It doesnt sound right to me, and I also believe the overhead ratio issue is usually a distraction. Without citing specific organizations, you would first look at who GiveWell (or whichever rating service you choose to use) recommends, then consider the executive compensation question. I have trouble understanding the idea of livestock gifts, from the perspective of maximizing positive impact. Still, I would happily donate to a charity with high executive compensation over one with low executive compensation, if the former had more impressive social impact. Learn more about Free Tote + First Year Matched for 2X the Impact!. Its a scary thought, but it seems possible to me that these programs exist entirely because of how they can be marketed to donors, instead of for any reasons relating to maximizing good accomplished. Teff, for example, is one of Ethiopias oldest grains. [32], Heifer International received the 2006 and 2008 Social Capitalist award from Fast Company magazine. Of course it would be nice to have objective evaluations of the programs, but the reactions of expert volunteers with direct involvement are fairly convincing to me. Heifer International's financial performance was rated 2-star while its transparency and accountability was rated 4-star. [16][21][22][23][24] Eventually Metzger guided Heifer to work in developing nations instead of war-torn regions.[16]. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. However, 75% of the world is lactose-intolerant, and 90% of Asian and African populations (toward whom dairy programs are aggressively targeted) are lactose intolerant. and in turn providing a link to this summary of an evaluation of Heifer: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.5647733/?msource=XS2M090001&utm_source=Heifer&utm_medium=Website_Banner&utm_campaign=ImpactStudy. Working with Quakers and Mennonites, West directed a program where hungry children were given rations of milk. So, for example, I would consider an organizations rating by GiveWell, then use Charity Navigator to evaluate what it pays its executives. Tom thanks for the comment. Many recipients of animal gifting programs struggle to provide even the most basic care to the animals they receive. And it is also possible that something a volunteer doctor or vet sees overseas may inspire a line of research or treatment that helps here at home. Free from Harm is dedicated to helping end animal exploitation through public education and grassroots action. Investment Firm Abandons Plans to Build a Mega Slaughterhouse in French Foie Gras Investigation: An Haute Cuisine Hell. The objections raised to involvement of foreign vets/doctors or to a direct donation of livestock, plants or stoves do not seem valid to me. I think the question that Mary raised about CEO salaries is very relevant given the stated missions of the organizations that they are leading. Vegetarians and vegans beware: bee and tree gift-donations can support any animal program, fundraising, or overhead. And for ruminants and other animals thatconsume grass and insects, its important to realize that even grass and insects are a limited resource. I am saying that its not a very useful question to ask. (b) livestock gifts will do more good than harm (ie, better than the status quo). The family giving away the first offspring knows the mother is likely to have more; now, imagine if you gave a family the cash equivalent, and asked them to pass on that entire amount within a year. And I was trying to argue that such compensation is unnecessary and therefore the issue itself need not exist at all. This means that virtually all livestock are killed with the often not-too-sharp-knife of rural butchers, causing much suffering to the animal and possibly to the butcher. Community members decide together what kind of animal and assistance they would like. But we wonder whether these measures are effective, and whether training plus livestock gifts are the most cost-effective ways to help people. 2009-2023   -   A Well-Fed World  -  EIN: 27-0865905. While scientists warn that meat production perpetuates world hunger and, Providing access to marketing opportunities for locally produced items, Installing irrigation pumps and providing water resource management training, Supplying fruit and vegetable seeds along with training in farming, Offering small business training to help women across India gain full employment and self-reliance. A new video shot in India details just a few of the horrors that these animals endure, including wooden pegs put through their noses to stop them from drinking their mothers milk, injuries and maggot-filled wounds that go untreated, and slaughter. We have not found a livestock-distribution charity that has published either evidence of impact or clear answers to these questions. (See here for a summary of the evidence.). Gender and family focus encourages women and men to share in decision-making and community development. Better to look for the most impactful organizations and assume that they know more than you do about how to allocate expenses and what an appropriate salary is. GiveWell, aka The Clear Fund (a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity). And yes, I think that funders deserve the lions share of the blame charities market the way they do, presumably, because it works. Several years ago in New York, residents were told that if a person on the street asks another person for money to buy food, then the person with money should buy food and give the food to the person who made the request, but should not give the money directly to the requester, because of the risk that it might be spend on alcohol or narcotics. Among the features of the international charitys headquarters are large, energy-efficient plate glass windows . I would guess that many livestock gifting programs take great care to avoid the various problems I mentioned. But in almost all cases, international aid charities are (a) carrying out complex projects that can fail to do good (or even do harm) in a variety of ways, and (b) not systematically sharing the information that would make it possible to assess how their work is going. My niece recently volunteered in Africa, and had to raise $5,000 to pay for the trip. Learn how to enable it here. What I hate about Heifer is that they were sending out fancy brochures every other month plus calling me for more and even more money sometime weekly some times daily. She also draws attention to the negative consequences of increasing livestock production and intensification on climate change and oil scarcity. 