Spring ascent2009
Recent expansion of industrial logging threatens the Congo Basin rainforest, which is critical for the survival of humans and our closest animal relatives—endan- gered bonobos, gorillas and chimpanzees. Art Direction & Design: © Emerson, Wajdowicz Studios / NYC / www.designEWS.com Printed on recycled paper. on recycled paper. Printed Studios / NYC www.designEWS.com Art Direction & Design: © Emerson, Wajdowicz cover and inside page © Greenpeace; Back Blue Diamond Society Photography: Front Global Impact In this issue: the Greenpeace “Green Heart of Africa” campaign, funded by the Arcus Foundation. The campaign is fighting to protect the CongoB asin rain- forest from illegal logging while supporting economic investment and forest conservation. The rainforest is the only place on earth the bonobo calls home. This issue of Ascent also highlights Arcus’ new International LGBT Rights Program. These featured initiatives share the opportunity to Now available address urgent needs and impact millions of people around the globe. Arcus is pleased to announce three new The mission of the Arcus Foundation is to achieve social justice reports are now available to help funders that is inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and race, and understand the issues facing LGBT people to ensure conservation and respect of the great apes. Consistent with in the Global South and East, and the this mission, the Arcus Foundation focuses its grantmaking in two challenges and opportunities in funding LGBT areas: LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights and rights. Download the reports from the Arcus the conservation of great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, Web site at www.arcusfoundation.org. gibbons and bonobos) and their natural habitat. Within each area, the Foundation supports organizations that advance its mission locally, nationally and globally. Arcus International LGBT Rights Program: Arcus’ International LGBT Rights program supports efforts in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
n Homosexual acts illegal n Homosexual acts punishable with death penalty
TURKISH REPUBLIC UZBEKISTAN OF NORHTERN ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TUNISIA MOROCCO CYPRUS TURKMENISTAN ST. KITTS & NEVIS DOMINICA ALGERIA SYRIA LIBYA LEBANON IRAN AFGHANISTAN ST. LUCIA GAZA NEPAL NAURU ST. VINCENT & THE GREN. KUWAIT BAHRAIN PAKISTAN BHUTAN MAURITANIA KIRIBATI BELIZE BARBADOS SAUDI QATAR JAMAICA SENEGAL TOGO BENIN ERITREA U.A.E. BANGLADESH GRENADA ARABIA INDIA SOLOMON ISLANDS GAMBIA SUDAN MYANMAR/ TOKELAU TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO GUINEA-BISSAU GUINEA DJIBOUTI OMAN NIGERIA ETHIOPIA YEMEN BURMA TUVALU PANAMA SIERRA LEONE LIBERIA GHANA WESTERN SAMOA CAMEROON SOMALIA SAO TOME & PRINCIPE UGANDA MALAYSIA COOK ISLANDS GUYANA KENYA MALDIVES BRUNEI PALAU NIUE TANZANIA TONGA COMOROS SINGAPORE SEYCHELLES ANGOLA MALAWI PAPUA ZAMBIA NEW GUINEA ZIMBABWE MOZAMBIQUE NAMIBIA BOTSWANA MAURITIUS SWAZILAND LESOTHO
Around the world, high levels of violence, since its founding in 2000, until two years the groups, and pointed out that there discrimination, persecution and social ago, that funding was awarded primarily was an urgent need for additional resources exclusion threaten the human rights of to U.S.-based organizations and programs. and support for groups working to advance millions of people whose sexual orien- Funding for LGBT issues across the the human rights of LGBT people. tation and gender identity are seen as globe is surprisingly scarce. In two reports Arcus began its work on a Foundation- Anonconforming. Lesbian, gay, bisexual dated 2007 and 2008, the U.S.-based wide program strategy to determine and transgender (LGBT) people face a donor affinity group Funders for Lesbian how it could best advance LGBT human wide range of legal and cultural barriers, and Gay Issues documents LGBT grant- rights throughout the world in 2005. The including imprisonment (Egypt, Cameroon, makers worldwide awarded $10.5 million Foundation’s board and staff, working East Africa); calls for capital punishment (USD) in support for LGBT human rights with a team of consultants and outside (Iran); high levels of violence, including in the Global South and East in 2005, advisors, conducted research, interviews, threats, murder and assault (Latin America, and that figure increased to $26.2 million and a series of retreats over a two-year Asia, the Middle East, East Africa); efforts (USD) in 2007. The findings detailed in period. Out of these sessions, a compre- to deny the right to assembly (Nigeria); and the report titled “A Global Gaze: LGBT hensive strategy outlining specific goals attempts to criminalize behavior (Rwanda). and Intersex Grant Making in the Global and outcomes for the Arcus International “This is a global struggle for the most South and East” are best put in perspective LGBT Rights Program was developed. fundamental kinds of liberty,” notes when one notes that more than $182 Arcus’ International LGBT Rights Urvashi Vaid, executive director of the million (USD) went to support 48 LGBT Program focuses on three areas: support Arcus Foundation. “And it requires work rights organizations based in the United for policy change that meaningfully for the civil, political, economic and States in 2007. advances LGBT human rights around the cultural rights of LGBT people.” The “Global Gaze” report was discussed world; support for capacity building of In response to this urgent global need, at an historic first-time meeting of more organizations working to advance and the Arcus Foundation awarded its first than 30 international LGBT funders in defend LGBT human rights at the regional grants to advance lesbian, gay, bisexual March 2007 in Amsterdam, co-funded and national levels, with a particular and transgender rights internationally in by the Arcus Foundation and organized emphasis on efforts in Africa, Southeast 2007. Although the Arcus Foundation by Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues. Asia and the Middle East; and support has provided more than $80 million in The meeting helped to facilitate greater to expand funding resources available grants to support LGBT human rights communication and collaboration among to support LGBT human rights advocacy,
