World Vision’s animals and agriculture gifts include sheep, alpacas, and rabbits. The Oxfam’s ‘super goat’ is priced at £25. Christian Aid’s charity gifts catalog mentions a cow, with a minimum cost of £187.
CHRISTINE RO: It seems like a ‘fun’, yet ‘concrete’, kind of donation: giving a sum of money that a charity will use to buy a goat, a cow, chickens, or other livestock that could improve the nutrition and finances of someone living in poverty in a lower-income country…
A number of international development charities have started such gifting programs. The description of Oxfam’s ‘super goat’, priced at £25, gives the example of a Kenyan farmer whose livelihood has been ravaged by climate change and needs a little help to recover. World Vision’s animals & agriculture gifts include sheep, alpacas, and rabbits. Christian Aid’s charity gifts catalog mentions a cow, with a minimum cost of £187, that could help Bangladeshi families…
But not everyone is on board. The Animal Save Movement, a network of animal rights activists, has started a campaign called Stop Animal Gifting, seeking to end these charity donation programs. They’re arguing that development organizations should be supporting plant-based agriculture, in light of the climate, animal welfare, and health issues associated with animal agriculture…
Anita Krajnc, the executive director of Animal Save, argues that “For charities to be involved in this is absolutely reprehensible”… Stop Animal Gifting has had a raft of activities. They’ve protested at Oxfam offices. They’ve collected video testimonials from countries including Kenya and Mexico, and enlisted a powerful ambassador in primatologist Jane Goodall. As well, supporters of the campaign have sent over 1,200 emails to development charities, according to Krajnc…
In response to the criticisms, an Oxfam spokesperson noted: “Oxfam only provides livestock to communities where keeping animals is a traditional or essential part of their way of life and where conditions are suitable at the time”… Elsewhere, the charity Send A Cow has argued that gifted animals can be important sources of protein for malnourished people…
It seems unlikely that this campaign will lead to a change of course in the short term. Krajnc reports that only one charity has responded to their campaigning. And in general, “So far they have not shown any interest in meeting with us”… The controversy raises questions over what counts as appropriate aid… Yet Krajnc insists, “For me it’s pretty clear that all development aid charities need to stop animal gifting and be part of the solution and promote plant-based food”. SOURCE…
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