World Ark Magazine - November/December 2008 - (Page 3)

with seeds for food plants specially designed by nature to grow in desert areas. Native Seed Search in Tucson, Arizona, has safeguarded 2,000 varieties of crops adapted to arid land conditions that have been used for centuries by Native Americans of the Southwest. They have everything from corn, beans and squash, to chili peppers and watermelons. If this is not already being done, wouldn’t it greatly help the Lake Chad area to introduce some food crops that don’t require much water? Caroline King Henderson, Nev. Editor’s note: Heifer gives plants to project participants in this region, providing many benefits. These include seeds for food crops and seeds for trees to reforest the region, improve soil fertility and hopefully increase the area of arable land. The project aims to enhance crop yields by 60 percent through sound environmental practices. This will be done by training farmers on water management techniques, construction of boreholes/wells, water harvesting techniques and agroforestry techniques; providing tree seeds and seedlings; and training farmers on erosion control techniques. to point out that the U.S. did not sign that treaty. Another treaty is pending now, this time to ban the use of cluster bombs. Cluster bombs are bundles of smaller explosives, very much like mines, that are dropped from aircraft. They are designed to explode not when they hit the ground but to detonate when picked up. The proposed treaty would ban cluster bombs from being used around civilian populations, but the United States has stated it will not sign this treaty either. I would encourage people concerned with the continued loss of life and limb from these indeterminate killing devices to contact their political representatives and encourage them to support the signing of the anti-personnel mine treaty and the cluster bomb treaty. As a retired soldier, I am appalled at the consequences of the widespread use of such devices and their impact on noncombatants for many years after the end of formal hostilities. Janet Pearson Olympia, Wash. 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 MANAGING EDITOR Donna Stokes donna.stokes@heifer.org ASSOCIATE EDITORS Austin Gelder austin.gelder@heifer.org Jaman Matthews jaman.matthews@heifer.org ART DIRECTOR Tish McClure 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 30% post-consumer recycled stock, saving 6,264 trees per year and keeping 348,000 pounds of post-consumer waste out of landfills. NuMBERS I am reading the September/October issue of your magazine, and in the “For the Record” section, you have a big number 18 and list countries “currently embroiled in armed conflict involving grave violations against children.” I don’t see how you can include Afghanistan and Iraq on that list and not include the United States. It should be a big number 19 and the U.S. should be on that list. We are embroiled in those conflicts and we have killed far too many women and children. If you want to have a section called “For the Record,” then you should be honest and include the U.S. on that list. Jana Green Chicago, Ill. 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. HEI F ER H EROES Remember, we’re still accepting nominations for Heifer Heroes. These people or groups go the extra mile to help end hunger and poverty. Please limit your nominations to 250 words or fewer. Q&A JANuA Ry/FEBRuA Ry* News reports about Africa often seem heavy with war and suffering. Do you believe the continent gets a bad rap? Why? *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. MINES The article about the havoc caused by land mines is tragic, but the author failed to mention a tragically important fact. When he stated that “Despite a 1997 anti-personnel mine-ban treaty signed by more than 150 countries ” he failed www.heifer.org November/December 2008 | WORLD ARK 3 http://www.heifer.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Ark Magazine - November/December 2008

World Ark Magazine - November/December 2008 Contents Letters For the Record The Good Life Asked and Answered Finding Peace in Africa Sierra Leone on the Mend The Roma: A People Apart Mixed Media Heifer Bulletin Heifer Spirit Calendar First Person

World Ark Magazine - November/December 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.