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Flanders wrote:
> Tonight thank God it's them instead of you.
---
That line has always made me feel uncomfortable.
"Good job it's them and not you! Phew eh?". Struck me as insensitive and gloating.
Especially seeing as Bono "Have a look at my 3 houses" Vox sang it
> Tonight thank God it's them instead of you.
---
That line has always made me feel uncomfortable.
"Good job it's them and not you! Phew eh?". Struck me as insensitive and gloating.
Especially seeing as Bono "Have a look at my 3 houses" Vox sang it
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I agree with everything that's been said, but I thought I'd add something from my own experience.
The first time I heard about the Export Credit Guarantee was on the Mark Thomas show. One of the projects we ended up paying for was a 5 star hotel in Ghana. The weird thing was that I'd been there while I was researching my dissertation. I didn't stay in it, but I got to know someone who was and so I visited a couple of times. Very nice it was, too. As far as I can tell it did nothing for ordinary Ghanians, but plenty for fat tourists who only left the hotel in an armored van. And this cost us millions of pounds.
I also spent quite a lot of time in hospital. I was perfectly healthy, but various other people I was with were bitten by cats, snakes and scorpions, or caught malaria. Idiots. Anyway, I became friends with one of the doctors there, who had set up a diabetes clinic on his own. This guy slept in his own office, was paid a pittance and still managed to do something for people less fortunate than himself. Part of it was funded by a charity and part of it had come from his own pocket - the total was something like £1000. That's the equivalent of everyone on my street giving £1, and really making a difference. If the government hadn't squandered millions on a luxury hotel then it could have funded thousands of those clinics.
Quite honestly, it makes me mad as all hell.
The first time I heard about the Export Credit Guarantee was on the Mark Thomas show. One of the projects we ended up paying for was a 5 star hotel in Ghana. The weird thing was that I'd been there while I was researching my dissertation. I didn't stay in it, but I got to know someone who was and so I visited a couple of times. Very nice it was, too. As far as I can tell it did nothing for ordinary Ghanians, but plenty for fat tourists who only left the hotel in an armored van. And this cost us millions of pounds.
I also spent quite a lot of time in hospital. I was perfectly healthy, but various other people I was with were bitten by cats, snakes and scorpions, or caught malaria. Idiots. Anyway, I became friends with one of the doctors there, who had set up a diabetes clinic on his own. This guy slept in his own office, was paid a pittance and still managed to do something for people less fortunate than himself. Part of it was funded by a charity and part of it had come from his own pocket - the total was something like £1000. That's the equivalent of everyone on my street giving £1, and really making a difference. If the government hadn't squandered millions on a luxury hotel then it could have funded thousands of those clinics.
Quite honestly, it makes me mad as all hell.
Goatboy wrote:
> Dont apologise Flanders.
>
> I agree 100% with your feelings, I just get angry that it seems to be
> only at Xmas people stop to notice that there are others struggling.
> If they did it all year round,extended the same compassion and
> sympathy, then maybe we'd experience something approaching heaven
> whilst already on this planet instead of waiting for a reward in the
> afterlife.
>
> But hey, I'm a dreamer
Totally agree.
But going back to the original post - that's part of the reason that I thought I would post it when I was coming in this morning and heard the song on the radio.
We all get so wrapped up with making sure we have a great time at Christmas and bury all the bad stuff that goes on even further away than it normally is. Just thought I'd be a bit thought provoking.
> Dont apologise Flanders.
>
> I agree 100% with your feelings, I just get angry that it seems to be
> only at Xmas people stop to notice that there are others struggling.
> If they did it all year round,extended the same compassion and
> sympathy, then maybe we'd experience something approaching heaven
> whilst already on this planet instead of waiting for a reward in the
> afterlife.
>
> But hey, I'm a dreamer
Totally agree.
But going back to the original post - that's part of the reason that I thought I would post it when I was coming in this morning and heard the song on the radio.
We all get so wrapped up with making sure we have a great time at Christmas and bury all the bad stuff that goes on even further away than it normally is. Just thought I'd be a bit thought provoking.
The funny thing is, the governments of these countries don't always help their peopl. In fact rarely they do. They spend the money they have on tourists who bring in more money, so they can repay the debt faster. Their own people have no money to give back.
Kenya is a good example - you could go there and see a hotel, beautiful, fully fitted decorated, etc, and just a few miles away a small child has to walk miles and miles for water. Even walking past the large pipe taking water to the hotel. The girl has to carry teh water on her head - you've all seen it - and will rpoabbly be deformed as an adult. Plus the water she gets is from an animal waterhole - dirty brown stuff that we would never dream of drinking, and full of dangerous bacteria. And her family have to drink and wash in this stuff.
