Sustain the Biocultural Diversity of Life

Nowadays, due to issues such as, climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, land conversion for development, spread of invasive species and extinction of species, the biodiversity of planet is being lost at an unprecedented pace. "We are actually witnessing the greatest extinction crisis since dinosaurs disappeared from our planet 65 million years ago." Not only are these extinctions irreversible, but they also posing a serious threat to our health and well-being.

But just as with biodiversity, the world is now undergoing a massive human-made extinction crisis of culture diversity.

Terralingua is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1996 by a group of committed individuals from different backgrounds who shared the beliefs that the diversity of life on earth is biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity. It committed to sustain the biocultural diversity of life through an innovative program of research, education, policy-relevant work, and on-the-ground action.

Terralingua has two fundamental purposes. First, is to explore the connections between linguistic and biological diversity and promote the awareness and better understanding of the links between them. They are seeking to "build bridges between groups and individuals working in support of the world's diverse peoples and their languages and cultures and those working to conserve species and ecosystems". To reach out and establish the partnerships to community-based groups and individuals working on "the front lines" are at the heart of Terralingua’s vision and strategy. The second purpose of them is to promote the preservation of the world's linguistic diversity in all its forms, regardless of political, demographic, or linguistic status, and to promote respect for linguistic human rights. Their statement of purpose is available through their website in more than 40 different languages, which can help the people to access easily with their mother tongue.

Terralingua develops and deploys its expertise and insights on issues relating to biocultural diversity in international forum, through publications, public education, fieldwork and policy development, and by enrolling and informing a membership base. Since 2001, they have developed a series of programs that focuses on the main areas of biocultural diversity: mapping,indicators, conservation, networking, policy and education. Their work has been plaing an significant role in giving shape to these aspects in the field of biocultural diversity.

With their goal to bring about a profound shift in human values through a deeper understanding and appreciation of the vital importance of biocultural diversity for the survival of all life on earth, They are now widely recognized as pioneers and leaders in the field of biocultural diversity.

To know more
Why the biodiversity crisis is worse than the global economic crisis: There’s no bailout for this one

Declaration of Belém

Terralingua’s Index of Linguistic Diversity on National Geographic News Watch

Photo courtesy terralingua.org

Development in Gardening: Reap Life!

As the global population rises and arable land disappears, it becomes increasingly vital that Africa boosts its food production. Many solutions call for a “Green Revolution” in Africa, similar to the agricultural transformation of the 1960s and 1970s that took hold in Asia and Latin America. A similar movement in Africa would require a serious overhaul in development policy, resource management and infrastructure. It might also employ unsustainable farming practices, such as crop monocultures and the use of petroleum-based fertilizers and genetically modified seeds. There is another school of thought that sees Africa’s potential in a different light: teaching sustainable practices to small-scale farmers. This is the approach of Development in Gardening, also know by its acronym, DIG.

Development in Gardening was founded in 2006 by two former Peace Corps volunteers to improve the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS. DIG provides the supplies and technical know-how to create customized urban micro-gardens at HIV clinics, hospitals, orphanages, and patients’ homes. They work primarily in Africa, but they also have two project sites in Latin America. They contribute to five of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals and seek to address the connections between HIV/AIDS, poverty, hunger and malnutrition. It is essential that HIV/AIDS patients receive proper nutrition as antiretroviral therapy is much less effective for those who are malnourished.

DIG collaborates with organizations already working in the community, which reduces start-up time and duplicative work. The organization emphasizes sustainability by training people to train each other, incorporating found materials and objects into their garden designs, water conservation and creating seed banks. The hope is that those who learn gardening techniques from the organization will bring those skills back to their neighborhoods and create their own plots and communal gardens with what they have available to them.

Perhaps the greatest gift of DIG is not what they teach but the social and psychological benefits experienced by the patients. The gardens provide a calm, meditative and positive environment; they strengthen community ties and reduce the social isolation that many HIV/AIDS patients experience. Participants have the opportunity to learn a skill-set, pass along their knowledge and improve their overall self-worth. Most of their participants are women with few life skills and their work with DIG helps them to become self-sufficient and sustaining. DIG empowers HIV/AIDS patients in the poorest regions of the world to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. This is best summed up by one of their participants: “I don’t want people to give us things – that’s not what it’s about. We want to do things for ourselves.”