Map above: Source © Daniel Ottosson, “State-sponsored Homophobia—May 2008,” ILGA—International Lesbian and Gay Association—www.ilga.org Working to protect the human rights of LGBT people around the globe organized a gathering at the Rockefeller published a guide for individual U.S.-based Foundation conference facility in Bellagio, donors who want to give globally titled Italy, in September 2008. “Giving Out Globally: A Resource Guide of At the Bellagio gathering, called Funding Mechanisms to Support Lesbian, “Expanding Global Philanthropy to Support Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in the Human Rights of LGBT People,” a the Global South and East.” And to group of 29 individual donors, leaders of facilitate information on why donors may institutional foundations, human rights be hesitant to support LGBT rights, Arcus champions and international LGBT rights Operating Foundation commissioned advocates mapped the terrain of movements Foundation Strategy Group to conduct n Homosexual acts illegal n Homosexual acts punishable with death penalty working for human rights and explored research published as a report titled
TURKISH the challenges faced by those movements “Mobilizing Resources for the Human Rights REPUBLIC UZBEKISTAN OF NORHTERN and organizations. Participants agreed to of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender CYPRUS TURKMENISTAN SYRIA create a new joint venture known as the (LGBT) People: Challenges and Opportu- LEBANON IRAN AFGHANISTAN GAZA NEPAL NAURU Expanding Global Philanthropy Project. nities.” These reports describe the urgent KUWAIT BAHRAIN PAKISTAN BHUTAN KIRIBATI SAUDI QATAR U.A.E. BANGLADESH This collaborative project, launched in situation facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and ARABIA INDIA SOLOMON ISLANDS OMAN MYANMAR/ TOKELAU 2009 and housed at the Arcus Operating transgender people around the world, map YEMEN BURMA TUVALU WESTERN SAMOA Foundation, marks a new determination the current funding landscape, document MALAYSIA COOK ISLANDS MALDIVES BRUNEI PALAU NIUE on the part of funders and advocates to the challenges that limit support for this TONGA SINGAPORE educate donors about the urgent needs for work, and present strategies to increase SEYCHELLES PAPUA NEW GUINEA LGBT funding globally, and to secure new desperately needed resources. funds for vital projects around the world. In partnership with other global To provide the field with new informa- funders, bilateral donors and visionary tion on funding for international LGBT human rights organizations, Arcus hopes human rights, groups participating in to achieve a meaningful change in the the Bellagio convening published several lives of LGBT people around the world. especially resources focused in the Global reports. Human Rights Watch published Reducing violence, supporting indigenous South and East. an excellent overview of the state of the LGBT leaders, de-stigmatizing homo- Conversations conducted by Arcus LGBT human rights movements in five sexuality and securing the inclusion of Foundation consultants with 14 inter- regions titled “Together Apart.” The sexuality and gender variance in human national LGBT human rights funders Movement Advancement Project published rights frameworks are among the goals revealed several interesting facts. First, a report titled “International LGBT Advo- Arcus has set. In our view, increased the largest foundations (private and cacy and Programs,” summarizing the funding is a key to the achievement of corporate) are not significantly invested major LGBT human rights groups working these goals. in supporting groups working to expand globally. Arcus Operating Foundation LGBT human rights at global or national policy levels. Second, there is no specific network to connect those who are engaged in funding international LGBT human Introducing Carla Sutherland Director, International LGBT Rights Program rights. And third, although there is an Carla Sutherland, a former Ford Foundation program officer known for her groundbreaking emerging core of individual philanthropists philanthropic leadership in support of sexual minorities in Eastern Africa, has joined the supporting expansion of LGBT human Arcus Foundation as the first director of the organization’s new International LGBT Rights rights issues in the developing world, Program. Ms. Sutherland began her duties on March 9, 2009, and is working from the many others with capacity have not yet Arcus Foundation’s New York office. been asked or engaged in these efforts. Before joining Arcus, Ms. Sutherland led the Ford Foundation’s Education and Sexuality program in Eastern Africa, where she was responsible for developing and To address these gaps, the Arcus managing an extensive portfolio of more than 40 grantees in Kenya, Uganda and Operating Foundation — established by Tanzania. She