Overcoming Scarcity by Lester R

The Global Food Gap OVERCOMING SCARCITY BY LESTER R. BROWN

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005 VOLUNTEERS ARMENIA OF THE YEAR ORPHANS FIND RECOGNIZING HEIFER’S HELPERS HOMES AND HOPE HORIZONS|IN PRAISE OF LOVE

Dear outh Africans take very seri- er animal’s offspring is passed on to ously the introductions of all another family in need. Many of those Friends … the offi cials and other digni- attending knew the name of Heifer taries at an event of any kind. founder Dan West and that we look to By Jo Luck “IntroductionsS are important because our Cornerstones for guidance. Project President and CEO they are a form of honoring people,” participants said things like “This proj- they say. ect is succeeding where so many others Last year, about 500 people, includ- have failed,” or “The work of Heifer has Together we make ing government offi cials, representa- changed our lives.” a team that tives of local councils and royalty (the Readers of this magazine will be traditional rulers who inherit their roles familiar with these sentiments, but can help solve as tribal chiefs) gathered in a stadium every time I or other Heifer staff problems many at a “Passing on the Gift” ceremony. It members visit a project, we are renewed people think can’t took place in a village near Pietersburg, when we hear them fi rsthand. We are be overcome— in the northeastern part of the country. refreshed to see the way communities The introductions alone took an hour are changing, growing in self-reliance, hunger, poverty and a half. Some of the chiefs had their through the simple gift of livestock and and damage own “praise poets,” people assigned to training. to the Earth. sing a song of praise or recite a poem This renewal works both ways. Per- after the introduction of the chief. haps one of the most important things Every issue of World Ark contains a that we do, what your support allows us letter from me, the president and to do, is to show our love and concern CEO of Heifer International. It’s for our project participants and our my way of introducing myself to confi dence that they are able, through you, the readers. And while hav- their own hard work, to improve their ing one’s own praise poet might lives and those of their neighbors. be gratifying, I think it’s more im- Many people in South Africa have portant to sing the praises of Heif- adopted Heifer International as a er International’s project partici- South African movement. They share pants and of you, our support- our vision of a world without hunger, ers. Together we make a team of a planet revered and cared for by its that can help solve problems inhabitants. many people think can’t be The people Heifer helps, wherever overcome—hunger, poverty they live, know that other people and damage to the Earth. around the world—you—support and How do I know we can? stand behind our work. They know Because we do, every single that we are passing on to them the gift day. of your Caring and Sharing, another At this same celebration, of our Cornerstones. the local chiefs were all And so in this letter I serve as familiar with Heifer. They a praise poet for you and for all the all loved the idea of Pass- people who participate in our projects, ing on the Gift, one of our I sing about this beautiful cycle, this 12 Cornerstones, in which perfect circle of love. Thank you, and one or more of a Heif- may the circle grow. Poland United States Armenia New York China

Thailand Mekong PREVIEWWhatever your belief is ... your God asks Uganda WORLD ARK JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005 “you to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and shelter the homeless. We’re all in this together, so let’s get on with it. —Peter Ireton, general secretary of Bóthar” 6 28

25 The Global Food Gap: “Hope Brings Success” 28 Overcoming Scarcity 6 By Darcy Kiefel By Lester R. Brown Two Armenian orphans, both raised in institutions, Falling grain stocks and rising grain prices may signal a new era in the ﬁ nd each other, marry, adopt a child and, with Heifer world food economy, one dominated not by surpluses but by scarcity. International’s help, build a new life. Create a Lasting Legacy 42 2004 Heifer International A bequest to Heifer Foundation makes a tremendous Volunteers of the Year 16 and ongoing difference in the lives of those who need By Barbara Justus a helping hand to provide for themselves and We acknowledge some of Heifer International’s most dedicated their families. volunteers, people who have committed themselves to sweeping the world free of poverty and hunger. Cover: Girls play in rice paddies in the Philippines. Photo by Darcy Kiefel The 2004 Hilton Humanitarian Prize 20 Heifer International receives the 2004 $1 million Conrad N. Hilton DEPARTMENTS Humanitarian Prize, the world’s largest humanitarian award, and Jo Luck, president and CEO of Heifer, reﬂ ects on how Heifer’s project Letters/Feedback From Our Readers 2 participants have demonstrated “the success of simplicity.” For the Record 4 Heifer at 60: A Promise Heifer Bulletin 32 to Help Millions 25 Mixed Media 36 By Scott Morris The Heifer Calendar 40 Heifer International’s 60th Anniversary celebration and conference Travel With a Purpose on ending hunger culminates in a bold promise to expand Heifer’s 41 work on behalf of the poor. Reflection “Breaking Bread” by Elizabeth Mayang Elango 44 www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 1 LETTERS|FEEDBACK FROM OUR READERS

Happy Coincidence newed our commitment to grants, the very poor and love teaching them about We were recently visiting your fine work in the world. somewhat uneducated Heifer. We need more pos- our daughter’s host family Mary O’Leary families. I want to let you itive thoughts in our world, in the Miraflor Nature Re- Kansas City, Mo. know that I love sharing Be- and Heifer helps people serve in Nicaragua. As we E-mail atrice’s Goat with my class feel them. were touring the farm and at Christmas time! [The Judy Klein learning about the fami- bestselling children’s book Linden, Calif. ly’s life, my daughter asked Kudos tells the true story of Bea- E-mail where their cow came from. Just finished reading the trice Biira, a Ugandan girl Imagine our delight when September/October World who was able to attend her host mom told us it was Ark. Excellent. I read and school because of the in- Editor’s Note: The following from Heifer International! enjoyed every article and come generated by a Heifer readers responded to the She described the positive came away with new knowl- International goat.] “Q&A” published in the Sep- experience of working with edge and even some sug- The children get to see tember/October World Ark, Heifer to find the right ani- gested books for my read- what wonderful things can which asked, “Are small mal and how happy she is ing list. Thanks. be given to others who are farms worth saving?” with their cow. It has had a Jean Morley even worse off than they calf and now they have milk Fort Bragg, Calif. are. After we read and dis- for their family. Of course, cuss Beatrice’s Goat, I pass Yes, Deﬁ nitely they are “Passing on the around two or three of the Since the beginning of time, Gift.” Positive Thoughts Heifer International gift cat- man has revered the Earth, It was wonderful to hap- I am a teacher of second alogs that I have collected its sustenance and its sus- pen upon a Heifer Interna- grade students. Our com- over the years. The kids are tainability. When we have tional recipient, and it re- munity is one of immi- really impressed, and I do reverence for the Earth and its life-giving produce, our reverence for the planet itself extends as to how best we can sustain its goodness for future generations. Destroying small farms is leading us to desecration of the Earth. Conquering nature in order to survive, as high-tech farming in- sists, will undoubtedly lead to self-destruction. Poison- ing the air, water and land will not make us a better- fed, healthier nation. We must backtrack and look to the ancient people who revered the summer and winter solstices. Incas worked within the balance of nature and felt the sun to be the giver of life. In

2 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org are the caretakers of envi- leave people hungry again? ronmental resources. Let’s Justine Hansen PRESIDENT/CEO keep it that way. Carmel, Calif. Jo Luck Kathleen Long E-mail Boise, Idaho 1015 Louisiana St. What About Diversity? Little Rock, AR/USA 72202 An Idea for Export I am concerned for the mi- E-mail: [email protected] The article was disturbing. nority, poor farmer. With so What disturbs me more many large farms, small PUBLISHER are the farm subsidies in farmers will get squeezed Tom Peterson the Midwest that feed cor- out. These often provide di- COMMUNICATIONS porate farms more than versity in crops. Do we want DIRECTOR anyone else. to enjoy only a few types of Michael Haddigan their culture, life required It would make sense products or many? EDITOR order, working in harmony (not politically, I’m afraid) if Polly Riddle Jan Cottingham with the seasons and na- the subsidized lands were Warminster, Pa. ASSOCIATE EDITOR ture. It didn’t require put- opened up to farming once E-mail Scott Morris ting tons of chemicals on again for export purposes GRAPHIC DESIGNERS the ground to produce nu- only. It will not affect do- Grace Domagala-Zobkov tritionless food. mestic prices; it will pro- World Ark welcomes com- Pooi Yin Chong Small farms and farm vide food to regions suf- ments from readers. Heif- John Houser communities have been fering from grain shortages. er International reserves WRITERS the backbone of our food Landowners who are get- the right to edit letters to Sherri White production from the time of ting money to not farm the the editor for clarity, gram- Lauren Wilcox the pioneers who tilled and plots will still get money matical errors, spelling and PRODUCTION MANAGER cleared the land. Destroy- from export sales. Or they space. Please include a Marleen New ing them with high-tech and can sell or lease to those telephone number or e-mail genetically altered food will who will. This can be done address so we can confirm Heifer International publishes World Ark be a tragedy. with some legislative ma- your identity. Our address is bimonthly for donors and As a superpower we neuvering. Or will politics in the box at right. friends. Heifer has helped cannot impose upon the millions of impoverished world and destroy its way families worldwide become of life, including people more self-reliant through the gift of livestock and training who for generations have Is environmental in their care. A non profit diligently looked toward change a major threat organization rooted in the small farms, toward the & to the United States? Christian tradition, Heifer bounty of the Earth, to sus- Q A works for the dignity and Why or why not? tain themselves. In each issue we well-being of all people. Greed for the dollar pose a question ❑ Yes ❑ No Heifer is a member of InterAction. and market share will in- Federal employees may designate gifts or two related to to the Combined Federal Campaign by evitably make the world a Heifer’s goals of Send your answers, plus writing in #0315. Heifer International poorer place as we impose any additional comments is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization ending hunger and gifts to Heifer are tax deductible mass-production farming. and saving you wish to make, to the and are used as designated until Biodiversity is the answer the earth. address in the box at right. current needs of those projects are to survival for the people met. Further gifts are applied to similar projects so that gifts begin of the planet. Small farms helping people immediately. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 3 FOR THE RECORD

Available water withdrawn Economists believe that malaria in key regions IN PERCENT reduces economic growth in some Near East Sub-Saharan African countries by as much and Africa North as 1.3 percent annually. Africa 1.6% 59.7%

Latin America Asia “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every and the rocket fi red, signifi es, in the fi nal sense, a theft from those Caribbean who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are 2% 14.2% not clothed. The world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius SOURCE: The United Nations of its scientists, the hopes of its children.” World water supplies are of increasing concern, —Dwight D. Eisenhower particularly in the Near East and North Africa. GRAPHIC BY KIRK MONTGOMERY KIRK BY GRAPHIC Women Make Gains

The 10-year-old effort to improve the lives of women and girls has made impressive gains but glaring problems remain, according to a United Nations report. “We are moving forward and have much to celebrate,” Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, United Nations Population Fund executive director, declared late last year. In 1994, the leaders of about 180 countries at the International Conference on Population and Development adopted a 20-year plan to advance human well-being by linking the alleviation of poverty to the empowerment of women and universal access to reproductive health. Gains cited in The State of World Population 2004 include the following: • Since 1994, 99 percent of the 151 developing countries surveyed have adopted measures to protect the rights of girls and women, including passing national legislation and laws on women’s rights. • Three-quarters of the countries have adopted national strategies on HIV/AIDS. However, a w ide g ap i n hea lt h c a re a cce s s p er si st s b et ween r ich a nd p o or t h roughout the world, the report stresses. Maternal mortality remains the starkest indicator of that gap. “We have heard it again and again, but it needs to be repeated: Every minute, one woman dies from pregnancy-related complications—529,000 women every year—leaving a devastating void in their families and communities,” Obaid said. “In Africa, one woman in 16 will die of those causes, compared to one in 2,800 in developed countries. We know how to reduce deaths: expand access to skilled attendance at delivery, emergency obstetric care, and referral and transport services so that women can receive medical care quickly.”

