Hunters Criticize Microsoft
Microsoft... What the hell are you doing? Think about it.. 10 plus percent of Americans go hunting. Over 50% of our society believes in allowing hunting and yet you are choosing to support an organization that is clearly against hunting. I am appalled at your actions Microsoft. I am all for corporate giving, corporate responsibility but the reality is that the Human Society of the United States is against hunting! I urge every one of you to contact Microsoft and let them know how displeased you are.
Then contact the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and find out how you can help. We absolutely need companies to understand that supporting organizations that do not support hunting and wildlife conservation are not wise decisions.
We live in a world where anti-hunting groups have the money and the power to hurt hunting, conservation and the wildlife we live to pursue... Each one of you has power... CHOOSE TO USE IT TO PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE!!!!!!!! DO SOMETHING!!!!
North Dakota hunters criticize Microsoft
FARGO, N.D. -- Some North Dakota outdoorsmen say Microsoft Corp. is linking one of its new programs with an anti-hunting organization, and they are not pleased.
The Humane Society of the United States is one of 10 organizations that will receive donations from the software giant through its "i'm" initiative launched in March. Computer users who join the program are asked to select a cause-related organization to benefit from donations generated from their conversations on Windows Live Messenger.
Microsoft, sharing a portion of the program's advertising revenue, will make a minimum $100,000 donation to each of the 10 organizations during the first year of the program.
The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance already has asked Microsoft to abandon its affiliation with the Humane Society, the nation's largest animal protection organization.
Chris Hustad, owner of Nodak Outdoors, an online hunting and fishing magazine, and Mark Mazaheri, an avid outdoorsman from Fargo, now are encouraging North Dakota outdoorsmen to voice their disapproval with Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash., and the company's campus in Fargo.
"We would like to make Microsoft aware that we do not support their endorsement for this particular cause," Mazaheri said.
Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos said the company plans to continue working with the all the organizations that are part of its "i'm" initiative. "We are excited about partnering with these dedicated causes and do not plan to make changes to our relationships," he told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Michael Markarina, executive vice president of The Humane Society, said the organization does oppose trapping but that the only hunting the group objects to is unsporting types such as canned hunts inside fences. He said the society has no position on fishing.
"We have 10 million members, and you don't build that type of support unless you have a mainstream mission," Markarina said.
"We believe many sportsmen agree with our position," he said. "We believe we are representing beliefs that most Americans share."
