Comments on: Water buffalo: Worst possible Christmas present? http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/ A posting every day; an interesting idea every three months... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:24:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Robert Holmes http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-91239 Robert Holmes Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:38:24 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-91239 I also am somewhat suspicious of organisations which use donated funds for overheads. Some overheads are to be expected. My wife and I are getting involved in the purchase and donation of water buffaloes to Vietnamese farmers. The animal is loaned to the family for a period of 2 years. The first calf is taken and donated to another family and the animal is then owned outright by the family. They must sign a simple contract which spells out these terms and requires that that the family not sell or kill the animal. This situation will only work because my wife is Vietnamese and her 2 sisters do all the ground work in country.We also get recomendations from the local people's committees and monks. We still have to work out a way to ensure that veterinary care is availabe as well as access to breeding bulls. Since we are doing this ourselves we know that 100% of our money goes to the purchase of animals. Taking the first calf will, I hope, help to perpetuate the program. In the future I hope that others will contribute to this effort. I also am somewhat suspicious of organisations which use donated funds for overheads. Some overheads are to be expected. My wife and I are getting involved in the purchase and donation of water buffaloes to Vietnamese farmers. The animal is loaned to the family for a period of 2 years. The first calf is taken and donated to another family and the animal is then owned outright by the family. They must sign a simple contract which spells out these terms and requires that that the family not sell or kill the animal. This situation will only work because my wife is Vietnamese and her 2 sisters do all the ground work in country.We also get recomendations from the local people’s committees and monks. We still have to work out a way to ensure that veterinary care is availabe as well as access to breeding bulls. Since we are doing this ourselves we know that 100% of our money goes to the purchase of animals. Taking the first calf will, I hope, help to perpetuate the program. In the future I hope that others will contribute to this effort.

]]> By: Lamar http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-90114 Lamar Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:21:27 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-90114 I was googling "give a water buffalo" and found your weblog. Very enlighting! The water buffalo movie was awesome. Since then, have you heard of any organizations that actually buy the gift and give it to a real family? I too would like to give a gift and actually see pictures or something showing that the gift exists and where it goes! I was googling “give a water buffalo” and found your weblog. Very enlighting! The water buffalo movie was awesome. Since then, have you heard of any organizations that actually buy the gift and give it to a real family? I too would like to give a gift and actually see pictures or something showing that the gift exists and where it goes!

]]> By: andyofne http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-63438 andyofne Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:03:15 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-63438 I only recently saw the video on Youtube but it was heart warming and inspiring. I lived for several years in the Philippines and I saw the benefits of some organizations like the Pearl S. Buck foundation. I actually got to meet some of the little kids on the receiving end of these charitable programs and helped them write their letters to their sponsors so I know that some money does get to the kids and the programs do work, to some extent. I think the fact that there was such a personal involvement makes this story special. If it was just some big foundation driving around dumping cows off randomly it would have lost something. I'm rambling now... I only recently saw the video on Youtube but it was heart warming and inspiring.

I lived for several years in the Philippines and I saw the benefits of some organizations like the Pearl S. Buck foundation. I actually got to meet some of the little kids on the receiving end of these charitable programs and helped them write their letters to their sponsors so I know that some money does get to the kids and the programs do work, to some extent.

I think the fact that there was such a personal involvement makes this story special. If it was just some big foundation driving around dumping cows off randomly it would have lost something.

I’m rambling now…

]]> By: Joanne http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-60632 Joanne Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:41:18 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-60632 It was a hopeful film. Have they gone back to see if they still have the Buffalo. I keep wondering if the bank didn't come and take it away in payment for the money they owe them for the wife's burial. Would just like to know that it actually worked out as hoped. My distrustful nature I guess. Glad I read about Heifer International before I gave them any of my money. I don't have a lot and would hate to think I wasted it on such a slick scheme. I do think that they owe you the truth upfront. I do want to know if the money I give is not actually being used for what I thought I gave it. No matter how well they think they spend it for me otherwise (since they probably feel they know better how to spend it than I do), if they are not spending the money exactly as advertised then it is fraud and wrong. It was a hopeful film. Have they gone back to see if they still have the Buffalo. I keep wondering if the bank didn’t come and take it away in payment for the money they owe them for the wife’s burial. Would just like to know that it actually worked out as hoped. My distrustful nature I guess.

