World Ark Magazine - January/February 2008 - (Page Cover2) HORIZONS|HELPING HANDS Dear Friends … By Jo Luck President and CEO Jo Luck visits with Ecuadorian farmers who are working to incorporate traditional Andean knowledge into their projects. Jo Luck wears earphones so she can hear the translator. Their work, like that of Lester Brown and all of our Heifer Heroes, gives me a strong hope that we will end hunger and help heal the Earth. uring my 18 years at Heifer, I’ve visited thousands of people who are hungry and who have limited resources and opportunities. Many times, it is overwhelming—the need is so great around the world, even here in the United States. But my spirits are always lifted by the thousands of people I’ve met who do not hesitate to lend a helping hand, who make it a point to reach out to others. This issue of World Ark salutes four of these important world changers who dedicate their lives, careers or free time to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We asked our readers and staff to nominate their Heifer Heroes—who you can read about on page 10—and you certainly responded! You sent in many nominations, like our friend Mel West, a retired minister who has devoted his retirement to building special wheelchairs for disabled people in developing nations. We were inspired by your nominations; you shared with us stories of fathers, sisters, neighbors, children and friends whose efforts brighten the lives of people around the world. Supporters like you are lauded by President Bill Clinton in his new book Giving, in which he gives a generous nod D to the work of Heifer International. You can read the review on page 39. This issue also features a World Ark conversation with writer and agrarian Wendell Berry. What are the tenets that form the foundations of his writings? Living simply, respecting the land, wasting nothing. Throughout his 73 years, Berry has produced a body of work rich in inspiration for those who champion a closer connection to the animals, earth and water that nourish us all. Many lives have been enriched by Berry’s work, as many lives have been impacted by Heifer projects all over the world. I recently visited with young project participants and their teachers in Ecuador, who are working in small-scale farming activities and learning to incorporate values and traditional Andean knowledge into their work. These future leaders are already contributing to their communities, and I know that they will be world leaders—and world changers. Their work, like that of Lester Brown and all of our Heifer Heroes, gives me a strong hope that we will end hunger and help heal the Earth. Helping hands open a world of possibilities to those who would otherwise have none.
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