THE MAGAZINE OF HEIFER INTERNATIONAL ® HOLI DAY 2010 HEIFER TANZAN I A M aasai A Camels todopt Survive | 10 H E I F E R H A I T I Haiti After the Quake | 26 The Most Important Gift Catalog in the World Heifer’s 2010 Holiday Gift Catalog | 29 WWW.HEIFER.ORG/WORLDARK/CATALOG HORIZONS Can-Do Camels Dear Friends, I HAD THE PLEASURE of visiting several Maasai villages during a 2008 Heifer Study Tour to Tanzania. I was proud to participate in their traditions and was humbled when they made me an honorary chief of their tribe—an honor I hold close to my heart. In recent years, severe droughts in northeastern Tanzania have wreaked havoc on the primary sources of income and nutrition—cows and goats—for the Maasai in this region. As a result of the devastation, Heifer provided project par- ticipants with camels. The advantages of owning camels are many, but perhaps most important are a camel’s abili- ties to thrive in an arid environment and to provide a sus- tainable milk source. Because camels can live up to 50 years and are able to produce several times more milk than local cattle, the long-term nutrition of the Maasai people is greatly enhanced. The Maasai can perhaps rest a little easier knowing that in the event of future droughts, they are more secure. The camel project in Tanzania is an ex- ample of how Heifer’s approach to long-term sustainable Charles Stewart gets firsthand experience milking a camel. solutions in the aftermath of disasters sets us apart from other organizations. all over the globe. The gifts in this catalog help empower The value of Heifer’s mission is also evident in our projects families to achieve self-reliance. And since our projects fo- in Haiti. It has been almost a year since the catastrophic cus on sustainability, these gifts make a long-lasting differ- earthquake hit the island. Although Heifer is not a first- ence in the lives of our project participants. responder agency, we swiftly mobilized our resources and provided assistance to victims. You also responded to an In exchange for receiving their animal and training in its immediate-recovery appeal that provided more than $1 care, each family agrees to give one of its animal’s offspring million in initial funding to help Haitians rebuild their to another family in need. This unique approach, called lives. Through long-term programs that restore agricul- Passing on the Gift®, means that each donation you make tural livelihoods, your funds are being used to “build back through this catalog will have a widespread impact. better.” Working with local groups to build capacity by providing livestock, agricultural training and resources, I thank you for your steadfast devotion to our mission. May we are helping to build the preparedness and resilience you be blessed this season as you choose to bless others. of Haitian farming communities, who will be able to bet- Sincerely, ter sustain their new, improved livelihoods in the face of future calamities. I invite you to use the Heifer Gift Catalog for your holiday gift giving this year to make opportunities like those given —Charles O. Stewart to the Maasai and the people of Haiti possible for people Interim CEO HOLIDAY 2010 HOLIDAY Maasai men take turns leaping and chanting in a traditional Contents 10 celebration. They now raise camels instead of cattle. FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 10 Maasai Adapt to Survive 2 Letters Readers respond By Donna Stokes In Tanzania, Heifer camels step in to provide sweet, nutritious 4 For the Record milk, transportation and income as climate change and extreme Cell phones drought challenge a community’s traditional way of life. Unemployment 6 The Good Life 22 Rural Haiti Struggles to The gift of produce Absorb Displaced Family cooking By Deborah Sontag, The New York Times 8 Asked & Answered Life goes full circle for urban dwellers. Danielle Nierenberg blogs across Africa for the Worldwatch Institute. 26 Heifer Haiti After the Quake 50 Mixed Media By Jaman Matthews and Donna Stokes What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets Heifer puts the power of sustainable agriculture into its “From the Beautiful livestock Ground Up” rehabilitation plan for Haiti. 56 Heifer Bulletin A promising future in Thailand 40 Can You Hear Us Now? Heifer Poland helps after record floods. By Frank Bures A leap in cell-phone accessibility and use in Africa gives millions a 58 Calendar voice in the innovations and business transactions of the future. 