A letter from Microsoft

Well today I got a letter from Microsoft in regards to my letter to them about partnering with the Humane Society of the United States. The letter states:

Dear Mr. Paulson,

Thank you for forwarding your concern.

At Microsoft, our mission and values are to help people and organizations throughout the world realize their full potential. With the "i'm" Initiative, our goal is to empower our users to support causes that are most important to them through something they do every day - send instant messages. Consistent with our initiative slogan "It's your voice, it's your choice", people are able to choose from among ten of the most recognized social cause organizations that address issues ranging from poverty, child protection, disease, environmental degradation and animal protection.

We respect and value your opinion, however, we do not plan to make changes to our relationship with our partners. We feel strongly that these organizations provide a range of causes that will appeal to a wide range of passions.

Sincerely,
Microsoft Corporation

This decision by Microsoft should upset the 13 million people 16 years and older who enjoy hunting in the U.S each year. I guess that is not enough people to concern Microsoft.

This only highlights to me how much work we have to do as a community of hunters and wildlife conservationists to get the message out about the kinds of things that are provided in this world by hunters. The millions of acres of land that were protected by the Roberts-Pittman Act, the good work of our conservation organizations worldwide and the great human stories that are provided in the field each and every day between friends and family!

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

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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."

Microsoft Funds Anti-Hunting Movement

Microsoft Funds Anti-Hunting Movement

Sportsmen nationwide called to take action

May 31, 2007 (National)

(Columbus) – Microsoft has rejected a U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance request to abandon its partnership with the nation’s leading anti-hunting organization.

Microsoft, the software giant, will make a $100,000 donation to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and is partnering with the group on a pilot program called the i’m Initiative. Through the new program, whenever a Windows Live Messenger user has a conversation using i’m, Microsoft will give a portion of the program’s advertising revenue to one of ten organizations selected by the user. The HSUS is one of the choices, and there is no limit to the amount of money that can be donated.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the nation’s leading sportsmen’s advocacy organization, has urged Microsoft to end its support of HSUS, but the company refused. According to Microsoft representative Tara Kriese, Microsoft believes the i’m Initiative is “a great way to enable people to help causes that are important to them.”

“Microsoft is going to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars, probably more, into an organization that recently issued a manifesto that targets hunting for extinction,” said USSA President Bud Pidgeon. “If there was ever a time for sportsmen to take grassroots action, this is it.”

Sportsmen should contact Microsoft and demand that its financial support of HSUS be terminated. Contact Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052. Phone: (425) 882-8080. Fax: (425) 936-7329.

The Humane Society of the United States opposes all animal use, including trapping, hunting and fishing. It was a key player in the campaigns to outlaw dove hunting in Michigan, trapping in California, and black bear hunting in Colorado. The organization has created a hit list of hunting traditions that it hopes to dismantle, including bear hunting and hunting with hounds.

“The HSUS already has a multi-million dollar budget that it invests in legislative and ballot campaigns to ban trapping and hunting,” said Pidgeon. “The partnership that it has formed with Microsoft, the maker of the Xbox, will allow the organization to make money hand over fist, and continue to fund efforts to ban outdoor sports.”

Sportsmen can make a difference in an issue like this. Companies such as Iams, General Mills, Accor Hotels, Pet Safe, Sears, and Ace Hardware ended relationships with HSUS after thousands of sportsmen levied strong protest.

In 2002, Jeep raised the ire of sportsmen when it aired a blatantly, anti-hunting commercial called the “Deer Hunter.” After a flood of sportsmen’s contacts, Jeep pulled the commercial in three days.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organization that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.