Peter Singer has been called “the world’s most influential living philosopher,” by The New Yorker and Time Magazine listed him in “The Time 100,” their annual listing of the world’s 100 most influential people. He is DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, and laureate professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, University of Melbourne. He has been recognised as the Australian Humanist of the Year by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies, and is a Humanist Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism. He is the author of dozens of books, including Practical Ethics, Rethinking Life and Death, and Animal Liberation, which has sold more than a half million copies. An article about Singer in The New York Times revealed that the philosopher gives one-fifth of his income to charity.

Rainforest Rescue’s Ecuador Project Officer Kirstie Fisher met with Peter Singer, to discuss philanthropy and international projects. Peter was in Byron Bay for the Byron Bay Writer’s Festival where he spoke on a number of different topics. Kirstie got a chance to speak with Peter about the Ecuador ‘Save a Hectare’ project to which he responded

“We have an obligation to share our abundance with some of the poorest people of the world, and to prevent destruction of rainforests that are home to countless non-humans.”

The Ecuador “Save a Hectare” Project does just that in protecting one of the worlds most biodiverse rainforests while also working with local people, involving them in protection of the rainforests and the development of alternative livelihoods.

Every $200 will buy and protect a hectare of rainforest and involve the community in protecting it for future generations. All donations are tax-deductible.

For more information on the Ecuador “Save a Hectare” Project visit http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au