4 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org Green IS Good Don’t Worry, Be Happy

“Green” building designs are catching What makes for a satisfying life? Psychologists studying measures of life on in part because they help the satisfaction have largely confi rmed the old adage that money can’t buy hap- bottom line, according to a report by the piness—at least not for people who are already affl uent. Worldwatch Institute. In the United States, for example, the average person’s income more The report lists three examples of the than doubled between 1957 and 2002, yet the share of people reporting fi nancial advantages of ecological design: themselves to be “very happy” over that period remained static. the Internationale Nederlanden Bank Good relationships, it turns out, are more valuable than money in the headquarters in Amsterdam uses only 10 quest for happiness, at least in wealthy countries where basic needs are percent of the energy of its predecessor, met. homes in a California subdivision with Robert Putnam, Harvard professor of public policy, notes that “the sin- solar heating and bike paths are now gle most common fi nding from a half century’s research on the correlates worth 12 percent more than conventional of life satisfaction ... is that happiness is best predicted by the breadth and ones nearby, and an affordable housing depth of one’s social connections.” People who are socially connected tend development in Texas cut household to be healthier—often signifi cantly so. utility bills by $450 a year by using effi cient appliances and solar heating while adding just $13 a month to mortgage payments. The report says buildings can be made By the Numbers more “green” by exploiting natural forces The global passenger car fl eet now like the sun and wind for heating and exceeds 539 million vehicles and cooling, selecting effi cient appliances and is growing by as many as 9 million climate-control systems, and using better vehicles annually. construction materials.

Underweight children Hunger and in developing countries malnutrition claim 10 Number of 1990 Percentage children 2000 underweight million lives every year, Latin America 14% and the 7 million Caribbean 3 million 6% 25,000 26% Africa 22 million lives every 38 million 29% day, one life 44% Asia 146 million 106 million 29% every fi ve All other 170 million 37% developing seconds. countries 150 million 27% 0 100 200 Source: The United Nations GRAPHIC BY KIRK MONTGOMERY KIRK BY GRAPHIC www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 5 6 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org The Global COURTESY OF THE EARTH POLICY INSTITUTE One of the remarkable achievements of the 20th Food Gap century was the near tripling of the world grain harvest Overcoming Scarcity between 1950 and 1996, an achievement that not only fed people throughout the world but allowed their numbers By Lester R. Brown to grow. Photos by Darcy Kiefel Environmental trends now Heifer International Photojournalist threaten that achievement, making it much harder for farmers to feed the Earth’s increasing population. A frightening gap between consumption and production has developed. Falling grain stocks and rising grain prices may signal a new era in the world food economy, one dominated not by surpluses but by scarcity. If stocks fall farther, as is likely, dropping far lower than at any time in modern history, the world will move into uncharted territory. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 7 hina, the most populous nation, World grain production did not increase so far has been able to feed its at all during the seven years following people by drawing on its grain 1996. Instead it fell behind the growth in stocks. These stocks are nearly consumption, generating progressively While many Cdepleted, and the country is starting to larger shortfalls. The harvest shortfalls observers now look abroad. China may soon need to of 89 million tons in 2002 and 94 million import up to 50 million tons of grain a year. tons in 2003 are the largest on record. Four recognize that the Such demand could overload world grain consecutive shortfalls have dropped world world is facing water markets—creating major problems for the grain reserves to their lowest level in 30 shortages, few have United States, which controls nearly half years. the world’s grain exports, as well as for the In early 2004, wheat and corn prices connected the dots rest of the world. climbed to seven-year highs. to see that a future This potential era of food scarcity forces Early estimates put the 2004 crop, us to answer two questions: How did this boosted by near-ideal weather and stronger of water shortages happen and what can we do? grain prices, at 1,962 million tons. If this means a future of estimate holds, the world won’t have to draw food shortages. Production Falling Short on its grain stocks for the fi rst time in fi ve armers have long had to cope with the years. But even this exceptional harvest Fcumulative effects of soil erosion, the won’t rebuild grain stocks. They’ll remain loss of cropland to non-farm uses and the at a dangerously low level in the event of a encroachment of deserts on cropland. But shortfall in 2005. now they also are facing two dangerous Historically, when world food supplies new trends: falling water tables and rising tightened, rising prices prompted farmers temperatures. These converging conditions to apply more fertilizer, drill more irrigation have taken a toll on food production. wells and clear more land. But today many of

8 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org these actions are no longer options. Applying more fertilizer to crops today in the United States, Western Europe, Japan or China has little effect on production. Similarly, drilling more irrigation wells may just accelerate aquifer depletion. Elsewhere, once-vast frontiers of agricultural settlement have disappeared. The age-old approach of clearing more land to boost production is now limited to a few countries such as Brazil, and even there it carries a heavy price—the irreversible loss of biological diversity. Farmers no doubt will seek to increase production in response to the probability of much higher prices, but they’re not likely to be as successful this time.

The Threat of Price Hikes ow levels of grain stocks could easily Lforce prices to spike. When stocks were this low during 1972 through 1974, wheat and rice prices more than doubled. The world wheat price climbed from $1.90 a bushel in 1972 to $4.89 a bushel in 1974. Bread prices climbed everywhere. So too did the prices of meat, milk, eggs and other grain-based livestock products. Exporting countries like the United that is widely seen as the minimum needed A woman in Ileb, States restricted exports to keep domestic to ensure food security. Carryover stocks in Philippines (page 6), food prices under control, and food aid 2004 were at just 63 days of consumption. removes grains of requests were denied. In hungry countries Anytime stocks are below 70 days of rice from the plants like Ethiopia and Bangladesh, hundreds of consumption, one poor harvest can drop in preparation for thousands of people starved to death. them into the danger zone where grain dinner. In Thailand A poor Soviet grain harvest in 1972 markets become highly volatile and prices (opposite page), a triggered this earlier decline in grain climb. female farmer works stocks. The Soviets, anticipating their need The big question today is, Can the world’s in the rice paddies, as for large quantities of imported wheat, farmers boost the grain harvest by enough do her counterparts in managed to corner the world wheat market to close the gap between consumption and Vietnam (above). Rice before other countries learned of the extent production, cover this year’s population remains a staple of of their crop shortfall. Coupled with short growth and rebuild stocks? Unless stocks the Asian diet, though world harvests in the following two years, are rebuilt, the world faces another year of increasing affl uence this led to tight grain supplies and high living close to the edge. in some Asian nations prices for three years. has resulted in a grow- In 1972, world carryover stocks of Food Demand Growing ing demand for greater grain—the amount in the bin when the hile the increase in production has diversity in food new harvest begins—had dropped to 56 Wbeen losing momentum, the increase choices. days of consumption, well below the 70 days in demand has continued. World population www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 9 growth has slowed from 2 percent in 1970 est remaining agricultural frontier. The to 1.2 percent in 2004. Still, about 76 soybean is consuming the cropland of the million people are added each year, putting Western Hemisphere. relentless pressure on the Earth’s land and water resources. Water Tables Declining And the United Nations projects that eventy percent of world water use is for by 2050 the world will add nearly 3 billion Sirrigation, 20 percent for industry, and people to the current population of 6.4 10 percent for residential purposes. While billion. The vast majority of that population many observers now recognize that the growth will be in countries where water world is facing water shortages, few have tables are already falling and irrigation connected the dots to see that a future of water supplies are shrinking as aquifers are water shortages means a future of food depleted. shortages. During this half-century, as in the last one, As world food consumption has nearly population growth will drive the growth in tripled, so too has the use of water for the demand for food. But given the record irrigation. As a result, the world is incurring or near-record economic a vast water defi cit, but because it takes the growth in countries such as form of aquifer over-pumping and falling China and India, each with water tables, it is nearly invisible. more than a billion people, The world water defi cit is recent in we cannot ignore the effect historical terms. Only within the last 50 of rising affl uence on the years, with the advent of powerful diesel world demand for food. and electric pumps, has the world had the Several billion people pumping capacity to deplete aquifers. The want to move up the food worldwide availability of these pumps and chain, diversifying their the drilling of millions of wells, mostly for diet by consuming more irrigation, have pushed water withdrawals grain-fed livestock products. beyond what rainfall can naturally Growth in the demand for replenish. livestock products translates As a result, water tables are falling in into additional demand not countries that contain more than half of the only for grain but also for world’s people, including China, India and soybeans, because soybean the United States, which together account meal has become an invalu- for nearly half of the world grain harvest. able protein supplement in Groundwater levels are declining feed rations. throughout the northern half of China. Un- While the use of soybean der the North China Plain, they are drop- meal reduces the amount of ping three to 10 feet per year. In India, wa- grain used to produce ani- ter tables are falling in most states, includ- mal products, it has boosted ing the Punjab, the country’s breadbasket. the world demand for soy- In the United States, water levels are fall- beans from 17 million tons ing throughout the southern Great Plains, in 1950 to 190 million tons shrinking the region’s irrigated area by 24 in 2003, an 11-fold increase. percent over the last 20 years. Future expansion of soybean With aquifers that are not rechargeable, area is projected to occur such as the vast Ogallala aquifer under the primarily in Brazil, which is Great Plains in the United States or the considered the world’s larg- deeper of the two aquifers under the North

10 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org China Plain, depletion means the end of irrigated agriculture. Over-pumping creates a false sense of security because though it enables us to satisfy growing food needs today, it almost guarantees a decline in food production tomorrow when the aquifer is depleted. Many countries that rely on surface water for irrigation are also losing water. The reservoirs behind the large dams that were built several decades ago are slowly ﬁ lling with silt as their watersheds are deforested. This situation, now affecting thousands of reservoirs around the world, is a lose-lose state of affairs since the eroded soil that ends up in a reservoir reduces both the productivity of the land upstream and that of the land that can no longer be irrigated.

Temperatures Rising s concern about climate change has in- Atensifi ed, scientists have begun to focus on the precise relationship between temper- ture on rice determined that at 93 degrees Heifer project par- ature and crop yields. Crop ecologists at the Fahrenheit virtually every one of the tiny ticipant Rosalio Funes International Rice Research Institute in the fl owers on the plant’s spikelets turned into a (opposite page) cuts Philippines and at the U.S. Department of kernel, yielding a bumper crop. As the tem- wheat in Chianta, Gua- Agriculture recently have evolved a rule of perature rose, however, fertilization dimin- temala, and a Cambo- thumb that with each 1 degree Celsius rise ished until at 104 degrees Fahrenheit almost dian woman (above) in temperature above the optimum during no kernels formed, resulting in a near-total separates grain from the growing season, the yields of wheat, rice crop failure. Wheat and corn are similarly stalks. Climate change and corn drop by 10 percent. vulnerable. may threaten grain During the last three decades, the production. In 2002, re- Can the world’s farmers boost Earth’s average temperature has climbed by cord-high temperatures the grain harvest by enough 0.6 degrees Celsius. The four warmest years and drought shrank to close the gap between on record have come during the last six grain harvests in India years. In 2002, record-high temperatures consumption and production, and drought shrank grain harvests in both cover this year’s population India and the United States. In 2003, a growth and rebuild stocks? record-breaking August heat wave in Europe claimed 35,000 lives in eight countries and Unless stocks are rebuilt, the withered grain harvests in virtually every world faces another year of country from France through the Ukraine. living close to the edge. The Intergovernmental Panel on Cli- mate Change projects that during this cen- Crops are most vulnerable to higher tem- tury, with a business-as-usual scenario, the peratures during the fertilization period. A Earth’s average temperature will rise by 1.4 research project in the Philippines looking to 5 degrees Celsius (2 to 10 degrees Fahr- specifi cally at the effect of rising tempera- enheit). If the accelerating rise during the www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 11 last few decades is Russia. But these are not necessarily any guide, the actual regions of fertile soils. There is a world increase may be clos- of difference, for instance, between the er to the top of the glaciated soils north of the Great Lakes range than the bot- and the deep, fertile corn belt soils that lie tom. south of them. And extending agriculture These projected into the uninhabited regions of the north rises are for the would require an enormous investment in Earth’s average tem- infrastructure. perature, but the increase will not be China’s Harvest Shrinking evenly distributed. erhaps the most dramatic development Temperature is ex- Pin the world food economy has been the pected to rise much precipitous fall in China’s grain production more over land than since it peaked in 1998. After an impressive over the oceans, climb from 90 million tons in 1950 to 392 more in the higher million tons in 1998, China’s grain harvest latitudes than in the has fallen in four of the fi ve crop years since equatorial regions, then, dropping to 322 million tons in 2003. and more in the in- For perspective, this decline of 70 million terior of continents tons easily exceeds the entire grain harvest than in the coastal of Canada. regions. Behind this harvest decline is a decline In Rwanda, women This suggests that increases far in excess in the amount of land devoted to grain plant crops (above). of the projected average are likely for the production, a reduction from 90 million A Floridian (opposite North American breadbasket—the region hectares (222 million acres) in 1998 to 76 page) waters his defi ned by the Great Plains of the United million hectares (188 million acres) in 2003. plants. States and Canada and the U.S. corn belt. Five distinct trends are contributing Today’s farmers confront the prospect of to this reduction. They are 1. the loss temperatures higher than those faced by any of irrigation water, 2. the expansion of other generation since agriculture began. deserts (largely from over-plowing and over- As the Earth warms, agriculture could grazing), 3. the conversion of cropland to expand northward in both Canada and non-farm uses, 4. the shift of grainland to