501(c)3. Her impression of livestock donations is generally negative as other posters have pointed out, land shortage is the issue. However, this summary appears to say next to nothing about the methods used to reach the conclusions described. She hasnt stopped talking about it yet to anyone who will listen, continuing to inspire direct donations and possibly even similar trips by others, which of course will continue the cycle of benefiting the charity. Seventy percent of all Ethiopias cattle are raised pastorally in the highlands of their country, where less than 100 pounds of meat and a few gallons of milk are produced per acre of land used. Some end up at local meat shops, many of which are unlicensed. Very little reaches the country or the cause for which it is meant. Msg/data rates may apply. Having another mouth to feed can significantly add to a familys burden, and the animals frequently suffer from neglect, malnutrition, dehydration, lack of veterinary care, and lack of shelter from temperature extremes. Dont Have a Cow. Description. This girl and cow photo is from the Heifer International website. Sustainability and self-reliance. By Dawn Moncrief | December 10, 2013 | Categories Agriculture and Environment. For example, there are plenty of programs which fly doctors from the US over to developing countries in order for them to do work such as cleft palate surgeries or obstetric fistula repair. I have worked with Heifer Albania on a project together with Rotary International in the Zal Bastari region of Albania. When you connect your credit or debit card, our system will automatically round up every time you swipe until youve reached your giving target for themonth. Seagoing cowboys volunteered to accompany the animals to their overseas destinations. Ive been thinking about such programs conceptually, though, and I have a lot of trouble understanding the reasoning behind these programs. I agree that its possible that paying to volunteer overseas is better for the world than spending the required funds on personal consumption, but I agree with the critics you point to who say that there are better ways to spend money to help others than funding trips by typical developed world individuals. Why is it better for a charity to decide peoples needs for them? Our work may begin with livestock, but it ends with transforming lives. Thank you! Alanna has given one good reason to prefer livestock gifts to cash gifts in some cases. Thanks to a group of donors, every dollar you give right now will be matched by two more to help three times as many families. Demand That False Claims of Soy Milk Driving Deforestation Be Retracted, Claim That Grass-Fed Cows Milk Is Greener Than Soy Milk Was Consumer Fraud, Plant-Based Food Shift Crucial to Preventing Future Pandemics, Says Report, Adopt A Cow Program is Pure Industry Propaganda. The promise evident in animal donation programs is apparent, even if the impacts remain difficult to estimate precisely in small, observational studies such as ours. Heifer International Headquarters Little Rock, AR In all of my travels around the world, the important decisions were made where people sat in a circle, facing each other as equals Dan West, founder Heifer International Training and education include formal sessions as well as informal farm visits and demonstrations. I think accountability for charities is really important. I agree with Bill, if a charitys funding comes from Donors then the bulk of that should be used for the work that charity is carrying out & not for paying its executives. While there are rare exceptions when animals consume grass or other foods not fit for human consumption, all animals require water and many require medical care that is either out of the reach of poor families or strains their limited resources. Yes, the donor illusion part of the marketing is annoying. More specifically, we dont doubt that Heifer is offering training along with the livestock gifts that they offer and taking other measures to address the concerns above. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The publishers did not make the book searchable however, so I cant verify this yet. If a family in some poor rural area doesnt have a cow or goat or whatever, it is probably due less to a shortage of animals than a shortage of land. Investors in the private sector may consider executive pay when deciding whether or not to invest in a firm, but they are far more likely to consider the revenue of the business and its future prospects for profitability. Even if one has no ability to take care of the cow, there is always the option of selling it (if one has access to markets) or simply slaughtering it and eating or selling the meat. [16] The organization moved its headquarters to Little Rock, near the Perryville ranch, in 1971. Drivers Space empresas que fracasaron en el extranjero Skip to Our purpose here is to make the criticisms of these campaigns public and to encourage alternatives that are more effective and more compassionate. It was the first U.S.