Letters

HOLIDAY THANKS
I just wanted to let you know what an outstanding publication I find World Ark to be. Each article provides three vital components: the personal to draw me into the story; the big picture to educate me on how the pieces fit together; and a piece of the solution to give me hope and inspire me to take action. While poverty and hunger can be quite depressing topics, I am always uplifted when I read World Ark and motivated to contribute to make this world a better place.
JUDY BERLFEIN
Encinitas, Calif.

In your Holiday 2009 issue letters column, Julie Spickler of Menlo Park, Calif., wrote that she was sad that 11 children have been born into a particular family in Bolivia, and she wondered what Heifer was doing about “this problem.” Has anyone inquired of these children whether any of them consider their birth a problem to be solved by those who consider themselves better informed in what Ms. Spickler called family planning? Thank you for all you do to help families large and small become economically self-sufficient.
STEPHEN KENT
Niceville, Fla.

Judge not your generosity by how many people are dependent upon you, but by how many people become INdependent because of you.
JAMES H. H. LAMPERT
Fountain Valley, Calif.

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NOT SO SWEET
My husband and I have been occasional contributors to your fine organization—apparently, because we received your newest publication. I am shocked to see the recipe for “Aunt Dan’s Sweeties.” Never have I seen more misuse of a healthy vegetable! Sweet potatoes are superb when simply baked at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until tender. Scoop out the pulp and mash with real butter and you have a wonderful, healthy side dish. Where on earth did that recipe come from?
GERRY CARLETON
Oxford, Ohio

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ALL WET
In “Swimming In It” (Holiday 2009, Page 5), you state, “On average, each person on Earth uses 328,366 gallons of freshwater each year for drinking, cooking, cleaning and flushing waste down the toilet.” That is incorrect. The figure you cite appears to be the “water footprint” of the world. But the “water footprint” is not the household consumption by individuals. It is rather the total amount of water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants. (See www.waterfootprint.org.) Most of that water use is industrial. Only a fraction of it is for drinking, cooking, cleaning and flushing.
SUSAN HAUSER
Rochester, N.Y.

The article about average freshwater use in the Holiday 2009 issue was very misleading. There is no way any one person could use the amounts the article claimed for drinking, cooking, cleaning and flushing the toilet unless the water used to grow food, produce energy and treat waste is included. I immediately checked my water bills for the last year and found that my wife and I together had used only 48,000 gallons. I don’t believe we are so exceptional in conserving water (which we try diligently to do) that we use less than 1 percent of the 655,939 gallons the article says the average American uses and about 30 percent of what the average Yemeni uses. Please explain how the figures in the article were derived.
MICHAEL TULLIUS
Rosemead, Calif.

Editor’s note: The item on individual water use in the Holiday 2009 edition should have noted that the figures used included water consumption from electricity production and industrial use. World Ark regrets the error.

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SHINE LIGHT ON SOLAR COOKERS
I just read through your [Holiday 2009] magazine today and did some of my Christmas shopping. I was interested in the article “Fuel for Thought” but felt that it missed a significant point. One solution for the solid fuel crisis in developing countries is the solar cooker. This is a simple technology that uses simple materials to make long-term, low-intensity heat. The heat is ideal for sterilizing water and cooking hard foodstuffs. I’ve supported the efforts of the Solar Cooker Institute for many years. It seems to me that it could be an ideal synergy if you could help spread their message in those areas where solar cooking is a good solution.
TOM PFLASTERER
Claysville, Pa.

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ON ISRAEL
I am grateful to Heifer's World Ark magazine for enlightening me about conditions in parts of the world that I may never experience firsthand. However, in the article “Never the Same,” I encountered a statement about a part of the world that I do know well which I feel is misleading. The article cites the U.N. list of countries in which child soldiers are fighting, which includes Israel. Military service is mandatory in Israel, but under no circumstances would any Israeli be conscripted under age 18. The child soldiers referred to are from the group that refers to themselves as Palestinians, who do not include themselves as part of the nation of Israel and do not serve in the Israeli army. It is ironic that the U.N. recognizes Palestinians as separate from Israel in all other ways, but lumps them with Israel with respect to the unconscionable practice of child soldiering.
DR. SHANI FOX
Portland, Ore.

Editor’s note: World Ark received several comments about the U.N.’s inclusion of Israel on the list of nations in which child soldiers are fighting. The list is of countries where children are engaged in fighting, not of countries whose governments mandate or even approve of the use of children as soldiers. Many fight for rebel or opposition groups not associated with any government. As many readers noted, this is a very important distinction.

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OPEN BOOKS
I agree strongly with Ms. Ellen Leopold, whose letter in World Ark [Holiday 2009] opines that financial figures for the operation of Heifer International should be available to its contributors. I have contributed regularly to Heifer International since its very beginning and admire its work and its accomplishments. Nevertheless, if it is unwilling to tell me what it spends on salaries, travel, other benefits, and perquisites for its staff, from the president on down and, for that matter, any other expenditures for any purpose, then I am not sure it should have my support. I feel certain that most contributors will feel more comfortable with management of the organization and more likely to give freely if its financial records are transparent.

Editor’s note: Heifer International makes every effort to be fully transparent and welcomes inquiries about our finances. The organization’s annual report, as well as copies of our IRS 990 forms, are available online at www.heifer.org/finances. If you prefer, you can also call our donor services department at (800) 422-0474.

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We want to hear from you! Please send your comments to worldark@list.heifer.org. Include your name, city and a telephone number or e-mail address. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published online as well as in print. Because of the volume of mail we receive, we cannot respond to all letters.

Q&A Winter Have you ever had an experience that made you think of poverty in a new way? E-mail your response to worldark@list.heifer.org. Please limit your answer to 250 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit responses for length, clarity or grammar.