace and replant crops.

“Right now, our role is to give the government and first-responders the room to do their work, to help the families who need them so badly,” said Mahendra Lohani, vice president of Heifer International’s Asia/South Pacific area. “Then, when some order is restored, we will work with families and partners to rebuild their farms and shore up and restore agricultural production.

“Only that will provide them the resources and assets, such as income, food and goods for sale, that will start the real long-term recovery that is so important to a sustainable life.”

Updates will continue to be provided as events warrant.

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World Ark Now Available on Tablet!

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World Ark iPad_Cover

Heifer International continues a long streak of innovation by becoming the first development nonprofit to offer a full digital magazine—the World Ark you’ve always loved—available in a free download on iPad or Android tablets.

You’ve likely already received your print edition of the Holiday 2012 World Ark, but as of today, there’s more content and features to love on your iPad or Android tablet. The print issue will continue to be available to Heifer supporters with no interruption.

For this premiere tablet Holiday issue, extra features include:

  • A welcome video by Heifer’s President and CEO Pierre Ferrari;
  • Video of women in Bangladesh celebrating during a Pass on the Gift ceremony from photographer Geoff Oliver Bugbee as well as a video glimpse of how the Arkansas Chuggabugs traveled around the world to raise money for Heifer;
  • World Ark iPad_CatalogA spectacular digital catalog featuring favorite alternative gift items including the gifts of women’s empowerment, sending a girl to school and cookstoves to improve health and the environment;
  • Interactive infographics including how women build clay cookstoves in Malawi;
  • An extra review of poverty- and hunger-related courses you can take for free on your tablet from iTunesU;
  • The latest news from the field on an interactive world map;
  • Slideshows featuring stunning photography.
Download your version today from the App StoreSM on your iPad or from the Google Marketplace for your Android tablet. Email our magazine staff at worldark@list.heifer.org to let us know what you think and what’d you like to see featured here for future issues.

The World Ark digital magazine will appear quarterly in spring, summer, fall and holiday. It was created with the help of digital design experts Bates Creative Group using the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite platform.

The World Ark print edition got its name in 1994 with an issue celebrating Heifer’s 50th anniversary. The magazine’s predecessor, Sharing Life, started in the mid-1970s.

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Camels: An Extreme Animal Makes an Extreme Gift

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The land where Heifer International works in northern Tanzania is so parched in the dry season that dust devils assault the landscape. This is where camels can become lifesavers, as one man discovered.Dusty dry season in northern Tanzania

Elijah Lemayan Sokino joined a Heifer International camel project ten years ago designed to deal with the effects of periodic drought in the area. His family, like other Masai, depended on goats and cattle for their livelihood, but in years when the rains didn’t come, the cattle died. For the semi-nomadic people, this was distressing and perilous.

Mr. Camel

 

Even though the new camels were big and unfamiliar, Elijah stuck with them. He learned to love them. When drought struck again a few years later, families who had dismissed the animals returned to him, seeing that the camels survived when their own cattle did not. Worried they would starve, Elijah redistributed his camels to them.

Now, the family’s camels produce milk that sells for a good price in nearby towns, and people in the area call Elijah “Mr. Camel.”

You can help other families get this kind of independence with the gift of a camel.

Some things you may not know about these amazing creatures:

Camel in Tanzania
Camels can eat almost anything
  • Camels can survive in environments with very little water and can eat vegetation other animals can’t.
  • Camels can drink up to 25 gallons of water at a time.
  • Camel’s milk has three times as much Vitamin C as cow’s milk, and is rich in iron, unsaturated fatty acids and B vitamins.
  • Camel hair can be woven into rugs and tents, and their manure can be burned for fuel.
  • There are about ten times as many Dromedary camels (the ones with one hump) as Bactrian (with two humps), and most of them live in the Horn of Africa or Middle East.
  • Camels have been called the “ships of the desert” for their ability to carry large loads across the sand.

You can give a gift unlike any other this holiday with a Heifer International camel.

This post is part of our What to Give series, where we’re helping you choose the best Heifer gift for your loved ones. Read previous What to Give posts here, and subscribe to the What to Give series here.

Still don’t know what to give? Check out our entire online Gift Catalog.