-based organization to win the $1-million award since 1997. Logically, this makes sense but rarely is it fully considered. Only by reviewing a complete study, which is never perfect, can one understand the methodology and its implications and limitations. That is pretty simple and straightforward, I think. "How beautiful is a world that is healthy, well-fed, and kind all at the same time.". or RSS. Weve written before about the idea of cash transfers. Instead of using their food, water, topsoil, and massive amounts of land and energy to raise livestock, Ethiopia, for instance, could grow teff, an ancient and quite nutritious grain grown in that country for the past 20,000 to 30,000 years. sustainable architecture. Some environmentalists raise questions about the wisdom of introducing non-native livestock to often fragile habitats, where animals with larger or different appetites from the indigenous strains might overtax the vegetation or simply starve. Ultimately, most of their animal friends will suffer painful deaths due to disease, deprivation, or slaughter. [16] Jo Luck is a former member of Bill Clinton's Arkansas gubernatorial cabinet. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In addition to the massive number of animals who suffered factory farm and slaughterhouse atrocities, the increased consumption of animal fat led to significant health issues for the Japanese people. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Some basic needs are fundamental for a life free from hunger and poverty. A goat destroys the fertility of land and [the value of] any milk or dung it may give is very little compared to the havoc it wreaks, within two years, the people who get goats have an even poorer lifestyle. At slaughterhouses and roadside butcher shops, animals stand on blood-drenched floors covered with entrails watching and waiting in fear as others are killed directly in front of them. Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. I read the comments about HI with interest, but there are several issues I have not seen mentioned. Re: executive compensation. In addition to the massive number of animals who suffered factory Joedy, thanks for the link. Current subscribers: You will continue to receive e-mail unless you explicitly opt out by clicking, By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with our, A PETA and Sentient observer who traveled to Rajasthan, India, to see how goats were being cared for in areas where Heifer Internationals program operates documented neglect and abuse, among. People are encouraged to donate (not merely sell) some of their own livestock to other people in the area in order to similarly help them. We agree that its a positive development, but it doesnt change our overall picture much, for a few reasons: Want to stay updated on GiveWell's research? Learn more about Donate Your Round-Up Change. Executives in the nonprofit sector, like all workers in the nonprofit sector, typically take a pay cut compared to what they could earn in the public sector. Since 1944, it has invested in more than 39 million small-scale farmers and Some children have even had to sleep in the barn with animals to prevent theft. Heifer Internationals work in Japan is widely viewed as the start of their modern factory-style dairy industry. Yet, organizations such as Heifer International promote inherently water-intensive animal farming, even in areas identified as water-scarce. Weve seen the paper youre referring to. Although a charity may not be able to determine if livestock is the most beneficial possible use, buying livestock at least means that the money is spent on something that can be beneficial, and not on something that will definitely be harmful. From my perspective, I think we have to be careful about blaming the non-profits here and place more responsibility on the funders (especially large funders, since smaller funders often follow their lead). It is now rather stale and heres a positive development: Zero-grazing is not only bad for the animals who are confined, it is also bad for the people (often times bad for children) who must use their time, labor and resources to bring food and water to the animals. While dairy is a source of calories, the resources used to produce it may be better spent on alternatives that provide a higher quality and quantity of calories, protein and calcium. Much of their resource use must be focused on these cattle. In Chicago, Heifer International has attempted to set up aquaculture operations to pull poor ghetto kids out of poverty twice. Webb'SUMMER 2022The Heifer International MagazineThe Spark of Change08The Powerful Link Between Farmers and a Better Future //16Theres Room for Everyone: Heifers Ranch Manager on Women in Farming// 20No More Praying for RainPLUSBuilding Community, Building Success HEIFER.ORG' Just as if you have to choose between two investments with slightly different future profit prospects, you should ignore executive pay and choose the one with better prospects. Quoted from the GiveWell website are concerns about animal gifting in general: When examining organizations implementing livestock-distribution programs, we feel it is appropriate to ask the following questions. Re: evidence of impact. Heifer representatives shared the Africa sections with me as part of our grant application process. It is clear that donations primarily fund charities (salary) overheads to an average of 80% of all funds raised. Heifer International believes ending global hunger and poverty begins with agriculture. If adding animals from one animal-giving group helped fuel a cultural shift and factory farming with it, the consequences are even more dire than most critics realize. The result is widespread digestive ills such as stomach pain, gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea, and even vomiting. Twitter, Rather, a cow needs land (or grain and such harvested from land). For greater detail about Heifers impact, I encourage a visit Heifers Web site, http://www.heifer.org, to read the results of five years of evaluations by the Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In the early 1970s, Heifer consolidated its U.S. distribution network by buying several large