established this new field of work for the Foundation in 2004 aimed at Arcus to support the work of the Founda- creating a more progressive gender, sexuality and HIV/AIDS policy environment while tion through convenings and conferences, providing East African women and youth with the education and information necessary to make informed decisions about leading healthy lives. research, publications and other projects At Arcus, Ms. Sutherland will develop innovative strategies and projects to advance that increase philanthropic engagement — LGBT rights, and build the capacity of the LGBT movement globally through proactive reached out further to global donors and grantmaking, advocacy and partnerships with governmental and non-governmental human rights organizations and, with the human rights and LGBT organizations. She also will work to organize and support convenings and other activities to mobilize resources to this critical area. support of the Rockefeller Foundation, A baby bonobo, endangered great ape species found only in the Congo Basin rainforest, sits on a log in a timber yard that was part of a tree that served as a home for bonobos. Once loggers finish their work, hunters follow. This bonobo’s mother was killed for meat, and the baby is a byproduct that hunt- ers will sell once they reach the city.
Green Heart of Africa Greenpeace’s campaign in the Congo rainforest to protect the great apes and the rest of us by Susanne Breitkopf, International Africa Campaign Specialist, Greenpeace
In 2007, the Arcus Foundation awarded to feed the trade in commercial bush meat and ivory. And once The most effective voices for the rainforest are those that Greenpeace a $300,000 grant over two years logging roads open up the rainforest, the area becomes vulner- live in the Congo, so Greenpeace has made sure that decision- for a global campaign that is fighting to protect able to being cleared for agriculture. Once land is cleared of makers across the world heard their stories. As part of the
the rainforest in the Democratic Republic of trees, the forest can no longer capture as much CO2, resulting Green Heart of Africa campaign, students from Cameroon (a
Congo (DRC). Called the Green Heart of Africa in a net increase in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and country devastated by illegal logging largely sanctioned by the campaign,I the project includes working with the leading to further climate instability. World Bank) delivered 40,000 signed petitions to the World Government of the DRC, nongovernmental orga- Despite promises of jobs, schools, and medical facilities, Bank president, calling on the institution to protect the Congo nizations and other partners, such as the World companies offer little or no compensation to villagers, leaving rainforest. Working with local partners, we brought a group of Bank, to manage economic investment activities them behind with tree stumps and streams polluted with run-off. villagers to meet U.S. lawmakers. When they heard from one with consideration given to forest conservation, In our research, Greenpeace obtained contracts between logging villager that the forest is his supermarket, members of the and documenting illegal logging and other destruc- companies and communities. Some offer gifts such as bags of United States Congress felt compelled to act. A contingent tive forestry practices in great ape habitats. salt and bottles of beer, worth less than $100, in exchange of senators, including Barack Obama, who was a senator Stand next to a giant tree in the Congo Basin at the very for logging rights worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. from Illinois at that time, sent a pointed letter to the World center of Africa and something comes over you. Hundreds of What all facets of Congolese government and industry don’t Bank demanding an end to destructive logging in the Congo. years old and a hundred feet tall, so wide that you can’t grasp fully grasp is that we will all feel the pain from losing the forest. We’ve also made sure that the unscrupulous activities of hands with someone hugging the trunk from the other side— As vast carbon reserves, rainforests are one of the most logging companies are exposed to daylight. Over the past you realize that this tree is a solid, silent, steadfast guardian important safeguards for preventing any further rise in global two years, Greenpeace activists in France, Italy and Belgium of life. It is the original “giving tree,” spreading branches and temperatures, counterbalancing the release of carbon emissions intercepted ships with “pillage” timber from the Congo, roots to shelter all kinds of life, including the mountain gorilla, in the industrial world. Should we lose the Congo Basin rainforest blocking them from unloading. These peaceful direct actions the chimpanzee and the bonobo. The Congo Basin rainforest entirely, as much as 34 billion tons of carbon dioxide could were aimed at revealing the link between Congo logging is the only place on Earth the bonobo calls home. And I enter the atmosphere by 2050, equivalent to the carbon emis- operations and European retailers. find it hard to imagine why anyone would cut down these sions released by the United Kingdom over a 60-year period. A conservation campaign is challenging under any circum- ancient trees to make floors for luxury apartments. The imperative to stop illegal and destructive logging in the stances, but in Africa, you can’t take for granted the most basic But that is what is happening, to the peril of the great Congo is clear. The challenge is daunting