The Bottom Line

Grain production in China CHINA MAY SOON Harvest shortfalls 400 1960-2004 Anytime stocks are below 70 days In millions of tons. NEED TO IMPORT UP of 89 million tons in 300 of consumption, one poor harvest 2002 and 94 million can drop them into the danger zone TO 50 MILLION TONS 200 tons in 2003 are the 100 where grain markets become highly

OF GRAIN A YEAR. largest on record. Four 0 volatile and prices climb. 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 SUCH DEMAND consecutive shortfalls Grain stocks in China 1960-2004 have dropped world 300 World population growth has COULD OVERLOAD In millions of tons. grain reserves to 200 slowed from 2 percent in 1970 to WORLD GRAIN their lowest level 100 1.2 percent in 2004. Still, about 76

MARKETS. in 30 years. 0 million people are added each year. 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 GRAPHIC BY KIRK MONTGOMERY KIRK BY GRAPHIC

12 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org higher value fruits and vegetables, and 5., 2004, Beijing announced an emer- in some of the more prosperous regions, gency supplemental appropriation the loss of rural labor needed for multiple to the year’s agricultural budget, cropping. expanding it by 20 percent ($3 bil- Irrigation water shortages have reduced lion) to encourage farmers to grow grain harvests in smaller countries, such more grain. Unfortunately for Chi- as Saudi Arabia, but China is the ﬁ rst na, none of the ﬁ ve trends that are large food producer where water shortages shrinking the grainland area is eas- have contributed to an actual decline in ily reversed. production. China so far has covered the China desperately wants to reverse the fall in its grain harvest by drawing decline in its grain production. In February down its once massive stocks of grain. With these now largely depleted, and with domestic wheat Days of consumption and rice prices up 20 percent or of world grain stocks more, China is starting to turn 1960-2004 abroad for grain. 140 DAYS The Foreign Policy Challenge 120 he big test of the international com- 100 Tmunity’s capacity to manage scarcity may come when China turns to the world 80 market for 40 million or 50 million tons of grain per year—a demand that could 60 quickly overwhelm the system. When this happens, China will have to come Desired level 40 for food security to the United States, which controls nearly half the world’s grain exports. 20 This will pose a fascinating geopolitical situation: 1.3 billion Chinese consumers, who 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 have a $120 billion trade surplus with the United States—enough to buy the entire

GRAPHIC BY KIRK MONTGOMERY KIRK BY GRAPHIC U.S. grain harvest twice—will be compet-

Water tables are now falling in Crop ecologists have DURING THE LAST THREE DECADES, THE EARTH’S countries that contain more evolved a rule of AVERAGE TEMPERATURE HAS CLIMBED BY 0.6 than half of the world’s thumb that with each DEGREES CELSIUS. THE FOUR WARMEST YEARS ON people, including 1 degree Celsius rise in RECORD HAVE COME DURING THE LAST SIX YEARS. China, India and temperature above the the United States, optimum during the It is perhaps a measure of the complexity of our which together growing season, the time that decisions made in ministries of energy account for nearly yields of wheat, rice affecting climate may have a greater effect on half of the world and corn drop by food security than those made in ministries of grain harvest. 10 percent. agriculture. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 13 ing with Americans for concert with ministries of agriculture to U.S. grain, thus driving achieve an acceptable balance between food up food prices. In such and people. a situation 30 years Stabilizing population means making ago, the United States sure that women everywhere have access to would simply have re- family planning services and education. It stricted exports, but also means a worldwide effort to eradicate today the country has the poverty that leads to high infant a stake in a politically mortality and large families. Such an effort stable China. The Chi- begins with at least an elementary school nese economy is not education for girls everywhere. Together, only the engine power- these initiatives can accelerate the shift ing the Asian economy; to smaller families and a stable world it is also the only large population. economy in the world Food security now depends on raising that has maintained a water productivity in all sectors, in agricul- full head of steam in ture of course but also in industry and in recent years. homes. Today we need a global full-court Within the next press to raise water productivity similar to few years, the United that launched a half-century ago to raise States may be loading land productivity as the frontiers of agri- two or three ships a day with grain for China. This long line of ships stretching across the Paciﬁ c may link the two economies more Given the record closely than ever. Managing this ﬂ ow of or near-record grain to satisfy the needs of both countries may become one of the major foreign policy economic growth challenges of this new century. in countries such The risk is that China’s entry into the world market will drive up grain prices so as China and India, high that many developing countries will each with more than not be able to import enough grain. What a billion people, began with the neglect of environmental trends harming food production could we cannot ignore end with political instability on a scale that the effect of rising disrupts global economic progress. affluence on the What Can We Do? world demand alling grain stocks combined with rising for food. Fgrain prices may mean the end of global food surpluses and the beginning of an economy of food scarcity. These changes signal the need for a much broader effort to secure our food supplies, one that involves ministries of energy, of health and family planning, and of water and natural resources working in

14 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org cultural settlement disappeared. We have What began with the neglect A Cambodian mother the technologies, like drip and low-pressure of environmental trends harming and child (opposite sprinkler irrigation, but all too often not the food production could end page left) and a farm policies nor the economic incentives to raise couple in Dong Thanh, water productivity in all sectors worldwide. with political instability on a Vietnam (opposite A world facing food scarcity can no lon- scale that disrupts global page right). Cropland ger afford heavy soil losses from erosion. Re- economic progress. scarcity may force ducing soil erosion means a worldwide effort developing countries to reduce over-plowing and overgrazing and a restructuring of the world energy economy, to stop building auto- to adopt soil conservation practices such as shifting from fossil fuels to renewable centered transport terracing and minimum tillage. kinds of energy. It is perhaps a measure of the systems and instead Nor can our modern civilization afford complexity of our time that decisions made use extensive high-tech to continue converting cropland to non-farm in ministries of energy affecting climate may light-rail networks aug- uses as though cropland were an endless re- have a greater effect on food security than mented by bicycles. source. The mounting competition between those made in ministries of agriculture. cars and crops for land calls for a reexami- These four steps—stabilizing popula- nation of existing transportation strategies. tion, raising water productivity, protecting Among other things, cropland scarcity may cropland and stabilizing climate—consti- force developing countries to stop build- tute a challenging agenda. It is time to re- ing auto-centered transport systems and deﬁ ne security. The threat now is not so instead use extensive high-tech light-rail much military as it is environmental, not so networks augmented by bicycles. much invading armies as it is encroaching And ﬁ nally, climate stabilization may deserts, falling water tables and rising tem- be essential to securing future food peratures. supplies. If it becomes apparent that rising temperatures are shrinking harvests and Lester R. Brown, author of Plan B: Rescuing raising food prices, we will suddenly have a a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in powerful new lobby of consumers pushing Trouble, is founder and president of the Earth for a cut in carbon emissions. This will require Policy Institute, www.earth-policy.org. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 15 HEIFER INTERNATIONAL 2004 Volunteers of the Year By Barbara Justus

Mother Teresa said if you want to change the world, pick up a broom. In this issue of World Ark, we acknowledge

some of Heifer PHOTO BY MOLLY SLOCUM International’s David Slocum and Judy Enders most dedicated Vancouver, Washington volunteers, Northwest Region people who David Slocum took his ﬁ rst Heifer Study have committed Tour to Albania in 2002. On that trip, he themselves to came to see the world through different eyes. Fueled by the energy of the Heifer project

sweeping the partners he met, he committed himself to PHOTOS BY DAVID STYFFE world free of sharing this new vision with others. Before poverty and long his wife, Judy, also was convinced that it Fullerton First Christian Church was time for them to become more involved Fullerton, California hunger. in the important work Heifer is doing to end Southwest Region world hunger. Dave and Judy started their journey On Thursday afternoons at the farmers together as Heifer volunteers with a trip market in Fullerton, Calif., the strong, to Little Rock in late 2002 to attend Heifer sweet, smoky aroma of barbecue lures University. Inspired, Dave and Judy headed people to a small booth in the plaza. There back to Vancouver, Wash., and began to they ﬁ nd friendly Heifer volunteers from share their passion for Heifer with others in the Fullerton First Christian Church ready their community. to serve them gourmet tri-tip barbecue Since then, Dave and Judy have traveled sandwiches. Patrons also get a hefty portion throughout Oregon and Washington, of information about Heifer International, telling churches, civic clubs and schools which is given the proceeds from the about Heifer’s simple solution to some of sandwiches. the world’s most complex problems. This past year, the volunteers of Fullerton Isaak Egge, Heifer’s Northwest First Christian Church were honored by an community relations coordinator, says, invitation to set up a booth at the Orange “Their passion has rubbed off on countless County Fair, which attracts more than people.” 800,000 visitors. A good portion of the fair-

16 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org The HotSpringsVillage Club Heifer

PHOTO BY CLINT STOWARDS several with partners also congregation The International. ofraising have Club Heifer atradition the market raised over $30,000 for Heifer over $30,000 market raised the on groups and individuals other train and crafts, and drama suchas market the every ofexcellence bar with own their how to put on such an event. Last year, www.heifer.org Pamela Edwards, Southwest community community Southwest Edwards, Pamela produced a handbook forproduced event, ahandbook add the undertake. project they other fun fund-raising components to in Fullerton seem to infuse everything they everything seem Fullerton in to infuse from other churches in their area, have area, their churches other in from relations coordinator. relations other congregations to run an alternative alternative an run to congregations other do with the spirit of volunteerism,” says plaza. downtown a Living Gift Market. They enlist help goers left with an introduction to Heifer. gift fair each November in Fullerton’s Fullerton’s in November each fair gift “Members of the First Christian Church Church Christian First ofthe “Members Members of the Hot Springs Village Village Hot Springs ofthe Members Each November,Each holds group the Central Region Hot Springs Village, Arkansas “His contribution has been invaluable.” been has contribution “His 1947, acowboy volunteered as when Howard in involvement started initial 1970s. But their Iowa, where they have been organizing and and organizing have been whereIowa, they Heroes,” Melissa Worm, community relations relations Worm, community Heroes,” Melissa International, he immediately knew he when I saw the poverty and need ofother and poverty when the Isaw works because people are empowered people are and because works wanted to become involved. Although Ed Ed become to involved. Although wanted with his characteristic passion, has delivered delivered has passion, characteristic his with than 25 years of their lives to educating educating to lives oftheir years 25 than to deliver cattle overseas for resource-poor for resource-poor overseas deliver cattle to transformed when they pass on the gift. gift. on the pass when they transformed the Heifer message to countless groups. groups. countless to message Heifer the havetaken more than 20 groups of people people around the world, my whole world people about Heifer and worldpeople about and hunger. Heifer They political candidate in the heat of a race. His His heat ofarace. the in candidate political lives in Dallas, he has crisscrossed the state state the crisscrossed he has Dallas, in lives listen. And for the last two years, Ed Sircy, Sircy, Ed years, two last for the And listen. changed,” Howard says. says. changed,” Howard coordinator for the Central Region, says. says. Region, for Central the coordinator of Texas with the energy and conviction ofa conviction and energy the of Texas with motivating other volunteers since the early early volunteers other since the motivating message is consistent and persuasive: Heifer consistent persuasive: and is message families. “After my experience as a cowboy, Ed Sircy Howard andWilma Lord people around the world,” long-time world,” the around people long-time efforts in a small community like Hot like community asmall in efforts member Duane Millar says. says. Millar member Duane Springs Village can signiﬁ can Village Springs “It’s gratifying to know that volunteer that know to “It’s gratifying When he learned about Heifer Heifer about learned he When people crowd, a to speaks Sircy Ed When Howard and Wilma have dedicated more have dedicated Howard and Wilma lead volunteers in are Wilma and Howard “Ed Sircy is truly one Heifer ofour truly is Sircy “Ed Midwest Region Montezuma, Iowa Central Region TexasCoppel, cnl beneﬁ cantly January/February 2005 January/February t

