Irony, is sometimes ironic.

We were informed yesterday that the UN wants us to stop eating meat to cut back on global warming. (How many cows must fart to equal the hot air produced at a single General Assembly meeting)? Today, in my mailbox was the Christmas catalog of one of my favorite charities Heifer International. In an effort to put a stick in the eye of the UN and also do some good, I would ask you all to check this group out. I first ran into them when I was working for a micro-enterprise development agency in DC and I have supported them ever since.
The name of the group is Heifer International. The premise is simple. They give rural folks in developing countries livestock and agricultural advice. Everything from a pregnant milk cow to a couple of piglets, goats, sheep, waterbuffalo, a flock of chicks, whatever (for 5k you can sponsor a whole ark, everything from guniea pigs to camels). The recipient family must give the seond born female to another family in the village and so on. It is direct aid, no cash, no government go between and it leads to self suffiency. A pair of oxen to plow, egg laying chickens, a milk cow etc. You can either sponsor a whole animal for about $150 or part of one for $10-$20. They've been at this since 1944 and are well regarded in dvelopment circles, this is not a fly by night operation. The best part is, you can fight poverty, promote small scale enterprizes and piss off the UN by giving the gift of bacon on the hoof.

The url is
www.heifer.orgFQ13