Ex Africa semper aliquid novi; buy an African farmer a chicken or a goat
January 14, 2006
There is always something new out of Africa. The latest being the website lastminute.com offering you, its customer, a chance to ‘buy a sheep, a goat or some chickens from FARM AFRICA.’ (I quote directly off their website) As you make last ditch vacation plans, you may also have a last minute change of heart about the dollar-a-day continent.
Imagine how good you will feel when you add a good deed to your vacation. ‘Not only will you be helping a worthy cause like poor African farmers or abandoned kitties (emphasis mine), but your lucky recipient will receive a gift pack with information about the charity and a unique gift to open on their special day.’
But lastminute.com does more than rouse your conscience, it desires to empower you. ‘So you’re not Gordon Brown and you can’t cancel the debt of the Third World. But with lastminute.com and FARM FRIENDS you have the chance to do something amazing, just by buying a gift for a friend (or even for yourself). You can choose a sheep, a goat or a brood of chickens. Of course, they won’t be delivered to you or the person you’re buying the gift for. Instead, they’ll get a really cute model of the chosen animal, while Farm Africa will give the real animal to a poor African farmer, who is struggling to feed his family. Just a few pounds buys the greatest gift of all – a happier, healthier future. A goat, for example, provides milk to fight-off malnutrition and any excess can be sold to pay for medicine or schoolbooks.’
Remember it is not just the right thing to do, it is also fun and educational. Or to let lastminute.com express it more accurately, ‘it’s a unique and fun present that also helps an African farmer feed his children. When you buy an animal, the recipient receives a FARM FRIENDS pack including a miniature sheep, goat or chicken, more information on how the real animals are helping poor farmers in Africa and most importantly, the knowledge that you are making a huge difference for someone in need.’
Out of Africa there is always something new and that never ages no matter how often it is repeated.
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1.
Keguro | January 14, 2006 at 12:39 pm
I see someone else was breast-fed on sarcasm and weaned on irony
2.
MMK | January 14, 2006 at 1:33 pm
It has gotten to the point that the only response is either hysterical laughter or tears.
3.
wanduma | January 14, 2006 at 8:01 pm
I got to get me one of those.
4.
HASH | January 15, 2006 at 4:45 am
Personally, I’m sponsoring a goat. I’m hoping that it’s in Kenya so I’ll have some good nyama choma when I head back.
5.
WM | January 15, 2006 at 9:26 am
MMK,
I have several pithy and witty things to say, but frankly I am laughing so hard I can’t remember what they were. What are you doing stealing my readers? Keguro: shame on you–this man will corrupt and cynicise (word?) you. Stick with me: I’m much nicer.
Lakini Kima–um, tell me, do the animals suffer???
6.
MMK | January 15, 2006 at 2:58 pm
WM – ebu don’t come to this neighbourhood trying to steal Keguro away! Shame, shame I say. As for Wanduma, I do not see how you can take advantage of the lastminute offer since you are after all a poor farmer
But seriously, don’t you guys have this sense that what used to be a discreet approach to charity for Africa has become increasingly hysterical?
7.
jke | January 15, 2006 at 9:40 pm
Oh my…reminds me of this: http://www.mailorderchickens.org/
8.
Keguro | January 16, 2006 at 12:18 am
As my mother would say, Shame!
I am not a toy to be shared or fought over!
There’s a great article in the NYT today about ugly toys, cheap singing birds that are the “in” thing with the fashionable set.
I can hear the Brangelina inspired comments:
“Oh, Chad is so over. Sudan is the place to be.”
“But, my dear, do you get the cute animals from the Kenya scheme?”
“Better, I have pictures of starving orphans. God, I want her cheekbones!”
9.
pie in the sky | January 16, 2006 at 3:15 pm
MMK, You are killing me ….. again. WM is right, you are cynicising me vibaya.
Like you say, the only response is hysterical laughter or tears.
10.
MMK | January 16, 2006 at 4:14 pm
I must admit that cynicising is a good word. Someone call up the Oxford dictionary. Cynicising. Mnanichekesha.
11.
Prousette | January 17, 2006 at 10:05 am
So that is the new live8. Or is it livegoat this time?
Was the poor african farmer involved in this noble venture?
12.
WM | January 23, 2006 at 11:55 pm
I’ve now picked myself up of the floor and am hiccuping only occasionally. However tears of laughter continue to stream down my face. Question: have you patented the appellation “dollar a day continent” or can I use it too?
Oh Lordy you outdid yourself on this one. This was (almost) better than sex.
13.
MMK | January 23, 2006 at 11:58 pm
My people, have you bought the goats? I want someone to send me this gift surely.
14.
WM | January 24, 2006 at 9:11 pm
First of all, Keguro, maumivu yakizidi…do the necessary. Ati, “my dear, those cheekbones!”
As for you MMK, shouldn’t you add that “no farm animals have been harmed in the making of this blog…” or the SPCA will be at your house momentarily. But please please stop…I’m back to rolling about on the floor. Those cheekbones! To die for! Well, come to think of it, they are, really….
15.
kinyi | February 9, 2006 at 3:58 pm
My first encounter with the ‘buy an african farmer a chicken or goat’ story when I read about it in the New African (Jan 2006) a magazine, it was one of the many illustrations under the title The Myth of a Dollar a Day in Africa (or something similar). I laughed so hard but it still stung in aftertaste… Oh well the West and its take on Africa will never seize to amaze and how it ‘offers’ itself to give a helping hand at the same time giving itself a pat on the back.
16.
stonelifter | February 21, 2006 at 5:40 am
i was gonna buy a goat but i am allergic to them. come come there martin,post something new,stimulate us in blogland.
17.
Anonymous | February 22, 2006 at 8:32 pm
Githee,
Kwani with the advent of winter you went into hibernation???!!!!
Wake up!!
Disgruntled reader
18.
Anonymous | February 25, 2006 at 6:22 am
Of course if they dehydrate them you’ll get alot more in the box.
Perhaps you could put a small toy in for the children.
G
http://spaces.msn.com/safaricast
19.
Keguro | February 25, 2006 at 6:27 pm
How did I miss we attended the same venerated institution?
Perhaps it causes a particular kind of madness (the binj attended as well).
Very curious, very very curious.
20.
MMK | March 1, 2006 at 4:55 pm
keguro – I respected and admired you till you revealed you were in Lenana School like I was. Now I pity you.