A simple way to help stop Global Warming

[pathansen]

For just $60, a charitable organization will plant 500 trees in the most needy parts of the world. These are one to two year old seedlings.
See www.heifer.org. This is a wonderful charity that is helping the most needy people on earth survive by becoming self sufficient. So I have made a commitment to donate $60/year for 500 trees.

Please consider doing this. If enough people make this commitment, it might make a significant difference in the problem of Global Warming along with helping to end poverty around the globe.

[tuvor]

1. Do you have another link?

I don't see any mention of trees on their main page.

[pathansen]

11. Here is a direct link

http://www.heifer.org/site/apps/ka/ec/product.asp?c=edJRKQNiFiG&b=477887&ProductID=164789

I was told by this organization that for only $60, they will plant
500 young trees. That's only 12 cents a tree, including labor!

This organization is called Heifer International. I also give them
$50 a year for a flock of chickens <$20> and a bee hive <$30>. This organization then trains a family on how to survive and become self sufficient just on this one time $50 donation by eating and selling eggs and honey.

[tuvor]

12. Thank you for your reply.

Sorry for my impatience.

[flvegan]

2. Heifer? You kid, right?

Notwithstanding the planting of trees, you are kidding about "stop(ping) Global Warming" by helping this "organization" right?

[Matariki]

4. what's with the quotes?

you know something about them? want to share?

[Porcupine]

5. There are a Brazillion tons of carbon emitted every year.

Each little tree might sequester, optimistically, a few hundred pounds. It's a math problem.

[kestrel91316]

16. So it's better to throw our hands up and not bother TRYING

to mitigate????

Yeah. Won't solve the ENTIRE problem, and won't do it overnight. So don't bother.

[flvegan]

6. Well, ending global warming

by promoting animal agriculture is like promoting a scientific study of gashogging suvs by giving each scientist an H2.

She said it better than I ever could:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=231x15066#15070

[Bigmack]

8. Not exactly...

the big problem is huge cattle ranches and feeding operations, together with the horrific land clearing to convert jungle to pastureland.

The heifer project deals with subsistence agriculture.... rabbits, chickens, and family cattle. Not herds.

I think the Heifer Project is a great idea... only thing I'd change is that if you get a calf, you also get your tubes tied.

Take a look at the new issue of National Geographic. The whole Amazon Basin is being cleared for pasture and cropland. That ain't the Heifer Project.

[Matariki]

10. some people can't see the difference unfortunately

I have a friend who works for Heifer. He's a smart, decent person. I can't imagine he'd work there if they were a scam.

Frankly the criticism sounds more like 'vegan propaganda' from people who think any animal products are flat out evil. The person who claimed that milk products are only consumed by North Europeans is way off the mark. A cow, goat and chickens for starving families is extremely helpful - a vegan telling them they should only eat grains is not so helpful.

[kestrel91316]

17. Planting 500 trees = "promoting animal agriculture"? That's some

interesting math you got going there.

Third world family farms are NOT the problem. Developed world industrialized agriculture IS the problem. This probably is not news to you, I suspect.

But I guess your ultimate goals would be adequately met by starving a some children in Africa or South Asia...........they are easier victims.

[kestrel91316]

15. The clue is in the name "flvegan".

Some people consider any use of any animals for any purpose whatsoever to be a crime worse than child rape and murder. So consider the source.

Heifer International is a wonderful organization.

I'm sure most in the militant vegan crowd would differ.

[Matariki]

20. I realized that after reading the links

Only a (militant) vegan would begrudge a starving family a cow and some chickens. It strikes me as extremely misguided and self righteous.

I think you're right - looking into. Heifer is a wonderful organization. I'd like to donate money for trees in Haiti. The deforestization there has done a lot to contribute to the poverty there.

[IDemo]

7. Heifer's not actually targeting global warming (at least directly)

From their website:

Trees Are a Treasure

"There is an alternative to eroded hillsides, vanishing farmland and forests, polluted water and urban sprawl. Maybe not one big solution, but lots of little ones."

A gift from Heifer, whether of trees, ducks, or water buffalo, is meant to improve the lives and livelihoods of people in impoverished areas.

Heifer online gift catalog --> http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/

[pathansen]

13. I don't think you understand this organization

This organization is called Heifer International. What it does is give the poorest families on earth livestock, fruit trees and other tools to survive. Such as cows for milk, oxen for labor, chickens for eggs, lambs for wool, bees for honey, and trees for fruit, nuts or other purposes.
These one time gifts keep in giving indefinitely so its extremely efficient use of money.
If you give a gift of trees, its just $60 for 500 young trees. That means planting one tree only costs 12 cents .

[flvegan]

14. I don't think you understand "efficient"

Giving livestock to the poorest families on earth...is stupid. Trees and other resources might be a better idea, depending upon area/climate, etc.

[kestrel91316]

18. Yeah! Let the "mud people" starve!!!!!!!!! Only we high-class AMERICAN

vegans are worthy to live.

[tuvor]

3. Helloooooooooo...?

[crickets]

9. Heifer International

From reading about the company at the http://www.heiferfoundation.org/ site and Wikipedia entry, this organization sounds like the real deal.

A bit from Wikipedia:
Heifer International is a non-profit charitable organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas, dedicated to relieving global hunger and poverty. It provides gifts of livestock and plants, as well as education in sustainable agriculture, to financially-disadvantaged families around the world. ...

Awards

Heifer International received the 2004 Hilton Humanitarian Prize for its efforts to eliminate hunger and help communities become self-sustaining. It was the first US-based organization to win the $1 million award since 1997.

Accountability standards

A 2005 report by the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (WGA) found that Heifer International met all of its standards for charity accountability. The WGA found that Heifer International is truthful in its representations of how money is spent, does not allocate an excessive part of its budget for fundraising or administrative expenses and makes its financial statements readily available to the public.

The American Institute of Philanthropy gave Heifer International an "Open Book Credit" for making complete financial documentation available on request.

Okay, I'm impressed. There are a lot of charitable organizations out there which don't come close to this level of accountability. It sounds like a good organization addressing a worthy cause.

More trees are always a good thing, and this is an easy way to get them planted all over the world. The $60 price tag might be steep for some, but it's not hard to pool that amount if people really wanted to do it. 500 trees in the ground for $60 is nothing to sneeze at.

Global warming won't be stopped with one magic pill. Strategies for changing the way we live and the fuels we use are at the forefront, of course, but Porcupine is right:

Each little tree might sequester, optimistically, a few hundred pounds. It's a math problem.

There's another nonprofit out there planting trees called The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation which people might want to look into.

Nice idea, pathansen. Every litte bit helps.


ETA: I understand the concerns people have raised about some of Heifer's policies and/or the desire not to be involved with encouraging meat and dairy diets. But you wouldn't be paying to send someone a goat or a cow, you'd be paying for planted trees. And as suggested, there are other organizations which plant trees if you're that uncomfortable with this particular charity. In the end, the idea to find ways to get more trees planted worldwide is a good one.

[kestrel91316]

19. Of course they are the real deal. They are a GOOD charity.

LOTS of veterinarians have been giving to them for a long time.

Remember, there is a subset of vegetarians/vegans who actively seek to end all use ("exploitation") of any and all animals by humans, even if it means the needless death of humans. Ironically, they have no objection to the exploitation of animals by any other species on earth.