Be a “Mecenas” – Support our work
What you can do to protect forests, minimize the escalation of global warming and promote human development of traditional farmers:
1. Offset your ecological foot-prints – Neutralize your CO2 emissions
In our daily activities we emit CO2 (the main gas that causes the greenhouse effect) in various ways: by using electric power and gas for cooking, fuel for vehicles, traveling by bus, ship or plane, generating garbage and so on. We can neutralize our emissions planting trees which while growing will absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and fix the carbon in their biomass.
A middle class citizen emits, approximately, 4 tons of CO2 per year. To neutralize 1 ton of CO2, through the methodology adopted by Mecenas da Vida, it is necessary to plant 5 trees which, in turn, will take 20 years to reach this purpose.
The value of each seedling of tree is R$15,00. This amount includes : 1) the costs of production, plantation and maintenance of the seedlings for reforestation; 2) contribution for the Social Carbon Fund for payment of the Bolsa Conservação (Monthly Financial Aid for Conservation) to be granted to the farmers; 3) Technical, human, environmental and economical training to the farmers; 4) monitoring of the reforestation activities and of the counterparts by the farmers.
In order to know how much CO2 you emit per year, just send us your data concerning consumption of electricity (KWA/month); kitchen gas (gallon/month or m³/month); fuel (liters/month); trips (flown kms/year) and (driven kms/year); garbage (kg/month), and we will calculate your emissions: contato@mecenasdavida.org.br
2. Neutralize CO2 emissions produced by your business’ activities
We will then elaborate the inventory of CO2 emissions emitted by all operational activities of your company. With the data, we will calculate the number of trees it will be necessary to neutralize such emissions. The seedlings will be produced and planted by the traditional small-scale farmers of the Itacaré-Serra Grande Environmental Protection Area. The amounts paid by the seedlings of the trees will represent the resources that will be returned to the Social Carbon Fund and will also finance the actions of the Social Carbon Program (see Programs), including Bolsa Conservação: contato@mecenasdavida.org.br
3. Adopt a traditional small-scale farmer family: Bolsa Conservação
With a monthly donation of R$ 350,00 (in Dec 2008 = US$), for a minimum period of 1 year, you can adopt a farmer family and help them to protect the forest of their property – R$ 300,00 corresponds to the Bolsa Conservação and R$ 50,00 to logistic expenses of the Program. The Bolsa goes directly to the family which, in order to receive it, will assume some socio-environmental counterparts (see Social Carbon Program). The contribution can be made, monthly, through banking deposit, or as the patron wishes. The Patron can follow the works with the adopted family through our site or can also visit the adopted family: soumecenas@mecenasdavida.org.br
4. Create a group to adopt a family
If you can not afford R$ 350,00 (three hundred and fifty Brazilian Reais) you can gather two, three or more friends to adopt a family. Start by mobilizing people close to you or explore work environment creating a group inside your office/business. Create, thus, a special network to help this movement: soumecenas@mecenasdavida.org.br
5. Adopt a “Worker of the Planet”
Since the beginning of our activities, most of our team works in the rural and urban environments, as volunteers, using their own resources, in order to prioritize and to protect the results of the Social Carbon Program (see Programs). However, the number of activities and actions is growing, demanding full-time attention of the team in the fields. Contact us and find out how you can adopt one Trabalhador do Planeta (Worker of the Planet): soumecenas@mecenasdavida.org.br.
6. Make a simple donation of any value to Associação Movimento Mecenas da Vida
Banco Real – Branch no. 0150 – Account no. 1716516
Any amount will mean a great deal to us!
7. Work as a volunteer at Mecenas da Vida
Need a challenge on your next holidays? Come and visit us take part in the work we are doing here. You have a lot to exchange with people here! Be a Worker of the Planet: voluntariado@mecenasdavida.org.br
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