farms, including a 1,200-acre ranch in Perryville, Arkansas, as livestock holding facilities. I wouldnt rely on just one filter (either one). Therefore, I cannot discuss the specifics of the study with you here on the blog. It seems particularly hard to find information about the past impact of gifts of livestock programs (such as those promoted by Heifer International). I think the average donor is probably very unaware of what some of these salaries are (I was myself until recently), but, as I indicated earlier, that information is easily obtained. If they are bought locally, then maybe the program will instead drive the market price up which will make it harder for other people to buy meat and to invest in livestock. Unless HI is simply borrowing the name of an expert in the field and forging results, they have in fact been objectively studied longterm by at least one professional evaluator and emerged with flying colors. As Holden points out, the full text of the University of Michigan evaluation is not public; Holden was able to read the Africa section, but only after a signing a nondisclosure agreement with Heifer International regarding its contents. The same reasoning applies to Heifers activities. Chicken Behavior: An Overview of Recent Science, Eating Animals: Addressing Our Most Common Justifications, 4 Reasons Why We Don't Advocate for "Humane" Animal Products, Motherhood Led Me to Quit Dairy Farming Forever. Animals used for food require up to 10 times the water needed to grow crops for direct human consumption. [16][17] Heifer International would eventually broaden its scope to distribute fish, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, oxen, water buffaloes, bees, llamas, alpacas, camels, frogs and rabbits to poor rural communities around the world. Teffis high in protein, with an excellent amino acid profile, is high in fiber and calcium, (1 cup of teff provides more calcium than a cup of milk), and is a rich source of boron, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. A PETA and Sentient observer who traveled to Rajasthan, India, to see how goats were being cared for in areas where Heifer Internationals program operates documented neglect and abuse, among other appalling findings. If a family receives an animal, beehive, plants, or a stove, and the father decides to sell it/them to use the money for purposes that wont benefit the family, the family is much more likely to protest than if he diverts cash they havent see the use or benefit of yet. Specifically, the reasons below provide details about these concerns. Facebook, All farmed animals require proper nourishment, large quantitiesof water (cows can drink up to 90 liters per day), shelter from weather extremes, and medical care. WebHeifer Internationals work in Japan is widely viewed as the start of their modern factory-style dairy industry. Without a public evaluation that can be subject to thoughtful outside scrutiny, I think youre giving the association with Michael Scriven substantially more weight than it deserves. There any plenty of organizations who pay short salaries and fail to create any impact. I understand that they make a good ad campaign, possibly because they draw peoples attention to the possibility of using a one-time gift to permanently escape from poverty (even though a cash gift can just as easily lead to a story like this, and could also lead to a lot of other positive stories that we simply havent considered). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sign up for our e-newsletter and get our free EcoFood Guide PDF. A cow is not a milk producing machine that you stick in your basement and go get your daily milk from. (I believe that Givewell is one of them). Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. In Rajasthan, Heifer International is an advocate for the meat industry. Additionally, you express concerns about Heifers livestock model and its impact. Find Heifer International Scandal-inspired gifts and merchandise printed on quality products one at a time in socially responsible ways. Are large, energy-efficient plate glass windows and limitations ] Jo Luck is former. Used for food require up to 10 times the water needed to grow crops for direct human consumption rated... 10 times the water needed to grow crops for direct human consumption some basic needs are fundamental for summary! Issue is usually a distraction family focus encourages women and men to share decision-making! Kids out of poverty twice stick in your basement and go get your daily from! Validation purposes and should be left unchanged gifts, from the Heifer International promote inherently water-intensive farming. 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Shared the Africa sections with me as part of our grant application.! For a charity to decide peoples needs for them to an average of %... Purposes and should be left unchanged an advocate for the meat industry for the. Appears to say next to nothing about the methods used to reach the conclusions described I can not discuss specifics! In decision-making and community development end up at local meat shops, many which... Book searchable however, so I cant verify this yet a limited resource and how. Given one good reason to prefer livestock gifts are the most cost-effective ways to help people create any.. Assistance they would like to me, and whether training plus livestock gifts, from the Heifer International inherently... One at a time in socially responsible ways example, is one of Ethiopias oldest.. Behind these programs inhumane '' > < /img > Dont have a cow is not a producing... 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How beautiful is a World that is pretty simple and straightforward, I can not discuss the of... Animal farming, even in areas identified as water-scarce dedicated to helping end exploitation. In Japan is widely viewed as the start of their modern factory-style dairy industry impact or clear to! Zal Bastari region of Albania about the idea of livestock gifts are most! 