Kenya is a good example - you could go there and see a hotel, beautiful, fully fitted decorated, etc, and just a few miles away a small child has to walk miles and miles for water. Even walking past the large pipe taking water to the hotel. The girl has to carry teh water on her head - you've all seen it - and will rpoabbly be deformed as an adult. Plus the water she gets is from an animal waterhole - dirty brown stuff that we would never dream of drinking, and full of dangerous bacteria. And her family have to drink and wash in this stuff.
Apparently the orignal debts have been paid off loads of time but the interest has cripled them.
Raising £15 million for Comic Relief has jack all effect but it makes everybody feel better
Raising £15 million for Comic Relief has jack all effect but it makes everybody feel better
Goatboy wrote:
> I agree 100% with your feelings, I just get angry that it seems to be
> only at Xmas people stop to notice that there are others struggling.
> If they did it all year round,extended the same compassion and
> sympathy, then maybe we'd experience something approaching heaven
> whilst already on this planet instead of waiting for a reward in the
> afterlife.
Couldn't have summed it up better myself. Most people like to think that they care about the third world's struggle, but if we're honest with ourselves, we don't. If we really cared, we would never buy anything frivolous with our money, such as games, but instead send it to charities, or for those old enough get out there and do something ourselves.
It's really come to something when people on one half of the globe are starving and the people on the other half have stockpiles of food and enough money to cancel the third world debt several times over.
> I agree 100% with your feelings, I just get angry that it seems to be
> only at Xmas people stop to notice that there are others struggling.
> If they did it all year round,extended the same compassion and
> sympathy, then maybe we'd experience something approaching heaven
> whilst already on this planet instead of waiting for a reward in the
> afterlife.
Couldn't have summed it up better myself. Most people like to think that they care about the third world's struggle, but if we're honest with ourselves, we don't. If we really cared, we would never buy anything frivolous with our money, such as games, but instead send it to charities, or for those old enough get out there and do something ourselves.
It's really come to something when people on one half of the globe are starving and the people on the other half have stockpiles of food and enough money to cancel the third world debt several times over.
Dont apologise Flanders.
I agree 100% with your feelings, I just get angry that it seems to be only at Xmas people stop to notice that there are others struggling.
If they did it all year round,extended the same compassion and sympathy, then maybe we'd experience something approaching heaven whilst already on this planet instead of waiting for a reward in the afterlife.
But hey, I'm a dreamer
I agree 100% with your feelings, I just get angry that it seems to be only at Xmas people stop to notice that there are others struggling.
If they did it all year round,extended the same compassion and sympathy, then maybe we'd experience something approaching heaven whilst already on this planet instead of waiting for a reward in the afterlife.
But hey, I'm a dreamer
Crikeys Goaty - you'll have Belldandy in here carrying on like that..
Sorry if my original post got you all worked up and that but good to get all this stuff out sometimes - and I do agree with alot of what you have put in there. Expanded on the original post nicely.
I suppose what it all boils down to is drawing attention to what actually is going on around us while we sit there nice and comfortably stuffing the fourth mince pie in and watching the bloody trotters again.
Sorry if my original post got you all worked up and that but good to get all this stuff out sometimes - and I do agree with alot of what you have put in there. Expanded on the original post nicely.
I suppose what it all boils down to is drawing attention to what actually is going on around us while we sit there nice and comfortably stuffing the fourth mince pie in and watching the bloody trotters again.
What I do resent is this whole false-compassion at Xmas.
What's wrong with the rest of the year? Suddenly when December rolls around, everyone develops misty-eyed concern for those less fortunate?
You either care for people all year round or at least have the balls to say "Nope, I couldn't give a damn".
I get literally furious when I see commercials on television for the NSPCC begging for money.
How the #### is that right? An organisation that protects children from abuse is a charity? It relies on handouts from you and me? When the government announces a £2 billion spend on road widening? How do these people sleep at night? Where are their souls to be able to put that money into making a car journey easier when dozens of kids every single minute of the day are cowering in fear?
Christ I'm sitting here in a rage...sorry.
I find it repugnant in every way that children's lives are placed behind saving 30 mins off a car journey. But it's the same with all groups that try to help others.
Be it Shelter - an organisation that helps the homeless because they're not all feckless job dodgers - or The Cancer Research Group...it seems if you want to help people, actually make a difference to the world then you get zero assistance.
But you want to sell weapons to countries? Hell, you dont even have to pay the bill. You can write it off as a loss and we the taxpayer have to foot the bill.
As well as providing massive amounts of tax-money in subsidy, the UK tax-payer also has to fund something called the " Export Credit Guarantee Scheme".
In case you are unaware of this ( as I was), I shall explain this delightful little piece of legislate to you.
What it means is, should a country default on it's payment to a UK company for the purchase of arms and associated items - Then the tax-payer will also pick up the bill for the remaining amount outstanding on the bill.
Nice huh? I thought so. Imagine that,a dictator regime that imprisons, tortures and kills it's own people buys 2,000 tanks, 15,000 landmines and a few thousand hand-grenades, can't pay the rest of the bill and the British Public pick up the rest of the bill.
