In Britain, charity goats are the Christmas rage

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2005

LONDON (AFP) — The humble goat is stepping out of the nativity scene into the forefront of ethical Christmas gift-giving in Britain this year, with villagers in the poorest parts of Africa reaping the benefits.

Just by going online, holiday shoppers can buy a goat for as little as 24 pounds from a growing number of charities as a novel Yuletide present with a poverty-fighting purpose.

"We are currently running at 55,000 goats this year, which is pretty staggering when you think about it, compared with 30,000 in 2004," said spokesman Phil Bloomfield of Oxfam, one of Britain's biggest aid organisations.

It's not just goats, either. Oxfam has sold 9,500 donkeys at 50 pounds each through its high-street retail shops and its Oxfam Unwrapped website, which also...