General Discussion
How fast the headlines for money and help for refugees in this war zone however
deserved it is needed.
How slow and dithering by government and it's supporting agencies to help the
people affected by the floods in Somerset.
Maybe our Somerset neighbours disaster won't get the international headlines our
glorious leaders would like.
@Paul they have been killing each other in that area since time began thats what they do there will never be peace in the area i noticed the comment by a Tory MP only let Christian Syrians come to the uk.
I look at the flooding in Somerset and my heart goes out to those people who have suffered so much, it so easy to say "its a bit of flooding" a lot have lost posessions and livestock. Insurance will not cover it. I agree with leatash if these middle eastern countries want to fight each other it should not be our concern, none of them are worried about our hardships. KEEP CHARITY IN OUR SHORES, put up the barricades and become a secure island again
I agree with Paul – and yes while it is terrible to suffer flooding (I have done so myself in the past) it is “only flooding”, not mass murder, torture and rape – and do you honestly think everyone in Syria are always “killing each other”?!! – if that were the case, then they wouldn’t be fleeing would they. As with most wars, it’s a handful of extremists/warmongers initiating, and millions of innocents who get caught up in it. Now back to this country- The Somerset levels are by their very nature designed to flood, it’s only relatively recently people began draining them with man-made ditches and rivers so they could live there, these people should hardly be surprised if it floods. And what’s more -dredging rivers would only move the problem elsewhere, most likely the downstream places such as Taunton and Bridgwater where many more people live. Finally, yes ok you could agree that charity should begin at home, but I don’t think comparing the flooding of a few villages that are in a flood-prone location, with what’s going on in Syria, or even in some other parts of this country (if you want charity to start at home) – for instance how about the thousands of people who can’t afford to feed themselves or that sleep rough in this country, the children in poverty (and not just “can’t afford a tv”), the extreme poverty in many parts of Africa (which we one controlled, exploited, robbed of resources then left….)I could go on.
Definition of charity - the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.
Charity begins at home - what a sad and pathetic statement.
Several people on this forum are always on about the need for social housing, pay rises and benefits.
I'm just glad most people aren't so self-centred.
@Chris and paul the answer to the syria problem is very simple let the israeli forces loose to deal with it i spent some time with the israeli army they would relish the opportunity to sort it out and are more than capable and it wouldnt cost us a penny.
Sorry paul I dont give a toss, only interested in the vunerable people in this Country. You make a big deal about your money going to benefits in this Country but are quite happy for £600 million to be given to Syria. If it wasnt for the media nowadays shoving it in your face you would be living in blissful ignorance. When these disasters like famine happen I look at that in a different light. Remember Governments get involved because its usually to do with oil or arms
I agree charity starts at home. Why does our governement continue to throw hundreds of millions of hard working citizens taxes away on any situation other than our own. If the U.K. was over flowing with money I wouldn't have an issue with it. The U.K. is falling apart and all the government is thinking about is photo opportunities and getting back into power at the next general election.
Charity begins at home. THE AIR AMBULANCE, R.N.L.I ,BARNADOS, SHELTER, GREAT ORMAND STREET there are loads more give generously CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.
Just Some countries that the UK tax payer funds through the DFID Department for International Development, the budget for 2014 will be £11.9bn in 2014.
Examples of money for each country
ISLAMIC STATE OF PAKISTAN .Budget £284.74m Pakistan has a space program and is run by the ISI supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan, so funding for killing British soldiers
SOMALIA. Budget £92m. This is a country with no stable government and the £92m goes to the DFID office based at the British Embassy based in Mogadishu
UGANDA. Total Project Budget for 2013/2014 £101,506,079 According to the U.S. State Department's 2012 Human Rights Report on Uganda, "The World Bank's most recent Worldwide Governance Indicators reflected corruption was a severe problem" and that "the country annually loses 768.9 billion shillings ($286 million) to corruption.
• There are many more examples of DUBIOUS funding. All the time we have food kitchens operating in the UK and British children living in poverty.
Nearly 4 million children are living in poverty in the UK (after housing costs).The proportion of children living in poverty grew from 1 in 10 in 1979 to 1 in 3 in 1998. Today, 30 per cent of children in Britain are living in poverty. The UK has one of the worst rates of child poverty in the industrialised world
(Figures from DFID and end child poverty website)
Can someone please explain this please? This was copied and pasted from somebody
What several of you are saying, is charity begins at home and there it stops.
Unbelievable!
We all have so much in this country, you didn't earn a place in this land of plenty, you were just born here. We have nice warm houses, computers, cars, mobile phones, TVs, etc. There are many millions of people around the world that don't have any food. Can't even afford a sandwich.
It is absolutely right to give to the poor in other countries.
Compassion, what a joke.
what about the people in this Country that have to rely on foodbanks, homeless relying on homeless shelters for a square meal. No Paul I have compassion to my own people in my Country BUCK STOPS THERE, after all your always banging on about how this Country is in debt so how can you support giving all that money in aid, either you are stupid or a stirrer https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=660961730616951&set=a.588946331151825.1073741831.531597106886748&type=1&theater
Just a bit of flooding Bloody unbelievable
Syria is a so called leader killing his own people as they do and
rule total destruction.Assad and his family will end up getting
asylum here and live in the stockbroker belt.
Somerset is nature taking its course with agencies that have neglected
to look after the countryside.
And if it was just a bit of flooding in Bangladesh India Pakistan you would be putting your hand in your pocket thats what makes no sense.
How about we donate the flood water to drought ridden Africa another global problem that has been going on since time began and that the people there do nothing about only have more kids and sit around waiting for handouts.
Like the Army chap on last nights news with water over his boots looking around scratching his head. Like what am I supposed to do about this. He was probably looking for the plug chain to hook on the back of his Land Rover
And thats the most important one of all it shows how easy it is to forget our our home grown charaties.
Yep I can't stand the tax payers money going on people who choose not to work. As for aid for people being persecuted, we should do as much as we can.
@ EP
Having had a personal experience in Angola many years ago ill answer that question. The money gets intercepted by corrupt governments and is used to buy weapons and independant outside assistance, which in turn are used to keep the countries people surpressed and starving.
Roberta is right we need to keep out of their affairs stop supporting the activities of all sides involved and look after our own borders and peoples. Quite simply because one day it will all backfire and the people we think we have helped will be the ones who try to destroy this country because they know nothing else only conflict
Hi from Hayling Island.
We have a little flooding here, not as much as you guys, but still traumatic for those affected.
Forget Syria for the moment, ask why we are sending aid to Argentina? £7 million last year and millions both to India and China, both of whom launched space rockets last year!!
The very best of luck to you all and I hope you recover pdq.
Pete.
It deeply saddens and quite frankly disgusts me that people are using this forum to discuss their archaic opinions that human lives can be valued based on the geographic location that a person lives in. I came on here to see what support was been offered to the people effected by the storm and how to help, not read some ignorant view about charity.
Violet It saddens me when folk like yourself make comments without any real proof that human lives can be valued based on there geographic location. So i presume you have spent some time living working in the middle east i remember seing a 11 year old shouting abuse at Isreali security forces before blowing himself to bits and i have witnessed worse than that. Life is cheap in some parts of the world and thats a fact.
Chris Its not right but thats how it is always has been and probably will always be that way.