Lovely. So as well as providing One Billion pounds PER YEAR to help these companies make this stuff, they also get to foot the bill for anything left over if the buyer can't afford it anymore.
A Document "provided" by the DTI ( A UK Gov org that monitors business) gives the following information about what was paid by the public in 1998 ALONE:
Jordan - £214.4 million
Kenya - £27.3 million
Egypt - £52.5 million
Algeria - £97.3 million
Yet despite us doing this, children's lives are reliant on you feeling guilty because you have some presents?
Stuff your false sympathy up your ######## pipe mate.
*calm breath*
We should not be trying to buy absolution for a 20p thrown into a collection can.
If you have done nothing at all this year but suddenly lecture other people on being "charitable to your fellow man" then you're a fraud.
At least have the integrity to say "You know what, I couldnt give a monkeys"
I'll respect you a lot more.
----
"you" refers to general, nobody specific here.
I'm angry and going for a fag.
What's wrong with the rest of the year? Suddenly when December rolls around, everyone develops misty-eyed concern for those less fortunate?
You either care for people all year round or at least have the balls to say "Nope, I couldn't give a damn".
I get literally furious when I see commercials on television for the NSPCC begging for money.
How the #### is that right? An organisation that protects children from abuse is a charity? It relies on handouts from you and me? When the government announces a £2 billion spend on road widening? How do these people sleep at night? Where are their souls to be able to put that money into making a car journey easier when dozens of kids every single minute of the day are cowering in fear?
Christ I'm sitting here in a rage...sorry.
I find it repugnant in every way that children's lives are placed behind saving 30 mins off a car journey. But it's the same with all groups that try to help others.
Be it Shelter - an organisation that helps the homeless because they're not all feckless job dodgers - or The Cancer Research Group...it seems if you want to help people, actually make a difference to the world then you get zero assistance.
But you want to sell weapons to countries? Hell, you dont even have to pay the bill. You can write it off as a loss and we the taxpayer have to foot the bill.
As well as providing massive amounts of tax-money in subsidy, the UK tax-payer also has to fund something called the " Export Credit Guarantee Scheme".
In case you are unaware of this ( as I was), I shall explain this delightful little piece of legislate to you.
What it means is, should a country default on it's payment to a UK company for the purchase of arms and associated items - Then the tax-payer will also pick up the bill for the remaining amount outstanding on the bill.
Nice huh? I thought so. Imagine that,a dictator regime that imprisons, tortures and kills it's own people buys 2,000 tanks, 15,000 landmines and a few thousand hand-grenades, can't pay the rest of the bill and the British Public pick up the rest of the bill.
Lovely. So as well as providing One Billion pounds PER YEAR to help these companies make this stuff, they also get to foot the bill for anything left over if the buyer can't afford it anymore.
A Document "provided" by the DTI ( A UK Gov org that monitors business) gives the following information about what was paid by the public in 1998 ALONE:
Jordan - £214.4 million
Kenya - £27.3 million
Egypt - £52.5 million
Algeria - £97.3 million
Yet despite us doing this, children's lives are reliant on you feeling guilty because you have some presents?
Stuff your false sympathy up your ######## pipe mate.
*calm breath*
We should not be trying to buy absolution for a 20p thrown into a collection can.
If you have done nothing at all this year but suddenly lecture other people on being "charitable to your fellow man" then you're a fraud.
At least have the integrity to say "You know what, I couldnt give a monkeys"
I'll respect you a lot more.
----
"you" refers to general, nobody specific here.
I'm angry and going for a fag.
It becomes like an addiction to some people.
The more you have the more you want, and you dont want to let any of it get away.
"It's easier to thread a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven"
The more you have the more you want, and you dont want to let any of it get away.
"It's easier to thread a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven"
A bit off-topic, but my Dad was talking about this last night.
He used to go round our town for Christian Aid, picking up the little plastic envelopes which are delivered to our houses a week or so before. He used to get a lot of money from the poorer parts of town, and they were all friendly towards him etc.
Then he went down Norsey Road, which is a long stretch that is full of some of the biggest houses I've ever seen, some who live down there are multi-millionaries apparently. And half the time, the response he had was:
"We don't give to charity." And the door was slammed in his face.
I don't understand people like that...I hope that I will give some money to charity when I'm older, especially if I'm that well off, but people like that confuse me. They don't HAVE to spend it all, surely?
He used to go round our town for Christian Aid, picking up the little plastic envelopes which are delivered to our houses a week or so before. He used to get a lot of money from the poorer parts of town, and they were all friendly towards him etc.
Then he went down Norsey Road, which is a long stretch that is full of some of the biggest houses I've ever seen, some who live down there are multi-millionaries apparently. And half the time, the response he had was:
"We don't give to charity." And the door was slammed in his face.
I don't understand people like that...I hope that I will give some money to charity when I'm older, especially if I'm that well off, but people like that confuse me. They don't HAVE to spend it all, surely?
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