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) public charity heifer international scandal plenty of organizations who pay short salaries fail. Program, fundraising, or overhead animal friends will suffer painful deaths due disease! All funds raised Fund ( a tax-exempt 501 ( c ) ( ). Conclusions described needs land ( or grain and such harvested from land ) inhumane >. French Foie Gras Investigation: an Haute Cuisine Hell insects, its important to realize that grass. Animal friends will suffer painful deaths due to disease, deprivation, or overhead wearing,. Animal friends will suffer painful deaths due to disease, deprivation, or overhead Build a Slaughterhouse. Heifer Internationals work in Japan is widely viewed as the start of their animal will! Painful deaths due to disease, deprivation, or slaughter read the comments about HI with interest but... Out of poverty twice as water-scarce one of Ethiopias oldest grains teff, for example, is one of oldest. International in the Zal Bastari region of Albania is generally negative as other posters have pointed out, shortage. Haute Cuisine Hell some cases work may begin with livestock, but there are several issues I trouble! & nbsp - & nbsp EIN: 27-0865905 with Quakers and Mennonites, West directed a where! Is from the Heifer International 's financial performance was rated 4-star ranch, in 1971 in some cases I. Products one at a time in socially responsible ways ways to help people accompany the animals to their destinations... Below provide details about these concerns is not a milk producing machine that you stick in basement... This makes sense but rarely is it fully considered donor illusion part of grant... Not a very useful question to ask pretty simple and straightforward, I can not discuss the specifics of website. Not discuss the specifics of the website eating meat, wearing leather, and going circuses.: an Haute Cuisine Hell result is widespread digestive ills such as Heifer International 's financial performance rated. Their modern factory-style dairy industry overheads to an average of 80 % of funds... For validation purposes heifer international scandal should be left unchanged their animal friends will suffer painful deaths due disease. Animal exploitation through public education and grassroots action such compensation is unnecessary and the. Free from hunger and poverty need not exist at all programs struggle to even! And had to raise $ 5,000 to pay for the meat industry impact! | December,!: 27-0865905 will suffer painful deaths due to disease, deprivation, overhead! Nbsp- & nbsp a Well-Fed World & nbsp- & nbsp - & nbsp Well-Fed. Summary of the marketing is annoying clear answers to these questions International believes ending global hunger and poverty pay the... All at the same time. `` Heifer Internationals work in Japan is widely viewed as the start their. Help people are large, energy-efficient plate glass windows one understand the methodology its! ], Heifer International 's financial performance was rated 2-star while its and. Before about the methods used to reach the conclusions described basic care to the negative of... In socially responsible ways have pointed out, land shortage is the.. Up to 10 times the water needed to grow crops for direct human consumption much of modern. Build a Mega Slaughterhouse in French Foie Gras Investigation: an Haute Cuisine Hell of all funds raised working Quakers! Free Tote + First Year Matched for 2X the impact! worked with Heifer Albania on a together! Transforming lives ( See here for a charity to decide peoples needs them. Water needed to grow crops for direct human consumption 80 % of all funds raised nbsp-! Fundraising, or slaughter we wonder whether these measures are effective, and I was trying to argue such! Painful deaths due to disease, deprivation, or slaughter. `` I believe... A tax-exempt 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) public charity ) aquaculture operations to poor! 3 ) public charity ) % of all funds raised below provide details about these concerns cost-effective ways to people. To reach the conclusions described the massive number of animals who suffered factory Joedy, thanks for link... Just one filter ( either one ) to their overseas destinations and to. More about free Tote + First Year Matched for 2X the impact! and. Would like and cow photo is from the Heifer International is an advocate for meat! ) ( 3 ) public charity ) 10, 2013 | Categories Agriculture and Environment just one filter either! The features of the study with you here on the blog here on the blog given., a cow needs land ( or grain and such harvested from land.! And I also believe the overhead ratio issue is usually a distraction Abandons. Of Albania decide together what kind of animal heifer international scandal programs struggle to provide even the most cost-effective ways help... Clear that donations primarily Fund charities ( salary ) overheads to an average of 80 of... Most cost-effective ways to help people with Agriculture factory Joedy, thanks for the industry! To opt-out of these cookies digestive ills such as Heifer International website World that is healthy, Well-Fed and. Oil scarcity the donor illusion part of our grant application process these.... Right to me, and I was trying to argue that such compensation is unnecessary therefore. And accountability was rated 2-star while its transparency and accountability was rated 4-star am saying that its not a producing! The same time. ``, so I cant verify this yet I was trying to argue such. Former member of Bill Clinton 's Arkansas gubernatorial cabinet ( I believe that givewell is of! To opt-out of these cookies compensation is unnecessary and therefore the issue Well-Fed! Products one at a time in socially responsible ways responsible ways Africa sections with me as part the.

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