WORLD ARK

17 to Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Ark. Howard volunteer. “The whole organization makes even kissed a heifer in 1984 when his youth sense to me,” she says, group raised enough money to purchase a Audrey’s philosophy is t hat when li fe g ives heifer. you scraps, make a quilt. Perhaps that is how Jason Bergmann, Midwest Area represen- she came to be the “Quilt Lady” for Heifer. tative, says, “Howard has been with Heifer Quilts fascinate Audrey because of the through all the changes over the years and unique story that every quilt holds within its has been known to say, ‘If it’s good for Heifer, patches. Audrey spearheaded three Chicago that’s all I care about.’ ” Quilt Auctions and recently helped with the Goshen Offi ce 60th Anniversary Quilt Auction as part of its three-day celebration. Mary Alice and Richard Rubach Audrey loves to travel and has been on Burlington, Wisconsin six Heifer Study Tours. Audrey says, “It was Midwest Region awesome and inspiring to actually see the difference those animals made.” Mary Alice and Richard Rubach, lead volunteers for Wisconsin, are the fi rst to admit that they are “hooked on Heifer.” Since they fi rst learned about Heifer International 10 years ago, their desire to spread the word about Heifer has remained intense. Mary Alice and Richard keep the volunteer efforts rolling throughout Wis- consin by organizing the annual volunteer meeting and coordinating volunteer efforts throughout the state. They help with the PHOTO BY CARLOS TORRES BY PHOTO Racine County Fair, inviting buyers of auctioned 4-H lambs to donate an animal to Heifer. Last year Heifer received a check for more than $2,000 from fair-goers. The couple staff displays at church conferences and events such as the annual World Dairy Exposition in Milwaukee. Mary Alice says, PHOTO BY PAM GLAZEBROOK PAM BY PHOTO “Heifer makes so much sense as a peaceful way to help needy people around the world.” Tom Lyon Mount Sinai, New York Northeast Region Audrey Veath Barrington, Illinois Tom Lyon, a lifelong educator, teaches in Midwest Region a way that transforms students. Fortunately for Heifer International, Tom is also Audrey Veath knows a lot about hard passionate about fi nding a solution to world work. For 27 years, seven days a week, she hunger. Since 1985, he has combined his and her husband ran a coffee shop and passions, working to make young people soda fountain in the Chicago area. In 1994, aware of hunger issues and advocates for when her husband died, Audrey shifted her sustainable change. energy from the coffee shop to the Chicago In the late 1980s, Tom co-founded the

PHOTO BY JACK SPRATT JACK BY PHOTO ofﬁ ce of Heifer International as an ofﬁ ce Long Island Hunger Awareness Network.

18 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org During his 33 years at Ward Melville High banquets, which raised more than $40,000. School, he led the Hunger Task Force. Tom “The Triangle Heifer Committee is an is also responsible for the annual Boston example of volunteering at its best,” says University 50-Mile Walk for Hunger. With Mondie Tharp, the Southeast community Tom’s guidance, for the past 10 years BU relations coordinator. students have not only raised thousands of dollars but also awareness about Heifer and hunger-related issues. Tom’s passion and Michele Grove and talent for pulling young people together Dr. Andrew Townsend help make sustainable change possible. Martinsburg, West Virginia Mid-Atlantic Region

Triangle Heifer Committee Michele Grove and Dr. Andrew Raleigh, North Carolina Townsend are “committed partners” Mid-Atlantic Region in their efforts to help end world hunger. They have set a personal When a handful of people met in Raleigh, goal to raise a $5,000 Gift Ark each N.C., to form the Triangle Heifer Committee, year to beneﬁ t a different country they never dreamed how successful their program for the rest of their lives. efforts would be. In 1997, they planned an Michele and Andy began sup- informal meal, invited their friends and porting Heifer International at colleagues and hoped people would show up their church, United Methodist, to hear about Heifer. Three hundred people 15 years ago. They started by poured through the doors that evening, and helping the children in the church SANDSTROM ERIC BY PHOTO the committee has been on a roll ever since. raise money to buy Heifer animals. Four The Triangle Heifer Committee, which years ago, Michele and Andy co-led a mission has grown to 20 active members, does trip to Nogalas, Mexico. What they found presentations about Heifer at local there was a life-changing experience, lead- schools, civic clubs and mission fairs. The ing them to increase their activities with committee passes out Heifer materials at Heifer. In 2001, Andy and Michele went on local universities, including North Carolina a Heifer Study Tour to China. On return- State College of Veterinary Medicine. ing to the United States, they developed a The members have held two fund-raising network of volunteers in the area and later became area volunteer coordi- nators for Northeast West Vir- ginia and Western Maryland. “So far Michele and Andy have raised several Gift Arks,” Umaru Sule, the community relations coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic region, says. “They are an inspiration not only to other volunteers but to the Heifer staff as well.”

Barbara Justus is a freelance writer

PHOTO BY GINA JOSEPH BY PHOTO living in Little Rock. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 19 The WHITE RAY PHOTOS BY 2004 Hilton Humanitarian Prize: Honoring “the Success of Simplicity”

n Oct. 28, Heifer International attending school. Her story is the subject of received the 2004 $1 million the best-selling children’s book Beatrice’s Goat. Conrad N. Hilton Humanitar- Following is the text of Jo Luck’s speech: ian Prize, the world’s largest It is truly an honor to stand in such Ohumanitarian award. Steven Hilton, presi- distinguished company to accept the 2004 dent of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize on presented the prize to Jo Luck, president behalf of Heifer International. and CEO of Heifer, at the Hilton humani- Those with us around the room today in- tarian conference in New York City. clude representatives of other organizations Heifer, among the oldest United States that have previously received this award. We humanitarian agencies, is the fi rst U.S.- are so privileged to be in your company. You based organization to receive the prize since inspire us and you walk beside us in our col- 1997. Past winners of the award include the lective mission to alleviate suffering in our International Rehabilitation Council for global village that we share and call Earth. Torture Victims, Doctors Without Borders We at Heifer International would very and the International Rescue Committee. much like to thank the Arkansas congressio- The Hilton Prize goes to organizations nal delegation and others who nominated that are signifi cantly alleviating human suf- Heifer for this prestigious award. And we fering. A distinguished international panel are extremely grateful to the distinguished of jurors selects the winners. jurors who selected Heifer International for “Heifer International’s success proves that this honor. it’s often the simple ideas that are the best,” Steve Hilton in some very kind remarks Steven Hilton said. “Providing poor families said that “Heifer International’s success with cows and other livestock, along with proves that it’s often the simple ideas that are agricultural training, helps people become the best.” self-sustaining. Ideas on how to help the As many of you know, the seeds of Heifer’s poor in our world come and go, but Heifer efforts to end hunger sprouted from the has produced a model that has endured for embattled earth of the Spanish Civil War in 60 years.” the 1930s. Jo Luck and Beatrice Biira of Uganda Our founder, Dan West, as a volunteer spoke at the award presentation. Biira was relief worker ladled out cups of milk to the 9 years old when her family received a goat civilian victims on both sides of the confl ict. from Heifer. Proceeds from the sale of goat He came to believe the solution was not milk allowed Biira to achieve her dream of just a daily cup of milk, but a cow, to provide

20 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org a continuing source of milk. Since then, this We take great pride in working with them Jo Luck, president simple idea has helped millions around the and in following their example. and CEO of Heifer world to move closer to self-reliance and I’d like to share with you three of my favorite International, is dignity. quotes, which can be found in a small book fl anked by Steven During the six decades of our work, small that we have produced ourselves called One Hilton and Beatrice farmers all over the world have repeatedly World, One Family. Biira at the award demonstrated to us the success of simplicity— “I have the audacity to believe that peoples presentation in using the gift of a single animal and everywhere can have three meals a day for New York (opposite training: their bodies, education and culture for their page left); Jo Luck, • To bolster diets and improve nutrition, minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for speaking at the • To improve housing and provide education, their spirits.” Martin Luther King Jr. Hilton conference. • To restore marginal lands, “We cannot all do great things but we • To safeguard water supplies, can do small things with great love.” Mother • And to ensure the full participation of Teresa. men and women in building communities together. “Despite limited resources, We on the Heifer team are keenly aware that the beneficiaries rise every these farming families are the true winners of this prize. day determined to make the We are proud to represent them here— world a better place for their families in Navajo country, in the Andes, families.” across Central and Eastern Europe, on the African grasslands, on the Tibetan plateau “In my world, the needs of women and and in many other places across our planet. children transcend their politics.” Dan West, Despite limited resources, the benefi ciaries founder of Heifer International. rise every day determined to make the world a We are privileged to have with us today better place for their families. They are of mod- one of the fi nest examples of Heifer’s success est means, but in their hearts they hold hu- stories. As a child in Uganda, Beatrice Biira manity’s richest treasures. Daily, through their and her family received a Heifer goat and efforts, they demonstrate ingenuity, industry, training in its care. As a result, Beatrice’s a love of peace, a passion for justice, great com- family moved closer to self-reliance and the mon sense and uncommon courage. realization of their dreams. Though largely unheralded, they carry out In time, Beatrice’s family became donors some of the most important work of our time. themselves when they proudly passed on their They strengthen their communities. They gift to another family in need. feed, clothe and educate their children. They Beatrice is now a serious and successful teach their children—and the rest of us—to student in the United States. She hopes to use love and to hope. her education to end hunger and poverty. They build peace in the face of ignorance, Beatrice and her family have shown how a confl ict and chaos. simple gift can reveal the shining jewel of hu- They receive—and they pass on the gift to manity and the brilliance of a new future. others. Beatrice’s grace, intelligence and young They are in a very real sense heroes and role wisdom demonstrate the potential of millions models for all of us. around the globe who require only a simple At Heifer International, we are continually gift to begin building sustainable self-suffi - inspired by what small farmers around the ciency, to nourish their families, to educate world teach us about cooperation, dignity, their children, to nurture community and respect, hope and compassion. build peace.

www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 21 WORLD ARK MARKET

Heifer is more than ending hunger—we work hard to heal and replenish the earth as well. With this Heifer grocery tote, you can support both missions. Made of 100% organic cotton, this tote will reduce the amount of waste in landﬁ lls and help preserve our forests. This product is a result of organic farming, which prohibits use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers for minimum adverse effects on the environment.

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A picture is worth a Heifer Images Share the story of Heifer’s thousand words…Bring beginnings with the tale the world to your of how Faith the cow family with this award- brought hope and winning collection of healing to families inspirational quotes and in Puerto Rico. photographs featuring Heifer International’s Faith the Cow projects and participants. by Susan Bame Hoover One World, Hardback One Family Book $16.00 Softback $5.00, #NB0703 #NB0705 22 Call Toll Free (800) 422-0474 Share the gift of Heifer’s mission to end hunger and poverty with your family. Heifer Style Teach your children about the world Wrap your family and friends in Heifer today. around them with The New York Times bestselling children’s picture book, Beatrice’s Goat, a story about how the gift of a Heifer International goat changed the life of a little girl, her family and her entire community. And bring a little happiness to your kids with a vibrant Heifer Ark T-shirt, depicting animals spreading joy to the world.