because there are necessities. I’ve sat in a dark office for hours while my European apes and 40 million Congolese people that rely on the so many well-funded international companies deeply vested colleagues waited for information from the campaign because second largest rainforest in the world for food and shelter. in clearing trees from the rainforest. It’s the kind of challenge electricity wasn’t available. Even when electricity is available, The “civilized” world has descended, tearing out trees. that Greenpeace campaigners relish, because the strategies we few in Africa have computers. A government official working in The Congo Basin rainforest spans more than 660,000 employ – rigorous research, public education, movement-build- the rainforest is lucky to have a bicycle to get around. And the square miles across six countries. More than half of the ing, and nonviolent direct action – effectively disarm opponents. power and reach of the logging companies is formidable. On forest lies within the DRC, including the entire habitat In 2005, Greenpeace began an initial investigation, touring one occasion, they attempted to block a Greenpeace fact-finding for the bonobo. the forest with villagers, staff of nongovernmental organizations mission, even when government officials were with us. Industrial logging operations have claimed more than and Congolese officials to document illegal activities—from the Despite hardship and harassment, the Congolese have stood 77,000 square miles of forest within the DRC alone, clearing of trees that are under protection from international up to the powers that be…and prevailed. In January 2009, despite a moratorium on logging contracts imposed treaties, to the murder of bonobos. We also reviewed mountains the government finished its review of 156 contracts, under the by the transitional government in 2002. In fact, the of paperwork – contracts, maps, tax records – and found that cooperation and supervision of the World Bank, and determined government has ignored the moratorium and signed most contracts violated forest protection laws. Many cover areas that most violate current law. All but 65 contracts have been 107 new contracts since 2002. Moreover, the World within the forest where rare trees are found or areas that have cancelled, removing 38,000 square miles of rainforest from the Bank – which provides billions of dollars in financ- been identified as critical for conservation efforts. What’s more, control of logging companies. ing to the country – fell down on its responsibility most companies neglected to pay taxes, in direct violation There’s more to be done. The Congolese government must to ensure that contracts are thoroughly reviewed of their contracts. With the support of the Arcus Foundation, enforce its decision and implement forest protection laws, not a and evaluated, even though it pledged to pres- we’ve engaged in an international public education campaign small task in a country of perpetual violent conflict and rampant sure countries to end destructive forestry. to disseminate our findings. corruption. The Congolese must also participate in international These logging companies have struck We published two reports – Carving Up the Congo and climate change negotiations, for financial incentives to protect down trees without regard to bonobos and Conning the Congo – which both received significant attention rainforests not only ensure a dramatic reduction in global warm- villages throughout the Congo Basin. Local from the international press. We also produced a video series, ing pollution but also an important source of income for the communities are ravaged. Companies are available on YouTube and the Greenpeace Web site, that country. Greenpeace put down roots in the Congo in November carving into the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba complement our reports with images of logging and interviews 2008, establishing its third office in Africa. landscape, one of the last strongholds with villagers. Thousands have viewed these videos. The Green Heart of Africa campaign starts in the Congo, but for bonobos. Logging roads open Greenpeace launched a high-profile effort to force the World it is truly global. The next call to action is to make the case to up the rainforest allowing access. Bank and the Congolese government to stop illegal logging in decision-makers around the world – especially those involved in With access comes commercial the Congo. As a result, the World Bank has required the govern- climate treaty talks leading to the final negotiations in Copenha- poaching. Once loggers finish ment to conduct a legal review of all logging contracts for the gen in December 2009 – that ending deforestation in the Congo their work, hunters follow, Congo and Greenpeace has demanded that all contracts not in will protect great apes, improve the quality of life for millions of slaughtering bonobo as well compliance with the law be cancelled in order to prevent further Africans and help us all combat global warming. as other large mammals clear-cutting across tens of thousands of square miles of forest. Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Kalamazoo, MI 402 East Michigan Avenue Permit No.1791 Kalamazoo, MI 49007
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED This newsletter also available as a PDF on our website. www.arcusfoundation.org [email protected]
Photography: Front coverand insidepage ©Greenpeace; Back cover ©Blue Diamond Society Direction &Design: ©Emerson, WajdowiczArt Studios /NYC /www.designEWS.com Printed onrecycled paper.
