Philippines

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Does anyone else feel less than charitable towards a country that eats dogs? Please discuss.

[MPR]

Im less and less charitable with countries that know a disaster might be on the way and fail to prepare for it

[odds]

In todays economic climate I would be against giving any form of monetary aid to other countries, especially when there are people in this country struggling so much. If they need help then fine, supply them with manpower to assist in rebuilding etc.

Pete.

[Hume]

Odds, if you disagree with giving aid that's fine but don't use the struggle of people in the UK as a reason. If there was not an ever increasing gap between the well off and less well off there would be a lot less people struggling and room for giving aid at the same time.

[odds]

Odds, if you disagree with giving aid that's fine but don't use the struggle of people in the UK as a reason.

It's a good enough reason for me.

If there was not an ever increasing gap between the well off and less well off there would be a lot less people struggling and room for giving aid at the same time.

So you're saying if there weren't so many people struggling financially it would be alright to give aid then.
Hmm, I'm sure someone has said that lately ........ I wonder where I read that recently.

Found it !!

especially when there are people in this country struggling so much.

Pete.

[Hume]

odds, I've constructed a response twice now and lost it when hitting submit - will do it later.

[Hume]

So you're saying if there weren't so many people struggling financially it would be alright to give aid then.

No, that's not what I was saying. I don’t believe the UK’s failings on equality should be used as a reason not to give aid. If there was a fairer distribution of wealth in the UK then there could be a situation where there are a lot less people struggling AND give aid at the same time. I was making the point that if there was not such an increasing gap between the wealthy and less well off then there would be no need for you to use a phrase, relative to the giving of aid, like

especially when there are people in this country struggling so much.

However, I think I am right in saying you disagree with giving aid no matter whether people in the UK are struggling or not?

[gray_marian]

I don't have an issue with the Government sending money to where it's needed in times of a disaster but I disagree with it going to the likes of India, Africa etc whose Governments then appear to misuse it. Would much prefer if there was a cap on said donations to these countries in particular.

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Spot on!

[lochend]

Saw an interesting article, this am, about Expat. Phillipino's working in New Zealand.They have organised a collection to send money home to help their suffering countrymen.It appears they are insisting that the money be chanelled through the world wide aid agencies rather than those located in the Phillipines.They are more aware than perhaps we are, of the graft and corruption endemic in their own country and want as much money as possible to get to the people in need.This is the suspicion I have for most of the domestic charities as well.After the expensive and distressing adverts on the television and the administrators fat salaries have been accounted for,how many pence in the donated pound actually gets to where it could do some good? Call me cynical!

[katya]

This is quite an interesting debate - and I can see both sides of it. However, I have just got back from a holiday in Rio De Janeiro and saw a man in the street across from the biggest favela wearing a bin bag for a top and a cloth sack for pants (he was not begging btw). I also witnessed a man having a heart attack in the street, and being revived by a bystander in the time it would have taken for him to be treated by an ambulance in this country. I can't imagine the amount of time it takes for the emergency services to get through, if the flashing lights and sirens come behind most drivers, they are totally ignored. On the whole, I think we are extremely fortunate.

[Bertie]

Does anyone else feel less than charitable towards a country that eats dogs?

A novel approach to aid distribution. Before we help you please tell me what you had for dinner

Im less and less charitable with countries that know a disaster might be on the way and fail to prepare for it

I'm interested to hear your suggestions on what preparations this third world country could have made to prepare for the highest winds ever recorded

[gray_marian]

Does anyone think that the Vatican should send a donation?

[bill]

Does anyone think that the Vatican should send a donation?

What makes you think that they haven't ? A lot of good is done without the need of publicity.


I think the original question of this thread is too idiotic to be deserving of a reply.

[gray_marian]

For anyone who is interested....and I am, all I could find re donation from the Vatican to the Phillipines is 3 million euros. That was 10 days ago, so I stand to be corrected on this. UK Government around £53million, Japan £31m, Australia £17m, U.S. £12.4m, European Com. £6.8m, U.A.E. £6.2m, South Korea £3.1m and China £1.2m Obviously this does not cover ongoing donations from joe public on a private basis or from Church collections from all denominations around the world.
Does anyone have a view on this?