|
These
days, if you mention the word sustainability, it is likely a few good ears will
perk up. In a world where natural resources and the environment are no longer
invincible and unlimited, sustainability is certainly one of the most important
words of the 21st Century. And while we can each do something in our own lives
to be more sustainable, there simply is a lot more to be done for the world as a
whole.
Taking the cause of
sustainability on a global scale is the non-profit organization, Sustainable
Harvest International (SHI). Having met personally with Sustainable Harvest's
Outreach Director, Sarah Kennedy, here at Save With Green, we can sincerely say
that SHI is doing a fantastic job in this regard. And they could be doing even
more if they only had the resources to do so.
The way that Sustainable
Harvest carry's out their mission of environmental, economic and social
sustainability is by establishing long-term collaborations with farm communities
where sustainable land use can be implemented to alleviate poverty and restore
ecological stability. A great example of the fruition of SHI's work is in
Belize, where over 400 acres of land have been converted into sustainable uses.
So, what does "sustainable
uses" exactly mean, you ask? Well, this essentially means anything that can
improve lives and protect the environment, which fortunately go hand-in-hand
with one another. In regards to Belize, this has amounted to over 400 acres of
environmentally friendly diversified crops, over 170,000 planted trees, 300
gardens, 50 wood-conserving stoves and Belize's first eco-sanitation latrine.
Currently,
Sustainable Harvest is working with over 1,000 families in 100 communities, and
is annually converting over 1,000 acres of land into sustainable agriculture,
planting over 100,000 trees and saving over 5,000 acres of forest. SHI is trying
to do more work in Central America (where slash and burn farming is having its
toll), but as mentioned earlier, they are lacking the resources. If you
personally would like to make a more sustainable difference for the world, and
have the resources to do so, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to
Sustainable Harvest International (visit link to learn more about sustainable
agriculture and to make a donation).
Author: Ry
ACTIVIST ARTICLES
DECEMBER '07 TIPS
|