“Cowing Around” T-shirt Available in Gold and Blue, 100% cotton Adult Gold, $15.00, sizes S-XXL, NS4900 Adult Blue $15.00, sizes S-XXL, NS4900

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WA5100000 24 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK RP1015 Call Toll Free (800) 422-0474www.heifer.org Heifer at 60: A Promise to Help Millions

By Scott Morris WORLD ARK ASSOCIATE EDITOR Heifer Board Chair Charles Stewart and Jo Luck, Heifer’s eifer International’s 60th anni- Peter Ireton, general secretary of Bóthar, president and CEO, versary celebration and confer- the Irish charity that is one of Heifer’s partner announce the launch ence on ending hunger ended organizations, presented Jo Luck with a $1 of Heifer’s Hope for with a bold promise to expand million contribution to the campaign. Ireton the Future Campaign HHeifer’s work on behalf of the poor. noted that all religions call on their adherents (clockwise from photo “We are not fi nished until every family to help the poor. at far left); Peter is self-suffi cient, until every family is self- “Whatever your belief is ... your God asks Ireton presents Jo sustaining,” said Charles Stewart, chair of you to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and Luck with a $1 million Heifer’s Board of Directors. shelter the homeless,” Ireton said. “We’re all contribution; author Stewart and Jo Luck, Heifer’s president in this together, so let’s get on with it.” Frances Moore Lappé and CEO, offi cially announced the launch Jo Luck announced that Heifer had already speaks at Heifer’s of the organization’s $800 million Hope for raised $236 million toward its goal of $800 Conference on Ending the Future Campaign. The announcement million in the fi rst decade of the 21st century. Hunger; economist came at a gala that concluded the three-day She said the effort to expand Heifer’s work, Desmond Jolly conference in October, attended by more which now includes projects in 50 countries addresses the “Small than 1,000 people from all over the world. and more than 20 states, was necessary because Farmers in a Global Drs. Janet and Steve Cathey of Little Rock 800 million people remained chronically Economy” symposium; hosted the gala, which drew more than 1,200 hungry and a total of 3 billion still lived in actors Ted Danson and people. The actors Mary Steenburgen and poverty. “Together,” she said, “we can end world Mary Steenburgen with Ted Danson served as co-chairs. hunger.” Beatrice Biira. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 25 A World in Crisis arlier, during Heifer’s “Small Farmers in a Global EEconomy” symposium, Desmond Jolly, an agricultural economist at the University of California-Davis, said the world faced a crisis of poverty, hunger and AIDS. Small farmers in developing countries are among those suffering the most, he said. Jolly, vice chair of the National Commission on Small Farms, compared the mounting crisis to those faced during the Great Depression and World War II. To move out of poverty, Jolly said, small farmers need more land, appropriate technology such as healthy animals and quality seeds, more information about Hope for markets, and the ability to infl uence government policies that affect their chances for success. Irene Hoffmann, chief of the Animal Production the Future Service of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, said disease frequently pushed small farmers into poverty. AIDS is especially devastating, she said, because it kills eifer International’s Hope for the Fu- the most productive laborers and erodes food security. ture Campaign, announced at the gala Good nutrition can be a buffer against disease, she Hthat ended Heifer’s 60th anniversary said. Gifts of livestock are part of the solution because celebration and the three-day conference on end- they help small farmers rebuild assets, improve nutrition ing hunger, has set important goals in the organiza- and generate income, Hoffmann said. tion’s efforts to end hunger and alleviate poverty. During the Conference on Ending Hunger, Frances Between 2000 and 2010, Heifer will have Moore Lappé, author of Diet for a Small Planet and You helped: Have the Power: Choosing Courage in a Culture of Fear, noted there was enough food to feed everyone on the planet. • 1 million more families move dramatically Hunger is “human-made,” she said. closer to self-reliance through livestock and The problem, Lappé said, is “not a scarcity of food. extensive training and Heifer’s uniquely It’s a scarcity of democracy. Wherever there is hunger, it effective practice of Passing on the Gift. means people have been denied a voice.” • An additional 1.4 million families through The solution to hunger lies in the basic human training alone in environmentally sound impulse to cooperate to solve problems. Heifer, with its farming, micro-enterprise, gender equity and emphasis on empowering communities, “taps our deep other community development programs. need to cooperate and help one another,” Lappé said. • 2.6 million more families through indirect Ritu Sharma, co-founder and executive director of benefi ts as a result of Heifer’s work. Women’s Edge (the Coalition for Women’s Economic • Heifer will also substantially increase Development and Global Equity), noted that the its efforts to educate the public about world overwhelming majority of small farmers were women. hunger, poverty and the environment and Sharma said these women were poor because they were promote ways for each person to make a trapped in gender roles that put them at an economic difference. disadvantage. In the developing world, for example, girls often lack access to education while women are denied In all, Heifer International will provide assis- the right to own land. tance—directly and indirectly—to a total of 23 Also at the conference, Arkansas First Lady Janet million men, women and children by the end of Huckabee, who served as spokesperson for the pilot the decade. Read to Feed Challenge in Arkansas, was presented with

26 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org a Literacy Leadership Award by Heifer and manufacturing process and also makes “Perhaps Heifer’s Scholastic, the children’s book publishing products of recycled material and products greatest legacy company. Huckabee helped introduce that are themselves recyclable. the program to governors’ spouses at the Lester R. Brown, founder and president is helping people 2004 National Governors Association of the Earth Policy Institute and author discover the conference, and the Challenge is now of the cover story in this issue of World satisfaction of expanding to other states. Ark, echoed Lappé’s observation about Ray Anderson, founder and chairman people’s need to help one another. He helping other of Interface, Inc., the largest commercial called Heifer’s practice of “Passing on the people.” carpet manufacturer in the world, Gift,” which requires recipients to give one addressed the luncheon on the second or more offspring of their animals to other —Lester R. Brown day of the conference. Interface, based in needy families, “the genius of Heifer.” Atlanta, is a leader among environmentally Brown said, “Perhaps Heifer’s greatest responsible corporations. It works to reduce legacy is helping people discover the its impact on the environment during the satisfaction of helping other people.” Heifer Online: www.heifer.org Help Hungry Families The Most Important GIFT CATALOG Feed Themselves in the World “Teach a man to fish” has been the practical, Give a Gift Animal but powerful, philosophy behind Heifer since 1944. How does it work?

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OUR WORK GET INVOLVED GIVE LEARN INSIDE HEIFER

Online News Seeks Off-line Views You Are: Someone who cares about ending hunger and poverty and creating a more sustainable Earth. We know you are because you receive World Ark—a publication designed to help you do just that. We Are: Dedicated people who want to send you the electronic Heifer.Org Newsletter each month, ﬁ lled with: ● Inspiring images and slide shows of our project partners with their life-changing livestock. ● News about what Heifer friends like you are doing in your neck of the woods. ● Interactive steps you can take immediately to help end hunger and protect the Earth. ● Links to other websites where you can get even more information. So, do you want to get together every month? Simply visit our website, www.heifer.org, to subscribe to Heifer International’s E-Newsletter. We promise not to share your e-mail address with anyone else. We also promise you’ll look forward to our appearance in your mailbox each month! It will deﬁ nitely be the start of a beautiful, life-changing relationship. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 27 Story and Photos by Darcy Kiefel Heifer International “Hope Brings Success” Photojournalist A Home of Their Own

RGASTAN, Armenia—Shura Life could have been much different for and Karine Gevorgyan began them, as it has been for thousands of Arme- their married life sharing a nian children orphaned by natural disaster special bond—both grew up and war. The devastating Spitak earthquake Mas orphans, both wanted to create the lov- of 1988 left more than 25,000 people dead ing family life they never had. and 500,000 homeless. The armed conﬂ ict Raised in institutions in separate villages, between Armenia and neighboring Azerbai- the couple met, fell in love and wed, hoping jan over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, to have a child. But they couldn’t conceive, an Armenian-dominated region of Azerbai- so Shura and Karine, both knowing the jan, killed 30,000 Armenians and displaced loneliness of a family lost, adopted a baby another million. girl. And now, after receiving a cow from These tragedies have contributed to an Heifer International, Shura, Karine and 2- orphan crisis in Armenia unprecedented year-old Anna are building a new life. since the genocide of 1915, during which With Heifer’s help, “I realized quickly more than 1.5 million Armenians were that hope brings success,” Shura says. killed or died of starvation during deporta-

28 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org GEORGIA NORTH

ARMENIA Armenia faces an orphan crisis Archbishop Mesrop AZERBAIJAN unprecedented in almost 100 Astjian of St. Nerses then Ejmiatsin asked Heifer International Yerevan years. Thrown out of state-run in Armenia for help obtain- MILES TURKEY orphanages when they reach ing animals for the young 025 adulthood, orphans often resort to families. Heifer agreed to support the idea. In 2002 TURKEY AZERBAIJAN prostitution and crime to survive. the project gave fi ve families AAREAREA IRAN OOFF DDETAILETAIL quality animals and training ASIA SAUDI IRAN tion by the Ottoman Turks. The orphans, in family nutrition and farm ARABIA MAP BY KIRK MONTGOMERY KIRK BY MAP once they reach adulthood and are no management, as well as on- Karine and Shura longer under the protection of the state, of- going technical guidance for sustainability. Gevorgyan, with ten are thrown onto the street where they Shura and Karine Gevorgyan were their daughter, Anna, must fend for themselves with no resources among the fi ve young couples to receive and their Heifer cow or skills. Many resort to lives of crime or homes and plots of land in the village of (opposite page) in the prostitution, and survival becomes an even Mrgastan. Their immediate dream was to village of Mrgastan. The greater challenge. start a family and give their child the love couple, both orphans, Shura lost his mother when he was 6 and nurturing they had been deprived of are building a new life. years old, and his father abandoned him while growing up in orphanages. Their “No one in this village and his six siblings soon after. Shura’s eldest dream was shattered, however, when Shura has the possibility to sister, who was 13 at the time, tried her and Karine discovered they were unable to purchase a cow. This best to run the household and care for the conceive. Months later, their prayers were project has been a children. She spent her days working on a answered when Shura’s sister agreed to let great contribution not collective farm; her nights were devoted to the couple adopt her newborn baby, Anna. only to our family but the family, collecting apricots or whatever In March 2001, Shura and Karine had a the village as well,” else she could fi nd to alleviate their hunger. home and a beautiful child, but they knew Shura says. Shura remembers many days going to that Anna’s health depended on securing bed without a meal. Life was lonely and a sustainable source of good nutrition. A as time went on, simple survival became a dairy cow would solve the problem, but daily challenge. The following year, Shura’s there was no way the young couple could sister realized the responsibility was more afford one. than she could handle, and the children “Due to our hard work, in a year’s time we were placed in an orphanage, where Shura made our house a home and my wife and I spent the rest of his childhood. were very, very happy,” Shura says. “However, For her part, Karine has no memory of it was very diffi cult for me to provide my her family. She was raised from infancy to family with the nutrition they needed.” adulthood behind orphanage walls. With a smile, Shura recalls, “In Octo- ber 2002, Heifer International entered A New Start our lives. There was much training and he Aigebatz (Sunrise) project of Armenia preparation. At the beginning I was scared Twas established to help orphans such as about succeeding. I had no skills or expe- Shura and Karine. With fi nancial support rience with cows, but Heifer showed trust from the St. Nerses the Great Charitable in me and demonstrated the skills I need- Association, Aigebatz began purchasing and ed, along with hope. I realized quickly that reconstructing existing “modest farms” in hope brings success. various villages near the town of Ejmiatsin “Before,” Shura adds, “I had temporary with the goal to ultimately accommodate 30 work without a salary through my electrical orphans. skills. Few people could pay me and many www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 29 “I Am Accepted” n the neighboring village of Aygeshat, IVasily Plechanov, who believes his Russian parents abandoned him, sits in the shade of his new home while his friend tends to their animals a short distance away. “I don’t remember when I entered the orphanage, but I guess I was about 2 or 3,” he says. “Nobody knew anything about me, and the institution gave me the name I have today. By the time we were 15 or 16, they informed us we were now free. They had little interest in how we would proceed in life. The orphanage just opened the doors and said to leave.” Plechanov laughs. “My only thought was how to buy bread or how to earn the mon-

Vasily Plechanov were neighbors, so I would just help them. It (above in his garden was not sustainable income but the cow has in the village of been. For one family, this cow has solved all Aygeshat) says, “The our ﬁ nancial and nutritional needs.” orphanage did not Karine says, “Before we received our own teach us any skills or cow, our neighbors would give us about a experience for life in a pint of milk for Anna, who was 7 months village. ... Heifer means old at the time. Since our Heifer cow has for us a friend and a arrived, I make my own butter, cheese and partner.” Dmitri Zuev yogurt. Anna is raised on our cow’s products (right) with the cow he and her health has improved. Any surplus shares with Plechanov. milk or products we sell to our neighbors for additional income.” Tears show in Shura’s eyes. “No one in this village has the possibility to purchase a cow. This project has been a great contribution not only to our family but the village as well. Heifer International is a big mission and tangible to the whole world. We give big, big thanks to Heifer. From the beginning until now, I express our deepest thanks for all their efforts. I cannot ﬁ nd the words to express any more.”

