Sustainability Results for the Planet and its People
Guest Contributor: Adriana Talavera, Northwestern University
Earth Day is an annual event that invites us to celebrate our beautiful planet, but it also serves as a way to raise awareness. It reminds us that there is always a way to improve our planet and continue to support our local and international communities. That’s why I am sharing my thoughts on Trees That Feed Foundation, and showcasing how their approach to environmental activism helps bridge the divide between improving our planet and helping communities achieve financial security.
On August 12, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti. Thanks to the many breadfruit trees TTFF has helped plant and the businesses they have impacted, including the Jeremie Breadfruit Flour and Nursery, the community was able to organize and produce up to 5,000 konparets a day, resulting in over 80,000 meals for earthquake victims.
When building the mission and vision for TTFF, its founders wanted to focus on helping our planet while supporting communities in need. For many years, organizations have divided their not-for-profit efforts into those with ecological goals that help the planet and those that help its residents. For Mary and Mike McLaughlin, creating a holistic approach that could support both sides of the equation was crucial.
According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, “at the end of 2022 8.7 million people were living in internal displacement due to disasters.” While not all disaster displacement was climate-related, with climate change and extreme weather events becoming more common, more people are at risk of being forced to leave their homes and communities. As we work towards a better planet, we must also consider the communities at risk whether caused by climate change or by financial difficulty. The solutions we develop must take into account our planet’s ecosystem as a whole. And propose sustainable solutions that include community education, empowerment, and environmental efforts.
Guided by the proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” TTFF became an organization that seeks to help the environment and empower communities in need to build a sustainable food and income source, all thanks to magnificent fruit-bearing trees, volunteers, and donors.
If you want to read more about TTFF impact in Haiti and other countries, feel free to read their stories at: https://treesthatfeed.org/about-us/stories/