60 First Person From poverty to progress COVER: Maria Paulo, women’s camel project secretary, holds daughter Tumaini (Swahili for “hope”). Cover and top photo by Dave Anderson. WWW.HEIFER.ORG HOLIDAY 2010 | WORLD ARK 1 LETTERS Readers Respond United by Warren St. John. Keep up the our supposedly superior First World good work with the next generation! standards, somehow I had the idea that BARB TOWNSEND one of Heifer’s goals was to improve Lawrenceville, Ga. conditions in areas in which it serves. Surely someone at Heifer International DEBATING NOSE HALTERS can do better than this. Kudos to Ms. Hinch [“Against Nose ScOTT OgiLby Halters,” Fall 2010 Letters page]. No North Little Rock, Ark. matter what Dr. Wollen states, nose halters are cruel. It was just until a few The letter from one Georgie Hinch years ago that veterinarians did not be- reveals a lack of knowledge as regards lieve in pain medications for animals. the proper handling of dangerous live- I ride a Tennessee Walker horse, and stock. I grew up in Texas; the installa- while most people use cruel and harsh tion of rings in the noses of all male bits, I ride in a bitless bridle. More and bovines used as breeding animals on more disciplines in the equine world the dairy farms was commonplace. are going bitless. Using a halter with a Inflicting pain is not something any of chain under the chin is more humane us in the livestock industry enjoy, but than the nose halter. You can see in sometimes it is the only way to control SHOULD THE VEIL PREVAIL? the animal’s face that he is in pain. My the brute strength of a bull or stallion. I applaud the work you do around the husband and I are going to rethink our I imagine that holds true for dealing world. Your recent article on “Remov- donation to your organization due to with livestock the world over. ing the Veil” [in the Fall 2010 issue] the response from the vet. You can’t just MIKE HANKINS was read with interest. I would like your hand over livestock and let them use it Helena, Mont. reader s to k now t hat wea r i ng a vei l i s not with cruel handling methods. always synonymous with oppression. BRUCE AND GAIL ELLSWORTH I have read the Fall issue and would Many variables play into wearing the Bayfield, Colo. like to encourage Georgie Hinch of Vi- veil, both cultural and religious. While dor, Texas, to write a grant and contact certain cultures may treat women as As a supporter of Heifer International, manufacturers of animal halters for inferior, there are no religions that I found Dr. Terry Wollen’s response donations to Heifer International. promote this. There are many strong, to the letter of Georgie Hinch to be JILL THOMAS educated women across the world who incredibly insensitive and discourag- Johnsonville, N.Y. choose to wear the veil purely for reli- ing. Yes, no doubt inserting a nose gious beliefs, and it is seen as a sign of halter into an innocent water buffalo strength and faith. is an “easy and inexpensive” way to Who is your hero? LYNETTE WEHNER control it, but does that justify cruelty? It’s time to nominate the person or Canton, Mich. Whereas a human chooses to have an group you think goes the extra mile ear piercing, choice is not an option for to help end hunger and poverty. RECOMMENDED READING the water buffalo. This is simply one Nominations will be posted online [Regarding “Finding Peace in Play,” more instance where humans claim at www.heifer.org/worldark/ Fall 2010], have you read the true story the right to exercise their supposed su- heroes, and may be featured in of a similar quest to make a difference periority over their fellow creatures of the magazine. Please limit your through sports with refugees near my God. And yes, while Hinch and I may nominations to 250 words or fewer. home in Atlanta? A must read: Outcasts be guilty of judging other cultures by Post your nominations to www.heifer.org/worldark/heroes or e-mail them to We want to hear from you! Please send your comments to [email protected]. [email protected]. Include your name, city and a telephone number or e-mail address. Letters may We reserve the right to edit be edited for length and clarity, and may be published online as well as in print. responses for length, Because of the volume of mail we receive, we cannot respond to all letters. clarity or grammar. 2 HOLIDAY 2010 | WORLD ARK WWW.HEIFER.ORG WeAPRIL can’t end hunger 2011 overnight, IntERIM CEO so we set aside April. Charles Stewart 1 World Avenue Each animal Heifer gives to a struggling family will be passed Little Rock, AR/USA 72202 E-mail: [email protected] on an average of six times. This April, we’re looking to you To change or remove an address, to have the same impact on ending hunger and poverty.