30 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org “Because of our Heifer training, we have succeeded in farming and are now receiving benefits. ... We will proceed as they have taught us, and continue after they are gone. We will become sustainable.”—Dmitri Zuev ey for it. This was my fi rst priority. I actually don’t remember how I survived. We were still children and we had entered a new, alienated world. We had no aim, no goals; we just tried to survive and prepare ourselves for this new world. Sometimes we would receive temporary work as laborers and slept in the streets at night. other family. Tomorrow, I believe, we can Susanna Mashkovich “Besides our own diffi culties, it was the live without Heifer. We will proceed as they (above) feeds honey to most diffi cult time for the people of Arme- have taught us, and continue after they are her two children and a nia after 1991 and the collapse of the So- gone. We will become sustainable.” local child in the village viet Union,” he continues. “Everyone was With the support of Aigebatz and Heifer of Hermon, Armenia. in fi nancial ruin. In 1992, here in Armenia International projects, both Vasily Plecha- She and her husband, there was no electricity; there was not even nov and Dmitri Zuev have become respected both orphaned as bread. We had entered the streets at the members of the Aygeshat community. Zuev children, received bees most diffi cult time.” says he is no longer afraid and no longer from Heifer. “It may not Plechanov explains that he and others questions his aspirations. He plans to estab- be physically diffi cult to struggled daily on the streets but were fortu- lish a breeding farm and is confi dent of his raise bees but you must nate to be given food and clothing through skills. He also looks forward to providing a be clever,” Mashkovich Red Cross and other nonprofi t organiza- healthy and loving home for his future wife says. “We don’t feel so tions. His life-changing opportunity came and family. alone with the presence when Aigebatz provided him and his friend, “We have completely solved our nutri- of Heifer International.” Dmitri Zuev, with a home and Heifer Inter- tional problems,” Zuev says. “We can pro- national gave them a cow. duce yogurt, cheese and butter and sell the “The orphanage did not teach us any surplus. We have improved our economic skills or experience for life in a village,” and social situation by 80 percent! We have Plechanov says. “What we have learned came become completely sustainable through from the kindness of strangers and then, this project.” of course, through Heifer International. As Zuev excuses himself to herd his Heifer means for us a friend and a partner. animals to a shaded area, he says, “When Because of our Heifer training, we have I am alone with the cows, I clear my whole succeeded in farming and are now receiving spirit and my nerves are OK. My thoughts benefi ts. are pure and I expect goodness even from “We value and appreciate the core of the evil I have seen. I respect and rely Heifer—the ‘Passing on the Gift,’ which on God because of being close to nature. is so right and such a perfect initiation,” With this project, I am accepted. I feel Plechanov says. “We benefi t today and can so comfortable and feel more generosity then pass on the value and mission to an- toward others.” www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 31 HEIFER BULLETIN|NEWS FROM THE FIELD

Zdzisalw Jakubowski and his prize cow, Zajda (left). Jakubowski poses with his

PHOTOS BY KATARZYNAPHOTOS BY MALEC nephew, Marcin (above).

By Sherri White The Cow Who Could HEIFER STAFF WRITER n the Podkarpackie region of Po- ning the Super Championship Award ceived a vice championship award. land, which borders the Ukraine to during the Regional Exhibition of Sim- Three additional Heifer project par- Ithe east and the Carpathian Moun- mental Cattle in Podkarpackie, held ticipants received vice championship tains to the south, Zajda the cow, a Aug. 28 and 29, 2004, in Rudawka honors during this exhibition: Zbig- beautiful Simmental breed, confront- Rymanowska. Richard Pichler, head niew Gac and his cow Lalka, Tadeusz ed an uncertain fate. of the European Federation of the Chowaniec and his cow Bajka, and Because of insufﬁ cient care from Simmental Breeders, judged the Lukasz Knurek and his cow Lalka. her ﬁ rst owner, the heifer had failed cattle. Poland’s minister of agricul- “When I was looking at Zdzisalw to breed. After she underwent lengthy ture, Wojciech Olejniczak, presented and his cow, I was thinking of all the treatment from a local veterinarian, Jakubowski with the award. people whose hard work was sym- Zajda’s future looked bleak. “I will remember this day until the bolically awarded in such a beauti- Zdzisalw Jakubowski was also fac- end of my life. I also won’t forget that ful way, and I was extremely proud of ing hard times. After the unexpected this unbelievable joy was possible the results of our cooperation,” said death of his brother, Jakubowski was thanks to Heifer,” Jakubowski said. Heifer Poland Country Director Katar- worried his brother’s family would “I am happy for my late brother and zyna Malec. “The success of this have no income; that’s when he de- for myself to be able to continue his type is also a great help to our every- cided to take his brother’s place in work. I am sure that he would have day activities, since it is evidence for Heifer’s Multipurpose Cattle Produc- been really delighted with the award the participants of other Heifer proj- tion in Southeastern Poland project. that our Zajda received. Simmental ects that although they are poor, they However, that wasn’t the only life- cattle breeding was a real passion of can achieve very good results if they altering decision Jakubowski made— his life. Although he is not with us any work hard systematically. This award, he decided to look after Zajda, too. more, this award has a special mean- therefore, generates a great hope for After much care and healing, Za- ing to his wife, son and grandson.” Heifer employees and project partici- jda rewarded her new owner by win- Jakubowski’s cow Eliza also re- pants for the future.”

32 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org HEIFER BULLETIN|NEWS FROM THE FIELD Mekong Region Takes Borderless Approach By Michael Haddigan, HEIFER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

ational borders mark and lack of opportuni- the boundaries of ty,” Alderfer said. Nthe Mekong River Heifer country di- country. But from the rugged rectors from the Me- mountains of China’s Yun- kong region decided nan Province to the marshy at a Chiang Mai meet- Mekong Delta in southern ing in 2000 to try a Vietnam, the region’s 240 regional approach to million people share many their work. of the same challenges. “The country direc- That’s why Heifer Inter- tors got together and national has formed the said, ‘It would be re- Mekong Region Program, ally great if we had a explained Heifer’s Sopapan borderless approach. Promwas during a visit to Wouldn’t it be nice if the organization’s headquar- we could share among ters in Little Rock, Ark. each other the ways “We don’t just focus on we are dealing with fi nancial development, we these same groups?’” also focus on human devel- Alderfer recalled. “So opment,” she said. the Mekong River Nicknamed “Toon,” So- Project was born out papan is administrative of the discussion be- assistant in the program, tween the country di- which is based in Chiang rectors.” Mai, Thailand. More than 70 per- MAP BY KIRK MONTGOMERY KIRK BY MAP Niwatchai Suknapha- cent of the region’s in- sawat, former director of Heifer’s Thailand country pro- habitants are rural subsistence farmers. gram, heads the Mekong effort. The Mekong program offers training and exchange op- The 2.3 million-square-kilometer region includes portunities to Heifer and partner organization staff, com- parts of China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia munity leaders, volunteers and funding organizations and Vietnam. from the fi ve nations. These efforts seek to share agro- “The Mekong River is the lifeblood of Southeast Asia,” ecological practices and to foster understanding among Sopapan said. “It is the 12th longest river in the world.” the region’s diverse ethnic groups. (Similar regionaliza- Rebecca Alderfer of Heifer’s Asia and South Pacifi c pro- tion efforts are now underway in Heifer’s Africa and Latin gram said several ethnic groups—the Akha, Karen and America programs.) Lahu, for example—were found in several of the Mekong Heifer’s Mekong staff last year coordinated the China- nations. “They are dealing with the same economic and en- Thailand Friendship Project, which shipped 100 rabbits, vironmental and social issues, the same lack of resources 50 dairy goats and 34 Mei Shan pigs to Thailand. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 33 HEIFER BULLETIN|NEWS FROM THE FIELD

Becke Corkern (center) Heifer’s Study Tour coordinator, on a visit to Peru.

sites and partners, participants get to Heifer Offers Study Tour see firsthand how Heifer’s approach to development really works.” for Educators In addition, Newman said, the Study Tour for educators seeks to develop eifer International’s Community “This Study Tour advocates who will take up Education team is excited to will provide teach- the cause of sustainable Hoffer a Study Tour opportunity ers who participate development by speaking created specifically for educators. The in Read to Feed or out and educating others. trip, to one of the Heifer program areas other community Participants in the Study in Central America, is scheduled for the education programs Tour will be expected to take summer of 2005. with an opportunity part in educational activities Teachers, administrators and other to learn more about during the trip and, after educators are invited to apply for a Heifer International, they return home, to make grant from Heifer that would include issues associated presentations about Heifer. international air transportation, land with the root causes The Community Educa- transportation in the countries visited, of hunger, poverty tion team is responsible accommodations and meals, Heifer and environmental for developing programs project visits and resource materials. degradation, and such as Heifer U, Read Applications may be obtained by how their actions to Feed and the new GET e-mailing [email protected] or by as educators help to alleviate these IT! Middle School program. Course calling (501) 907-2983. Heifer staff problems,” said Tim Newman, Heifer’s materials may be ordered free online at will lead the seven- to nine-day tour. manager of school programs. www.readtofeed.org or by calling (800) Applications are due by March 15. “Also, by visiting Heifer project 422-0474.

34 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org HEIFER BULLETIN|NEWS FROM THE FIELD

Thailand Program Celebrates By Orawan Raweekoon, HEIFER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT, HEIFER THAILAND

ONG KEAW SHE- care, also took part. HLEH, Thailand— “I was never success- NLittle Rock wasn’t ful raising pigs until I met the only place where Heifer Heifer,” one resident of International and our proj- the village of Jia Jan said. ect participants celebrated Because of language and Heifer’s 60th anniversary in cultural barriers, the hill October 2004. Country of- tribes of northern Thailand fi ces throughout the world often fi nd access to edu- took part in festivities, in- cation diffi cult. Heifer pro- cluding Heifer Thailand. vides training appropriate On Oct. 15, members to the needs of the local of the Lahu, Khachin, Lawa people. and Akha hill tribes were The Heifer Thailand among more than 300 peo- staff organized several ple from 10 villages who games as part of the cel- celebrated in the village of ebration, including a bam- Nong Keaw Shehleh. Cel- boo climbing competition ebrants brought squash, Members of the Kachin hill tribe were among those in which contestants had rice and other food to the who joined in marking Heifer’s 60th anniversary. to climb oiled bamboo home of Surachart Jampu, More than 300 people attended the event. canes. Villagers, students a community leader. Wom- and Heifer staff joined in en prepared the evening a traditional dance, called feast while men cut bamboo to build a stage for more Ja-kue, which concluded the event. than 20 performances. Participants congratulated Heifer and expressed their Veterinary students from Chiang Mai University, who hope for its continued success in helping millions over- were visiting the village to train residents in animal health come hunger. Support Businesses That Support Heifer growing number of businesses support Heifer In- Frontier Tax Solutions/Taxes2Charity will contribute ternational by contributing a percentage of the pro- $10 of every online tax preparation fee to Heifer. Consid- A ceeds of the products and services they sell. By er fi ling at www.taxes2charity.com and selecting Heifer. supporting these businesses, you support Heifer’s work SoftwareCEO will contribute $5 for each new site to end world hunger. membership. The company provides operations, sales Following are three businesses that assist Heifer in and marketing, research and development, pricing, li- helping people around the world achieve self-reliance. censing and fi nancing resources for software executives. Simmons Natural Bodycare will contribute 2 percent Visit www.softwareceo.comhttp://www.softwareceo.com. of the retail price of its handmade four-ounce soaps to For more information, please contact Heifer Interna- Heifer. You may purchase these soaps online at www.sim- tional’s corporate relations team at (501) 907-2880 or monsnaturals.com. [email protected]. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 35 MIXED MEDIA|FOOD FOR THOUGHT

THE RETREAT OF THE ELEPHANTS: An Environmental History of China

Mark Elvin —Reviewed by Yale University Press Michael Haddigan Hardcover, $39.95 Heifer Communications Director

he book jacket touts The Retreat It often provides a ed river valleys, of the Elephants as the fi rst envi- critical analytical dusty red-dirt Tronmental history of China. But challenge when desert, windy to his great credit, Mark Elvin reveals testing any gen- plains and fro- that Chinese authors, bureaucrats, eral theory most- zen peaks. poets, generals, hermits, academi- ly formulated in Like all the cians and notables have been doc- some other con- best historians, umenting China’s environmental text. And, last, Elvin relies heavily history for thousands of years. it provides a on original sourc- Fossils show elephants once perspective in es to sketch the prospered in China’s Northeast, which to ex- vast Chinese his- Northwest and West. They were at amine the torical landscape once respected for their size, majes- developing en- and provides per- ty and intelligence and feared for the vironmental spective informed damage they could do to crops and crisis in the by decades of schol- communities. People’s Republic of China arship and commu- Simply put, Elvin argues that as today, the origins of which predate nication with Chinese experts. the Chinese method of growing rice— modern times.” With its longstanding interest in by clearing land and fl ooding fi elds Elvin’s masterwork pulls togeth- China and all things Chinese, Yale for planting—spread, the elephants er political and religious documents, University and its press are per- fl ed. As forest cover vanished to ac- maps, poems, epics and articles haps the most appropriate patrons commodate agriculture, habitat dis- from hundreds of sources over for Elvin’s work. A professor of Chi- appeared. And so did the elephants. 3,000 years in a scholarly, though nese history at the Research School Once elephants roamed what mostly readable, treatment of how of Pacifi c and Asian Studies at the is today Beijing. Now, they can be China has regarded and interacted Australian National University, El- found only in protected reserves with its environment. vin’s specialty is China’s use of wa- near China’s southwestern borders This is no small task. China is ter-control—from simple ditching to with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. one of the world’s great civilizations, massive dams—to support its soci- As Elvin writes, “China is an im- populated by a stunning variety of ety and agriculture. portant historical case for three rea- nationalities and cultures. The Han Elephants and deforestation are sons. First, it has an unusually long people whom Westerners often important aspects of Elvin’s study, record which allows tentative an- picture when we think of “Chinese” but they are by no means the only swers to many questions that are are only one of many cultures that ones. The Retreat of the Elephants is hard to answer for other areas. Sec- have had distinct uses for and ideas also a study of Chinese engineering, ond, it complements, and contrasts about their environments. China’s famine, social life, art, tax policy, ed- with, the environmental histories of seemingly limitless horizons con- ucation, war, government, ethnology, other major countries and peoples. tain tropical jungle, densely populat- language, aesthetics and more.

