Ethical goat gifts for Christmas

[redwellybluewelly]

I've only been on MN a year or so therefore shall offer apologies in advance if this is a well worn topic

DH, DD, and I were given the gift of a herd of goats in africa this christmas by a relative. Part of me thinks this is a great idea, part of me thinks this is someone making the point that they think we are materialistic and have everything we need and the money should be given to the more deserving.

This is mostly driven by the fact the giver of the goats gave the rest of the extended family ethical gifts (as we do too when the recipient likes them) of soap, food and pretty things. We got goats.

The goat giver has in the past made it clear that they think we live a wasteful life. We live within our means but we do recycle and try hard to live a low impact life

How the fuck are you supposed to look after them if the goats are in Africa?

In what way have they made it clear they think you live a wasteful life?

YANBU. Ethical Goats is a shit Christmas present.

Unless you have them flown over but then what about goaty passports?

Sniggering.

The herd gets looked after by people in Africa to give them food and milk etc. Think it was an Oxfam thing.

Don't be ridiculous, Worra. You can't fly the goats over, think of the carbon hoof print!

OP, I think YANBU. It's a nice idea in principle, but...

All joking aside it is a totally non present.

The giver actually hasn't given you anything so they might as well have just set up a direct debit for themself.

Of course this way everyone gets to know how wonderful they are and how much they do for charidee.

Hmmm curried goat..

I think you should really point out to them how ecologically damaging goats can be, stripping vegetation, trampling land etc

Charity "gifts" where the recipient gets nothing are a shit gift for the pretend recipient. Great xmas gift for the person who actually gets the goats but if a Brit wants to give an African some goats for xmas I don't see why they have to invoolve a middle man and pretend they are getting a present when they aren't.
Asking for a goat to be given on your behalf fine, pretending to give one or several to someone who g=hasn't asked for them = no present at all and just makes you think the gift giver doesn't like you much and thinks you have too much stuff.
I'd rather someone made me some shortbread.

I have ethical chickens somewhere. I quite like them as I do not have to dust them, polish them or maintain them in any way. I'd rather ethical goats or chickens than ethical pretty things.

How silly. Mind you, everyone's perception of 'wasteful' is different. My parents think we have more money than sense because we bought a brand new washing machine

Yes, how have they made it clear they think you're killing the planet?

Worra that's precisely what I thought.

Some people are greener than others, I do my bit for the planet rather than charidee and always have, but the goat giver has got all evangelical ethical and quite frankly it's a tad boring.

I think the idea of all this malarkee being given as a gift is so people who feel they don't want/need anything can suggest to others to do something for someone else on their behalf.

This goat giver seems to have got that all wrong.

I'm afraid I really wouldn't be grateful if a relative gave an African a goat on my behalf. When I donate to charity I want it to be my choice of charity ,not someone elses. And I am aware that that is very uncharitable. Hope you bought them a crappy gift !

Sorry the wasteful life comment was badly phrased, it's because we buy new things rather than buy DD's clothes secondhand and we have an estate which I need for work and DH is a geek and likes gadgets. Huge back story and shouldn't drip feed and will shut up.

But thank you, I couldn't give a fuck about the giver, as you say it's more about them than me.

They probably hate you.
I bought one for MIL one year.

That was the last year of presents

The money won't actually have gone to buying any goats. It just gets added to the oxfam pot and could actually be spent on any one of their projects.

I have given and received ethical gifts like this. I think its a great idea because let's face it do we really need another scarf or more smellies? The number of people who are moaning on here about their crap presents should maybe think about others for a change

I used to go out with a fella who is now an aid worker in Africa. He told me that in many cases, no one actually takes proper care of the goats and they just wander aimlessly around the outskirts of villages, eating everything in sight.

This is mostly driven by the fact the giver of the goats gave the rest of the extended family ethical gifts (as we do too when the recipient likes them) of soap, food and pretty things. We got goats.

My family used to do this all the time. It was agreed beforehand so no chance of anyone taking the hump and reading something into the gift that wasn't there. To be honest, it would never have occurred to me that anyone would read receiving such a present as a comment on the wastefulness of their lives. . I suppose it's a bit different though if the giver has already indicated they think you're wasteful.

It wasn't goats we gave though. More like village latrines: saw this and thought of you...

My step-mum used to be a teacher & I usually buy her teacher-training in Africa for Chistmas present. She & my dad have a large income but live in the most tiny flat and do not want or need any things.

They never buy me gifts nor do I want any.

On the plus side, it makes buying presents for this relative very easy in future. In just a few Christmases and birthdays you could get them the whole farm.

Agree with others - this idea works best when the recipient has expressly asked for a charity gift rather than an item to keep themselves. Did the relative give back / donate to someone neediet any of the presents they received?