arcusfoundation.org
story inside. story [email protected]
contact@ to:
See International LGBT Rights Program Program Rights LGBT International See Phone +44.1223.451.050 Phone
Program Rights United Kingdom Kingdom United please send an e-mail e-mail an send please
LGBT International Director,
Cambridge CB1 1BH 1BH CB1 Cambridge
publications, Foundation Carla Sutherland, Sutherland, Carla
n
Wellington House, East Road Road East House, Wellington
Community Foundation. Community
unsubscribe to Arcus Arcus to unsubscribe Arcus Foundation / Cambridge, UK Office Office UK Cambridge, / Foundation Arcus
Kalamazoo the at serving recently most
To subscribe or or subscribe To
Foundation, Arcus the to experience
Gloria brings 30 years of communications communications of years 30 brings Gloria
Fax 212.488.3010 212.488.3010 Fax
Communications of Director
Phone 212.488.3000 212.488.3000 Phone
offered by Arcus. by offered Gloria Royal, Royal, Gloria n
New York, New York 10011 10011 York New York, New
Out Globally, a new publication publication new a Globally, Out
Middle Eastern Americans. Eastern Middle
119 West 24th Street, 9th Floor Floor 9th Street, 24th West 119
Giving in featured is Nepal
LGBT of organization Detroit-area a
of Society Diamond Blue Arcus Foundation / New York Office Office York New / Foundation Arcus
, , amea G Al and Michigan, Southeast in
Affirmations, the LGBT community center center community LGBT the Affirmations,
Bashar most recently served with with served recently most Bashar
Fax 269.373.0277 269.373.0277 Fax Program Rights LGBT Michigan
Phone 269.373.4373 269.373.4373 Phone Assistant, Program
Bashar Makhay, Makhay, Bashar Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007 49007 Michigan Kalamazoo, n
402 East Michigan Avenue Avenue Michigan East 402 where she created its Racial Equity Initiative. Equity Racial its created she where
Arcus Foundation / Kalamazoo Office Office Kalamazoo / Foundation Arcus at the Stonewall Community Foundation Foundation Community Stonewall the at
Roz was most recently director of programs programs of director recently most was Roz
The Rockefeller Foundation Rockefeller The Program Identity Gender
Vice President, Foundation Initiatives, Initiatives, Foundation President, Vice Racial Justice, Sexual Orientation and and Orientation Sexual Justice, Racial
Darren Walker Darren , , Senior Program Officer, Officer, Program Senior
Roz Lee, Lee, Roz CEO, Dynamica, Inc. Dynamica, CEO, n
Daniel Schwartz Daniel , , for more than 20 years. 20 than more for
University of Chicago of University where he served as executive director director executive as served he where
Provost for Graduate Education, Education, Graduate for Provost Community Center of New York City, City, York New of Center Community
Richard comes to Arcus from the LGBT LGBT the from Arcus to comes Richard Deputy and Science Political of Professor
Chief Operating Officer Officer Operating Chief
Cathy J. Cohen J. Cathy , ,
Richard Burns, Burns, Richard n President and Founder, Arcus Foundation Arcus Founder, and President
Jon L. Stryker L. Jon , , Arcus team: Arcus
Board of Directors of Board new staff members to the the to members staff new
Please welcome the following following the welcome Please
Arcus Foundation Foundation Arcus E