36 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org MIXED MEDIA|FOOD FOR THOUGHT Dark Age Ahead

Jane Jacobs —Reviewed by Random House Lauren Wilcox Hardcover, $23.95 Heifer Staff Writer

ne criticism of Jane Jacobs’ undemanding thrifti- In the end, Jacobs Dark Age Ahead has been ness of death and believes our unique, vi- Othat it is an interesting but decay.” Our culture’s tal cultural identity may only loosely related collection of an- take on effi ciency save us. She notes that ecdotes leading rather circumspectly often eliminates hu- the United States—like to the thesis in the title. man contact. More Japan and Ireland, two Jacobs has identifi ed fi ve “pillars” tasks are handled nations that survived of society that she says are gravely automatically; peo- catastrophes with their fl awed (Jacobs means U.S. society, ple become more cultures intact—boasts though to soften the blow she takes isolated. Natural strong cultural traditions, her native Canada to task now and redundancies dis- kept alive in ceremony then): family, education, science, tax- appear. And this, and song. es and what she calls “self-policing,” says Jacobs, weakens all aspects of She writes, “The United States the obligation of commercial enter- society. has often been equated with Rome prises and learned professions to be- But although industrialism and by historians and social commenta- have morally, ethically and legally. post-industrialism may have pro- tors seeking modern lessons from She devotes a chapter to each, duced these changes, those move- Rome’s mistakes. But fortunately explaining what is wrong and why: a ments themselves, which brought the two cultures differ greatly. Amer- college degree is no longer an educa- technological advances that trans- ican culture is saturated with heart tion, it’s just a credential; the Enron formed the lives of millions, aren’t to and emotion; it revels in the richness scandal proves that corporations are blame. And to pine for the “simple” of indigenous arts. In song alone, corrupt and in need of reform. And life, an agrarian dream of fresh eggs America has gospel music and blues; so on. and hard work, is to misunderstand songs of labor unions, cowboys, and The critics are basically right, but the issues. chain gangs; hits from musicals and they overlook a key point she makes The key to the continued suc- fi lms; country music, jazz, ballads, quietly at the end: “North Americans cess of our society lies not in a re- sea chanteys, rock and roll, and rap; prize effi ciency.” Effi ciency has helped turn to agrarianism but, perhaps, in ... school, campfi re, drinking, home- our society make great strides, but a return to the values of agrarianism, sick, and love songs; lullabies; reviv- effi ciency does more harm than good, the redundancies; the stable, vibrant, al hymns; plus disrespectful parodies Jacobs believes, when it breaks down mixed-use communities that were en- of the lot.” relationships among people. couraged by that economic system, This American abundance of heart A successful culture, she says, and that the post-industrial age has and soul, the richness of our culture depends on these relationships, on mishandled and discouraged. (And (along with strategic policy-making) what she calls natural redundan- of course, there are pockets of so- may save us yet. What we also have, cies—people taking the time to get called “Dark Ages” all over the world, she adds almost fondly, is a tenden- involved in other people’s lives. in developing countries, where the cy for arrogant self-deception. We “Life is expensive,” Jacobs notes. best way to improve the standard of have what it takes to reform our fatal “It makes great demands on energy living is still with small-scale agricul- fl aws, if we can resist the urge to pre- that are voracious compared to the ture projects.) tend they don’t exist. www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 37 MIXED MEDIA|FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Living Simply With Children: A Voluntary Simplicity Guide for Moms, Dads, and Kids Who Want to Reclaim the Bliss of Childhood and the Joy of Parenting

Marie Sherlock —Reviewed by Eileen Dolbeare Three Rivers Press Heifer New Media Director Softcover, $12.95

arenting is a perpet- Sherlock offers practi- live in a cabin in the woods ual balancing act cal advice for parents who and home-school their chil- P between providing want more time to spend dren, Sherlock notes, while for and over-indulging our with their children so they others will cut back just children in today’s con- can teach them to reduce enough so one spouse can sumer-driven culture. Liv- consumption and care for stay at home until the chil- ing simply with less stuff the Earth. dren start school. seems impossible when “Living simply—some- She acknowledges that even 18-month-olds can times referred to as most families fi t somewhere identify brands and logos. downshifting or downscal- in the middle, and the vari- Marketing aimed at chil- ing—is both the means ety of approaches they take dren, age-inappropriate me- and the end to a mean- to living mindfully are quite dia, commercialization of ingful life,” writes Sher- different, but meaningful to schools and society’s gen- lock. “It’s not about being each family. eral materialism all pose a penny-pinching miser. It It’s not easy to reject obstacles to raising chil- is about consuming less the peer pressure to keep dren simply. Marie Sher- ... simplicity is not about be- thing they’ve given up is the up with the Joneses. And lock, however, asserts in ing supremely organized or unnecessary and unsatisfy- it’s hard to avoid the daily her thought-provoking book having some Zen-like inte- ing excess that is common barrage of advertisements Living Simply With Children rior decorating scheme... . in America. In exchange, that encourage us to buy that these obstacles can And simplicity isn’t neces- they receive the luxury of and spend. But Sherlock be overcome. “In reality, sarily about an easy life.” time, peace of mind and has written a guide that simplicity and childhood Sherlock explains that happiness.” makes advancing the so- are natural counterparts,” simplicity is relative, and The book conveys how cial will to change possible she writes. while you may be living sim- satisfying the act of sim- and even fun. Living simply with chil- ply by refusing to buy a cell plifying with your children If parents make a dren is the most natural phone or Palm Pilot, at least can be. Sherlock offers tips conscious effort to defi ne and benefi cial way to raise four-fi fths of the world’s ranging from a family val- their values of living simply them, according to Sher- people would be happy to ues brainstorming session and then practice what they lock and the 60 families trade places. to frugal entertainment op- preach, they will raise a she interviews in her book. She notes, “Simplicity is tions and alternative gift generation of children who We add complexity, they in- also not about deprivation. ideas that kids will love. have healthy, holistic views sist, by believing children People practicing simplic- Every family will have a of their connection to each need material things and ity in North America typical- different interpretation of other and the Earth. It’s countless activities to have ly are quite comfortable by what it means to live sim- a powerful vision, and so a meaningful, happy life. global standards. The only ply. Some will choose to simple.

38 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org MIXED MEDIA|FOOD FOR THOUGHT www.eatgrub.org

—Reviewed by Eileen Dolbeare Heifer New Media Director

nterested in a way to enjoy a de- is healthy, local, sustainable food systems, consumer choices in the su- licious meal, support your local for all. 2. Grub is food that supports permarket, challenges farmers face, Icommunity and feel healthy at the community, justice, and sustainabil- community-supported agriculture, the same time? Just eat grub. ity. 3. Grub should be universal.” complexities of our food systems and That’s right, grub. Bryant Terry and The site offers a range of infor- more. Anna Lappé have designed a web- mation about “GrubParties” that If you eat, you should be interest- site, www.eatgrub.org, inspired by center on healthful meals made ed in food. And you’ll fi nd that www. their upcoming book, Grub: Ideas for as much as possible from organ- eatgrub.org offers book, fi lm, web and an Urban, Organic Kitchen (Tarcher/ ic, sustainably grown, local foods. other resources that address the in- Penguin 2006), devoted to helping A typical Grub party includes local, tricacies of food in our life. Find infor- people maintain a healthy, organic seasonal food and a diverse mix of mation about recipes, biotechnology, kitchen with education about organic guests interested in the connec- globalization and food distribution, food and sustainable agriculture. tion of food, politics and life. The health, the environment and more. On the website, grub is defi ned goal is to build community and This website will inspire you to eat as more than slang for “food.” Ac- celebrate healthy foods by talking grub. You’ll fi nd it’s good for you, and cording to Terry and Lappé, “1. Grub about issues centered on just food it even tastes good.

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www.heifer.org www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 39 THE HEIFER CALENDAR

Weekend with added participation in CERES CENTER CHALLENGE COURSE: Learn the ropes ranch life and farm chores. about teamwork and problem-solving HEIFER UNIVERSITY skills. April 29-30 April 4-8 Heifer International offers Heifer University programs to provide HEIFER HUNGER HAPPENING WOMEN’S RANCH HAND WEEK/LAMB “GVR” PROGRAM: Combine several participants with the tools to promote United Methodist Church-sponsored CARE event for junior and senior high youth. popular programs in this multi-day Heifer in their communities. Cost Similar to the Women’s Ranch Hand event that includes Global Village, is $195 per person (includes all May 14 Week/Lambing event but focused on Challenge Course, and more. meals, lodging, program fees and PANCAKE BREAKFAST newborn lamb care. transportation to and from the airport COTTAGE INDUSTRY: Workshops that when necessary). Community event to teach the April 8-10 turn farm and garden products into Contact Rex Enoch at public about the work of Heifer WOMEN’S LAMB CARE WEEKEND International. value-added items. [email protected] or Experience lamb care and learn how call (501) 889-5124. gifts of livestock and training can help The schedule is as follows: June-August CONFERENCE AND RETREAT end hunger. SERVICE LEARNING FACILITIES: Leave the busy world Feb. 10-13 “Post-Graduate” Program at Heifer Weeklong “mission trips” for youth April 17-21 behind and relax in the beauty of the groups that include service to Ceres Ranch in Perryville, Ark. An in-depth SERVICE ELDERHOSTEL Ouachita Mountains. curriculum for individuals who have Center and learning opportunities. Maintain our Global Village and other already “graduated” from a Heifer June 19-24, July 11-15 facilities and work with the organic OVERLOOK FARM University program. and August 1-5 gardens and livestock. Feb. 24-27 DAY CAMP Feb. 26; March 5, 12 and 19 HEIFER RANCH, PERRYVILLE, ARK April 23 PANCAKES AT THE FARM Hands-on program for ages 6-12. March 3-6 EARTH DAY CELEBRATION Observe maple sugaring operations Learn how you can make a difference Heifer University for Teachers at Heifer Year-Round and enjoy a pancake meal and pork Ranch in Perryville, Ark. Focuses at our fi rst Earth Day celebration. FIELD TRIPS: Learn about Heifer sausage. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. on Read to Feed and other school International and Ceres Center with programs. May 1-6 April 27-May 6 a video, cart ride, walking tour and April 14-17 SERVICE ELDERHOSTEL WOMEN’S LAMBING EXPERIENCES hands-on activities in the barn. HEIFER RANCH, PERRYVILLE, ARK. Same as above. Three-night programs to share in the lambing experience and learn more Sept. 8-11 ONE WORLD VILLAGE: Explore Spring OVERLOOK FARM, RUTLAND, MASS. the real world in this overnight about Heifer and the challenges ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK women face relating to hunger. experience. Multi-day Service Learning programs for youth groups. June 25 and 26 INFORMATION MEETING FACILITY: Host your INTERNATIONAL FAIR gathering “down on the farm” and ADULT WORK GROUPS: Service Featuring the Global Village, CERES CENTER learn about Heifer’s mission to opportunities for adult groups. entertainment and farm-grown food. Ceres, California overcome world hunger and poverty. (877) 841-7182 or GLOBAL EXPLORERS: Standards- Year-Round [email protected] based two-day residential program for DAY EDUCATION PROGRAMS: Full- HEIFER RANCH HEIFER RANCH grades 5-8. and half-day education programs Perryville, Arkansas for groups, can combine a variety of Ranch Events Offi ce March 17-20 Summer education or service opportunity. WOMEN’S LAMBING WEEKEND (501) 889-5124 or SERVICE LEARNING: Educational [email protected] Experience the miracle of birth, weeklong “mission trips” for groups. MULTI-DAY SERVICE LEARNING learn how livestock and training PROGRAM: Two- to fi ve-day stays OVERLOOK FARM can help solve world hunger and Year-Round for groups include farm work and Rutland, Massachusetts explore the roles of women around FIELD TRIPS: Learn about Heifer sessions on hunger and agriculture. (508) 886-2221 or the world. International and Heifer Ranch with a Includes a One World Village overnight. [email protected] video, hayride and walking tour. March 20-25 HOWELL NATURE CENTER WOMEN’S RANCH HAND WEEK/ FIELD TRIPS: Learn about Heifer ONE WORLD VILLAGE: Explore the real HEIFER GLOBAL VILLAGE LAMBING International and Overlook Farm with world in this overnight experience. a video, guided tour and hayride. Howell, Michigan Similar to Women’s Lambing (517) 546-0249 [email protected] All locations are open year-round for drop-in visitors, or schedule a fi eld trip for your group.