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Heifer Black Friday Deals

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Are you gearing up to go on the hunt for great Black Friday deals? Want to save yourself some trouble and avoid the trampling crowds this year? Ever thought about giving someone a goat? A goat is a great gift for anyone on your shopping list.


Heifer Has the Best Black Friday Deals

Okay, so we’re not running any discounts or BOGOs. That wouldn’t exactly be fair to our project participants. But I challenge you to find a deal on a gift at a big retail store that will delight your loved one AND change a hungry family’s life.

Aside from being my very favorite farm animal (why are they so awesome?), goats are the ultimate deal. Did you know more people in the world drink goats milk than cows milk? It’s no accident. Goats milk is easier to digest because its milk fats are smaller. Goats are also considerably easier to keep because of their compact size. Mama goats can have two to three goat kids per year for several years, which can be sold for profit or kept to quickly increase a family’s herd size.

But don’t just take it from me. Take it from one of our Heifer Haiti project participants:

Black Friday Deals

Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

I am Deinage Pierre Gelerme. I am 54 years old and married with seven children: five sons and two daughters. Some of them go to school and some don’t. We don’t have enough money to send them all to school.

I received four female goats from Heifer. Two of them are pregnant. Not only did Heifer give me the goats, they also trained me on how to take care of them. I am taking good care of them now. With these goats, I hope to improve my life economically and feed my family better than before. I am very appreciative for the distribution of goats in my community. It is a good way to fight hunger and nutrition problems in the area.

So skip the lines and chaos this Friday, and shop Heifer for your Black Friday deals.

This post is part of our What to Give series, where we’re helping you choose the best Heifer gift for your loved ones. Read previous What to Give posts here, and subscribe to the What to Give series here.

Still don’t know what to give? Check out our entire online Gift Catalog.

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How to Make Biogas at Home

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. We have begun mailing our Gift Catalog for this year’s holiday season and will be featuring activities that highlight the items available.

Biogas

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Biogas Can Save Power and Save the Planet

Excessive harvesting of trees for fuel can strip the land of its topsoil, leading to deforestation. Deforestation and global climate change complicate poverty issues. Sustainability is one of Heifer International’s Cornerstones, and we work to incorporate its principles in all our projects. One way Heifer International is doing this is through the use of biogas. Biogas, a fuel source based on the methane from animal waste, offers a cheap, sustainable option.

A simple way to teach kids about alternative energy sources and sustainability is by making a bottle that shows how gas is made when materials decay.

 Biogas Materials:

Biogas

Photo courtesy of Blm.Gov

  • Raw meat
  • Lettuce leaves or vegetables
  • 2-liter soda bottle
  • Sand
  • Water
  • Balloon
  • Rubber gloves
  • Masking tape
  • String

First, put on the gloves and drop the raw meat and the vegetables into the bottle. Don’t put too much in, just cover the bottom well. Don’t touch the outside of the bottle while you do this. Next, wash your hands and dispose of the gloves. Then get two tablespoons of sand and pour it in the bottle, covering the contents.

Next, take two teaspoons of water and pour it in the bottle. Stretch the balloon over the bottle’s neck. Secure it in place with a string and wrap masking tape over the string.

Place in a warm location. The balloon will inflate over the next three days because of the gas that is being created by decay. Throw the project away after use.

For more details about this project, read this article.

 See how biogas stoves change the lives of rural women in Uganda.

Give now to help families improve their lives and practice conservation with biogas stoves.

 

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Guatemala Earthquake: Heifer Project Families and Staff Safe

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We at Heifer International extend our deep sympathy and best wishes for recovery to those affected by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Guatemala on Wednesday. Heifer Guatemala staff is assessing damage and needs for assistance among its project partners and participants there.

Heifer staff and participants safe after Guatemala earthquake.

Heifer staff and participants reportedly safe after Guatemala earthquake Wednesday. Photo by Russell Powell, courtesy of Heifer International.

Currently, all Heifer International employees are safe, and no staff or project participants were reported injured after the massive quake, centered 14 miles off the country’s coast. No infrastructure damage or loss of animals have been reported, either.

The earthquake, the largest to hit the country since 1976, killed at least 48 people and injured dozens of others, particularly in the San Marcos region. It was also felt in El Salvador and southeastern Mexico.

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