World Ark Magazine - September/October 2008 - (Page 3)

CARBON HOOFPRINT The concern about the livestock industry was thoroughly covered in the May/June issue. But one major solution was only alluded to once. The amount of meat eaten could be reduced by two-thirds by most people in the United States. The typical portion size is way in excess of the amount needed to maintain good health. For many, the size of the meat serving has become synonymous with keeping up with the Joneses. With smaller serving sizes, the animal product produced would serve many more people and the carbon hoofprint would shrink. Why wasn’t this solution considered? Do not misunderstand me. I am not referring to the animals Heifer gives to help needy families. I am referring to the mammoth commercial operations in developed countries. Patricia McGrath Oro Valley, Ariz. I typically find great enjoyment in reading World Ark, but I was very frustrated with the issue I received in the mail yesterday. The current issue of World Ark focused not on the stories of families helped, but rather served to insult the animal agriculture industry worldwide. As a beef cattle producer, I was deeply upset at your bold statement encouraging people to stop eating meat. Your articles did mention the benefits of grass-fed beef (only in a sidebar), but never encouraged readers to seek out the small farmers producing this inarguably environmentally friendly product. I hope to see information on grass-fed beef in your next issue. I really hope that this issue was just an error in judgment and that it will not be repeated. I would be sad to cease my involvement with an organization that I had previously been so fond of. Shannon Douglass Orland, Calif. Q&A MAY/J UNE As food prices around the world soar, the growth of the grain-fed livestock industry and rising fuel costs are cited as major culprits. Which would you be willing to scale back on first, meat consumption or driving? Why? My answer to the May/June Q&A is one of necessity. While there are many affordable and accessible substitutes for meat, there are, for me and many others like me, none for driving. I live and work in wonderful Little Rock, Ark. I live a reasonable distance from my workplace. My children attend school and day care nearby. The amenities, such as grocery and other stores, medical centers, etc., are all close to our home and my work. However, alternate modes of transportation such as bus lines and walking or biking paths are either not available, not safe, or inconvenient. We could all be as happy, healthy, employed and educated eating beans. But we could not be so without our car. Madelyn Ganos Little Rock, Ark. Our household has taken the unusual route of buying our own cow and having it butchered. This will be less costly, and the best part is that we will know exactly where our beef is coming from and how it was processed. We bought the cow from a local farmer and will have it butchered at a local butcher, so this will support local small businesses as well. As for reducing the amount of driving, we already run errands on the way home from work to avoid unnecessary trips. We also turn off the car when stopped in a parking lot, in line at the pharmacy drive-thru, at all railroad crossings when a train is present and at all stoplights that we know are long lights. Bente Humphrey Lake Buena Vista, Fla. PRESIDENT AND CEO Jo Luck 1 World Avenue Little Rock, AR/USA 72202 E-mail: worldark@list.heifer.org To change or remove an address, please e-mail donoraction@list.heifer.org or call customer service at (800) 422-0474. PUBLISHER Tom Peterson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sherri Nelson sherri.nelson@heifer.org ASSOCIATE EDITORS Austin Gelder austin.gelder@heifer.org Jaman Matthews jaman.matthews@heifer.org ART DIRECTORS Tish McClure Grace Domagala-Zobkov INTERN Jonelle Doughty World Ark is the magazine of Heifer International, a global nonprofit working with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth. Heifer International is qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Heifer International are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 9.2 million families in more than 125 countries move toward greater selfreliance through the gift of livestock and training in environmentally sound agriculture. The impact of each initial gift is multiplied as recipients agree to “pass on the gift” by giving one or more of their animal’s offspring, or the equivalent, to another in need. Heifer International is a member of InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian non-governmental organizations, and of Global Impact. Federal and state employees may designate gifts to Heifer through payroll deduction by entering CFC #12079. © 2008, Heifer International Opinions expressed in World Ark are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of either the magazine or Heifer International. World Ark is printed on paper made from forests that are grown, harvested and replanted in a sustainable way. CORRECTION In “Healing History” (May/June 2008), the name of a tribe was misspelled. It is Menominee, not Menomenee. We want to hear from you! Please send your comments to worldark@list.heifer.org. Include your name, city, and a telephone number or e-mail address. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published online as well as in print. Because of the volume of mail we receive, we cannot respond to all letters. Q&A NOVEMBER/DECEMBER* Time to nominate your Heifer Hero. Do you know a person or group that goes the extra mile to help end hunger and poverty? We want to honor those—from everyday citizens to well-known public figures—who make a difference. Please limit responses to 250 words or fewer. *E-mail your Q&A response to worldark@list.heifer.org. We reserve the right to edit Q&A responses for length, clarity or grammar. 30% Cert no. SW-COC-002550 www.heifer.org September/October 2008 | WORLD ARK 3 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/heifer/worldark_20080506/ http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/heifer/worldark_20080506/ http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/heifer/worldark_20080506/ http://www.heifer.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Ark Magazine - September/October 2008

World Ark Magazine - September/October 2008 Contents Letters For the Record The Good Life Asked and Answered Digging Up the Past Not a Drop to Drink Facing the Ogres of Progress Mixed Media Heifer Bulletin Heifer Spirit World Ark Market Calendar First Person

World Ark Magazine - September/October 2008

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