40 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org Travel WITH A PURPOSE Heifer Study Tours are a personal invitation into the lives of project participants. An invitation to host a Study Tour is a gift from our country staff and project partners worldwide. We invite you to take part and learn, not with your hands, but with your mind and heart. We are all partners in carrying Heifer’s education messages.

2005 STUDY TOURS

AFRICA adult education programs, ZAMBIA/MALAWI—May [email protected]; Phil West. Tour leader: Margo Smith, Heifer International Southeast regional director, margo. ALBANIA/KOSOVO—late May [email protected]. Tour leader: Suzanne Awatt, [email protected].

WESTERN UGANDA/RWANDA, ARMENIA—September details to come. Tour leader: Wendy Peskin, Heifer International Northeast regional MOZAMBIQUE—June director, [email protected]. Tour leaders: Terry Wollen, D.V.M., Heifer International director of animal RUSSIA—September, well-being, [email protected]; details to come. Study Tours are a gift from our Roger Ellis, D.V.M., Heifer Executive country staff and project partners Board member, [email protected] UKRAINE—September worlwide, who take participants into Tour leader: Pat Stanley, their lives. TANZANIA FOR FAMILIES—Mid-July Heifer International Northeast Ages 12 and older, details to come. community relations coordinator, [email protected]. SOUTH AFRICA—August Costs and Lengths of Stay Tour leaders: Charles Stewart, chairman POLAND—October Prices include airfare (except of the board, Heifer International; Tour leader: David Boothby, director where noted), accommodations, Julie McClain, Heifer International planning, of the Midwest Region of Heifer, meals and local transportation. evaluation and training assistant. [email protected]. Latin America and the Caribbean ASIA LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN 10-14 days, $2,000-$4,000 CHINA—September GUATEMALA, details to come. Tour leaders: Jan West Schrock, Central and Heifer International senior adviser, BOLIVIA, details to come. Eastern Europe [email protected]; Phil West, professor PERU, details to come. 10-14 days, $3,000-$4,200 of Modern Asian Affairs, University of Tour leader: Pamela Stone, Africa Montana; the two, the children of Dan West, [email protected]. 17-24 days, $4,000-$5,500 will offer their unique insights on this trip. HONDURAS, details to come. Asia and the VIETNAM/CAMBODIA—December South Paciﬁ c Tour leader: Rosalee Sinn, NORTH AMERICA/HEIFER 14-21 days, $3,500-$5,000 [email protected]. UNIVERSITY North America The ﬁ rst three nights of the program will (airfare not included) THAILAND/LAOS, details to come. be Heifer University followed by project 5-10 days, $800-$1,500 visits. Rex Enoch, with local Heifer staff, CENTRAL/EASTERN EUROPE coordinates Heifer University. POLAND—late May, early June [email protected] Tour leaders: Rex Enoch, Heifer International NAVAJO NATION—July 25-30 501-907 2957 www.heifer.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 41 HEIFER FOUNDATION Create a Lasting Legacy

very year we receive bequests from the Heifer sees fi t and the restricted part devoted to an estates of friends who have created lasting endowment earmarked for the area of your choice. legacies of their lives and provided a future for countless Heifer International WAYS TO MAKE BEQUESTS Erecipients. These gifts make a tremendous and nce you’ve decided on the kind of bequest, ongoing difference in the lives of those who need Oyou must determine how the bequest will be a helping hand to provide for themselves and their identifi ed. You have at least three options. families. We count on such gifts as we move into First, you can specify an amount or item. For the future. example, you could bequeath a vacation home, When you create or revise your will, we hope you other real estate, stocks or a set amount of money to will include Heifer Foundation. Your estate gift will be given to the Foundation. help us serve future generations. Second, you can name Heifer Foundation to receive a percentage of the residue of your estate— KINDS OF BEQUESTS the amount that is left after bills have been paid and s you consider an estate gift to Heifer specifi c bequests have been made. AFoundation, it may be useful to know some of Finally, you can name Heifer Foundation as a the bequest options available to you. For example, contingent benefi ciary to receive the part of your you can make your bequest as an unrestricted gift. estate that would have passed to another person This permits the Foundation to add your gift to a had he or she been living. For example, a will can general endowment that Heifer will use where it is indicate that everything is to go to your spouse needed most. unless your spouse predeceases you—in which case A second type of bequest is designated or the assets, or part of them, could be assigned to restricted to a specifi c purpose. For example, a Heifer Foundation. gift may be earmarked for the country program or As you think through your estate giving plans, initiative that is closest to your heart. you may want to talk with our professional planned A third option is a combination of the fi rst giving staff, who can answer any questions you may two. That is, part of the bequest might be used as have. We will be happy to send you a complimentary Will Information Kit and our planned charitable giving video to help you in this process. As you proceed with your estate plans, we encourage you to inform us about any bequest decisions affecting Heifer Foundation. This will help ensure that we can honor any restrictions you have placed in your bequest. It also helps our long- range planning efforts if we know where future resources are being directed. Please use the response form on these pages to request our free Will Information Kit and video.

Bequests provide a future You can also obtain the kit and arrange for a visit by for countless Heifer International recipients, calling Heifer Foundation’s planned giving ofﬁ ce making on ongoing at (888) 422-1161, or by visiting our website at www. difference in the lives of people around the world. heiferfoundation.org. Photo by Darcy Kiefel

42 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heiferfoundation.org GIVE ONLINE (Please complete and return this reply form.) ince ﬁ rst establishing the Country Endowment Sprogram at Heifer Foundation, we have heard from many of our donors asking that we make their Dear Friends at endowments available for online contributions. So Heifer Foundation: in response to your requests, we at the Foundation are proud to announce the launch of this service, ❑ Please send me a free Will Information Kit. available through our website. Now you can use your credit card to give directly to ❑ Please send me your free Planned the endowments online at www.heiferfoundation.org. Each endowment page contains information about Giving Video. the origin and purpose of the endowment, as well ❑ Please send me an Endowment Catalog. as additional information and stories related to the endowment. Through the individual pages, with just ❑ I have included Heifer Foundation in a few clicks, you can give directly to the endowment my will. of your choice. Why would you want to make additional gifts to a pre-existing endowment? Remember what Name: ______makes your gift to the Foundation so special: an endowment generates annual income, in perpetuity, Address: ______for the causes that matter most to you. The good that results from your gift is not a one-time beneﬁ t; ______it continues to grow and give back to recipients for generations. Of course, the larger the endowment, the more City: ______income it contributes annually to projects or places you value. By growing your endowment, you can effect State: ______Zip: ______powerful change in more lives more quickly. This is especially true at Heifer Foundation, where, as you Phone: ______know, one of the requirements of Heifer’s work is that a recipient “passes on” the gift to a neighbor in need, thus spreading self-reliance even farther. E-mail: ______Heifer International estimates that, as a worldwide average, it costs $700 for animals and www.heiferfoundation.org training to make a family self-reliant. Toward this end, (888) 422-1161 we encourage additional gifts of $10,000 or more to improve the lives of many as quickly as possible. While we realize this is a major commitment, it is one that gives for years. The Foundation stands ready to help you with your own fund-raising efforts, providing literature and other materials—ask us how. Or perhaps you would consider making regular additions (such as monthly or quarterly), conveniently charged to your credit card. It’s easy to make arrangements for our automatic Mail this form to: credit card charge plan. Simply download the online Heifer Foundation form at www.heiferfoundation.org/download, or call P.O. Box 727 the Foundation at (888) 422-1161. Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 www.heiferfoundation.org January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK 43 REFLECTION|BREAKING BREAD

The Highest Generosity

he author and Holocaust sat on the table, and it all looked and survivor Elie Wiesel is one of tasted great. But instead of digging in to my favorite writers. I remember enjoy the group’s generosity, we each took him saying in an interview that tiny portions and sat down to eat. It wasn’t “receivingT is a superior form of generosity.” that we weren’t hungry; rather, we were That saying has stayed with me ever since overwhelmed. In our minds these people and has guided me many, many times. It were poor and had almost nothing, and it By Elizabeth rang particularly true one sunny day in a seemed unfair for us to take all that they Mayang Elango Ugandan village. had. Last year, a team of Heifer’s Africa Soon our hostess walked in, took one Elizabeth Elango, who staff members attended a workshop in look at the table still fi lled with food and was born and raised Uganda. Our mission was to visit projects expressed her disappointment at our in Cameroon, is Heifer and learn different ways of working in the unwillingness to enjoy the meal that had International’s West Africa program officer. communities. We were also asked to teach been prepared for us. A few people made one group how to evaluate its projects so excuses, one even going so far as to say we members could identify their strengths and did not want to eat it all. “But it was made weaknesses without the help of our fi eld staff. for you,” the hostess insisted. “Please. Eat.” Such an approach lets them determine for That’s when Elie Wiesel’s words came themselves what their needs are and how we back to me. Receiving is a superior form of can best assist them. It was a trial run for a generosity. In refusing to receive what was tool kit we had recently developed. being offered us, we were being selfi sh. We Group members greeted us at the were rejecting all the work and all the heart roadside with songs and dance and that had gone into preparing this food. I fl owers in their hands. We all entered the could see the hurt in our hostess’s eyes as small makeshift church where we would she took her seat in the corner of the room, be holding our workshop, began with and I thought to myself: We listened as introductions and prayer, and then delved they shared their stories—intimate stories into the meat of the work. The group fi rst of their lives—and we accepted the fl owers listed their values—the things that bound and songs they had given us at the roadside them together: butwela (unity), buwaana when we arrived. Why now was it so hard (transparency), kukulakulana (growth), for us to break bread with them? umbalilita (accountability), kwihimisawo I turned to the other staff members (sustainability), and wanghasi (honesty). seated next to me and, elbowing each one, Then a few individuals rose and told the urged them to return to the table and eat group’s history, giving personal testimonies some more. And as we rose from our seats of how joining the project had helped them. and went to the table, grabbing spoons We sat silently and listened as they shared to scoop large portions of food onto our their stories with us. plates, I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a Lunchtime came quickly and we went to huge smile spread across our hostess’s face. the group leader’s house where we found She was obviously proud to have something that a veritable feast had been laid out for to give, and better still, she was pleased that us. All kinds of foods in generous amounts we had chosen to receive it.

44 January/February 2005 | WORLD ARK www.heifer.org ATTENTION MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS! NEW From Heifer International GET IT! Global Education To Improve Tomorrow! For Grades 6-8 FREE Standards-based curriculum and supplementary materials!

GET IT! focuses on the role middle-schoolers play in the global economy and how their choices impact the environment and people across the world. This global education program highlights the links between Latin America and the United States. Subject areas covered: Geography, Economics, History, Science, Language Arts

ALSO AVAILABLE: Read to Feed’s “Lessons from a Village Called Earth” 3rd/4th and 5th/6th Grade Curriculums

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Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Heifer International Heifer Project International 1015 Louisiana St. Little Rock, AR 72202/USA