Off-topic - on the subject of giving love at Christmas to those who have very little.

[Guest guest]

Hi group,

I wanted to do something this Christmas for people in need.

I just made some micro-loans ($25) to people in the developing world using a new

website called

Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who

needs a loan for

their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making

bricks. Each loan has a

picture of the person, a description of their business and how they plan to use

the loan so you

know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you

know how they are

going.

When they pay back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are

managed by

microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this.

It's easy to do something about poverty this way - using Kiva I know exactly who

my money is

loaned to and what they're using it for. And I know that I'm helping them build

a

sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate

their family long

after my loan is paid back.

I hope some of you will join me in changing the world - one loan at a time. My

first loans were

repaid within six months so I have now reloaned the money to others at Kiva.

Thanks - and I hope you and your families have a blessed Christmas and New Year.

Chris.