Glad I read about Heifer International before I gave them any of my money. I don’t have a lot and would hate to think I wasted it on such a slick scheme. I do think that they owe you the truth upfront. I do want to know if the money I give is not actually being used for what I thought I gave it. No matter how well they think they spend it for me otherwise (since they probably feel they know better how to spend it than I do), if they are not spending the money exactly as advertised then it is fraud and wrong.

]]> By: Jesscor http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-30479 Jesscor Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:34:56 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-30479 I've actually heard from several different sources that water buffalo are considered to be one of the animals in the world you particularly don't want to tick off. I’ve actually heard from several different sources that water buffalo are considered to be one of the animals in the world you particularly don’t want to tick off.

]]> By: Water Buffalo Movie http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-20586 Water Buffalo Movie Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:00:50 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-20586 The Water Buffalo Movie has it's own website. http://www.waterbuffalomovie.com/ The Water Buffalo Movie has it’s own website. http://www.waterbuffalomovie.com/

]]> By: a fundraiser http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-20484 a fundraiser Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:17:40 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-20484 Robert's video is incredible and reading this exchange between the two of you has been unreal. Thank you both so much for making and sharing this story. If you are reading this Robert... I'm love to know more on your thoughts. Would you do it again? Robert’s video is incredible and reading this exchange between the two of you has been unreal. Thank you both so much for making and sharing this story.

If you are reading this Robert… I’m love to know more on your thoughts. Would you do it again?

]]> By: debbie http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-20373 debbie Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:19:53 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-20373 what a wonderful reminder of the importance - and effeciency - of the few to get large tasks done. While I do support some of the larger organizations providing child support, the recent disasters stateside have brought to the forefront the flexibilty and direct response small groups who decide to go ahead can provide. BTW after the fiasco of some of the books Oprah has backed and their lack of credibility, I don't know that she is the mark of authenticity I would 'bank'on. what a wonderful reminder of the importance – and effeciency – of the few to get large tasks done. While I do support some of the larger organizations providing child support, the recent disasters stateside have brought to the forefront the flexibilty and direct response small groups who decide to go ahead can provide. BTW after the fiasco of some of the books Oprah has backed and their lack of credibility, I don’t know that she is the mark of authenticity I would ‘bank’on.

]]> By: vittoria http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-20284 vittoria Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:25:38 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-20284 I am convinced that if we operated, person-to-person, like Robert Thompson did, more things would get done faster and cheaper. I'm inspired. My problem with charitable organizations is the bureaucracy. It seems to me that they eat up most of the donations. You know someone with a need, do it direct if you can. Take responsibility for your community. I am convinced that if we operated, person-to-person, like Robert Thompson did, more things would get done faster and cheaper. I’m inspired. My problem with charitable organizations is the bureaucracy. It seems to me that they eat up most of the donations. You know someone with a need, do it direct if you can. Take responsibility for your community.

]]> By: Heifer Supporter http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-present/comment-page-1/#comment-20282 Heifer Supporter Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:39:43 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2006/12/26/water-buffalo-worst-possible-christmas-#comment-20282 Winning the Hilton Humanitarian Award in 2005 says enough about the Heifer organization and its legitimacy... http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/press_release_details.asp?id=34 Plus, supported by Oprah (topic of some of her shows)... http://www.oprah.com/uyl/volunteer/famhous/vol_famhous_famassist_04.jhtml Winning the Hilton Humanitarian Award in 2005 says enough about the Heifer organization and its legitimacy…

http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/press_release_details.asp?id=34

Plus, supported by Oprah (topic of some of her shows)…

http://www.oprah.com/uyl/volunteer/famhous/vol_famhous_famassist_04.jhtml

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