Sarah Koch, co-founder of Development In Gardening, talks about the organization’s work in Africa and the importance of women:



Sarah Koch, 2008 YouthActionNet Fellow, talks about DIG
Laura Bush praising DIG
Segment about DIG on WBEZ 91.5

See how DIG has changed the lives of these women:
Florence's Story
Robina's Story
Learn more about the nutritional requirements of those living with HIV/AIDS

Photos courtesy of Development In Gardening

Sustainability: A Woman's Work

Women are recognized as the focal point of the family and economic unit, particularly in the developing world. As such, their unrestricted participation is crucial to a sustainable future. MADRE is an international organization that recognizes the role that women must be allowed to play in the reduction of world-wide poverty through environmentally conscientious means. By collaborating with regional groups, MADRE works for the empowerment of women and girls, freeing them to be productive members of their communities through responsible practices in agriculture and commerce.

Created in 1983 by a group of US women hailing from diverse professional backgrounds, MADRE started as a solidarity organization exposing the effects of US foreign policy upon people abroad. It has since evolved into an international establishment that works for women’s rights to achieve economic, health and educational equality.

MADRE operates by partnering with local, women-run organizations. Presently, these sister organizations are located in countries throughout Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. By working closely in such partnerships, MADRE ensures that its efforts are disseminated by -- and for -- those who are the most knowledgeable of the regions’ needs. Meanwhile, the local interest groups benefit from the resources and expertise of a global non-profit association.

MADRE’s philosophy coincides with that of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, that the role of local women, and their empowerment, is integral to the attainment of social and economic justice. Both within the household and in the immediate community, women are the primary providers of housing, healthcare, childcare, nutrition, education and emotional well-being.

The following example offers illustration in the way that MADRE works with local women to develop sustainable practices at the regional level:

Deforestation of the Panamanian jungles due to industrialized agriculture and mining, plays a direct role in climate change. Additionally, destruction of the rainforest threatens many indigenous populations that rely upon the habitat for their existence. These people, in turn, sustain the environment through traditional practices and knowledge. MADRE helps to preserve and protect the indigenous lifestyle by conducting workshops for women of the community, disseminating traditional knowledge and local practices as an option to environmental exploitation. Furthermore, MADRE educates these women about their legal and human rights entitling them to live and farm on their land.

Through its Panama project, and many others throughout the developing world,MADRE devotes crucial resources and knowledge to native women to protect their communities’ way of life for subsequent generations.

Photo courtesy MADRE.org

Looking Towards the Future

 

In 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development UNCED put forth a plan to help eradicate poverty. A few points included

1. Establish a world solidarity fund to eradicate poverty and to promote social and human development in the developing countries pursuant to modalities to be determined by the General Assembly, while stressing the voluntary nature of the contributions, the need to avoid duplication of existing United Nations funds, and encouraging the role of the private sector and individual citizens relative to Governments in funding the endeavor.

2. Deliver basic health services for all and reduce environmental health threats, taking into account the special needs of children and the linkages between poverty, health and environment, with provision of financial resources, technical assistance and knowledge transfer to developing countries and countries with economies in transition

3. Increase food availability and affordability, including through harvest and food technology and management, as well as equitable and efficient distribution systems, by promoting, for example, community-based partnerships linking urban and rural people and enterprises

There was also a provision regarding clean water that included halving the amount of people who are unable to reach clean water or afford safe drinking water.

Having people able to afford clean water is the goal, but another goal should also be to make sure pollution is staying out of our clean water. UN Water has four ways to combat water pollution.

Prevention of pollution

Treatment of polluted water

Safe use of wastewater

Restoration and protection of ecosystems

We also need to protect humans from the effects of climate change. During World Health Day in 2008 the WHO put out a press release that climate sensitive diseases are killing millions of people at this very moment diseases that include malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, and malaria. The WHO will coordinate research and assessment on the most vulnerable populations including women and children.