wfn.org | Andrew Young Requests "Moringa Tree Seedlings"

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org

Contact:  
NCC News, 212-870-2227 (Moringa tree)
Lee Echols, The Echols Group, 404-815-2081 (Andrew Young)

126NCC12/15/99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANDREW YOUNG REQUESTS "MORINGA TREE SEEDLINGS, NOT FLOWERS"

 December 15, 1999, NEW YORK CITY - "In lieu of flowers, 
please donate Moringa tree seedlings."  That was former United 
Nations Ambassador Andrew Young's message to his friends and 
colleagues shortly before entering the hospital Tuesday (Dec. 
14) for surgery for prostate cancer.

 Ambassador Young - whose surgery went well, and who on 
January 1 becomes President of the National Council of 
Churches (NCC) - is asking that well-wishers make their 
donations for Moringa tree seedlings through Church World 
Service, the NCC's humanitarian assistance ministry.

 Widely known for its nutritional and medicinal value, the 
Moringa tree originated in India and grows well in West 
Africa, where Church World Service is fostering its use as a 
valuable resource against malnutrition and associated 
diseases.  The tree grows quickly from seed or cuttings, 
reaching a height of 12 feet within the first year, and  
provides protein, calcium, minerals, iron and several 
important vitamins to malnourished children.

 To donate Moringa tree seedlings, call 1-800-297-1516 
x222 or visit the Church World Service Web site at 
http://www.churchworldservice.org.

 Ambassador Young, former Mayor of Atlanta who is now 
Chairman of GoodWorks International in Atlanta, Ga., made his 
request in a pre-surgery news release and announced it during 
his first meeting with NCC staff, Dec. 13 in New York.  He 
will serve for two years as the NCC's president, a part-time, 
unsalaried but nevertheless high profile leadership position 
with the nation's leading ecumenical organization.

 The NCC has 35 Protestant and Orthodox member communions 
with 52 million congregants in all.  Church World Service 
provides emergency response, human development and refugee 
assistance in more than 80 countries around the world, 
including the United States.

 In late September, Ambassador Young was diagnosed with 
early stage prostate cancer.  

The cancer was detected after a routine PSA (prostate 
specific antigen) screening.  He said in October that he 
wanted to make his diagnosis public in part "to encourage 
middle-aged and older men to have regular prostate screenings, 
and to do everything they can to lead a healthy and 
spiritually fulfilling life."  In particular, African American 
men experience a higher incidence of prostate cancer.

 On Wednesday morning, Ambassador Young's spokesperson, 
Lee Echols, reported that the surgery went well with "no 
obvious spread of cancer beyond the prostate gland, which was 
removed.  According to his physicians, everything at this 
point is right on course.

 "Andy is in good spirits today and he has been enjoying 
some private time in his hospital room," and was up for a walk 
in his room this morning, Mr. Echols reported.  "The big 
challenge will be to keep Andy contained so that he can in 
fact relax and recuperate appropriately," he said, reporting 
news media interest in the fact that Ambassador Young was in 
New York City to meet with NCC staff the day before his 
surgery.

More About the Moringa Tree . 

The Moringa tree originated in India and was brought to 
Africa by people from Asia, who used it as a source of food 
and for medicinal purposes. The Moringa tree grows quickly, 
can withstand drought, and two seed pod harvests can be 
produced in one year.

No part of the Moringa is wasted. Leaves contain a very 
high content of protein; calcium; minerals; iron; and vitamins 
A, B, and when raw, vitamin C. Mixing just 2-3 teaspoons of 
dried Moringa leaf powder into sauces provides significant 
nutritional value to children in high malnutrition areas.

Moringa flowers may be used to make a tea that is useful 
for treating colds. Seeds in the green pods can be roasted and 
eaten like peanuts. When the pods turn brown, the seeds can be 
crushed to obtain an oil comparable to olive oil that can be 
used for cooking, treating skin infections, and many other 
things. Press cakes left over from the process of making 
Moringa oil can be used as fertilizer, fuel for cooking, and 
as a water purifier.

Church World Service is working to spread the good news 
of all the Moringa tree's benefits to malnourished families 
across West Africa, to show them how to make use of different 
tree parts and to provide families with seedlings to grow the 
tree near their homes.

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