Microsoft Helping Fund Anti-Hunting Movement

(C&P)

Microsoft Helping Fund Anti-Hunting Movement


REDMOND, WA-The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA) announced earlier this month that Microsoft Corp. has rejected a request to abandon its partnership with the nation's leading anti-hunting organization.

The USSA is reporting that software giant Microsoft is working with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on a pilot program called the "i'm Initiative." Under the new program, whenever a Microsoft Windows Live Messenger user has a conversation using the new program, Microsoft will give a portion of the program's advertising revenue to one of 10 organizations selected by the user. The HSUS is one of the choices on the list of options, and the USSA says there's no limit to the amount of money that can be donated.

The USSA says it's repeatedly asked Microsoft to end its support of the HSUS, but so far the company has refused. According to Microsoft representative Tara Kriese, Microsoft believes the new program 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 are being asked to contact Microsoft and encourage it to end its financial support of the HSUS. You can contact Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates at: Chairman, Microsoft, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052; phone: (425) 882-8080, fax: (425) 936-7329.

For more on this story, visit www.ussportsmen.org.