[LeatherTrumpet]

Get ready for celebs in Africa wringing their hands and asking for money even though we pump millions to all parts of that continent via aid


How do you feel about millionaires asking people in the UK for money for Red Nose day?

[AnnieK]

I will not, and have not for many years, donated to comic relief. Too many children live in poverty, too many charities go un supported, too many hospices have to self fund at a cost of around £16k per day, too much medical research still needed in this country.

[Niamh.]

I think any money raised for any charity is a good thing.

[rubymoo]

We are a topsy turvy world, some of the world have so much (and throw away so much) and some of the world have so little and would treasure what others throw away, i think red nose day is a good cause and anything that promotes independence, reduces poverty, and treats illness has to be a good thing.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I think any money raised for any charity is a good thing.

do you think that the money that they raise and spent on Africa would be better spent tackling issues in the UK and Ireland?

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

do you think that the money that they raise and spent on Africa would be better spent tackling issues in the UK and Ireland?

I think we're all people in this world and the Uk and Ireland don't know poverty like what some of those African countries do As rubymoo says the wealth in this side of the world compared to third world countries is disgusting. Alot of that is probably down to corrupt governments over there but it's still the poorest of the poor who suffer the most because of that

[Livia]

I don't give to Comic Relief. I give to charities sending money abroad after disasters, for instance after the tsunami I gave to the Red Cross and MSF, but I give regularly to charities in the UK. I already contribute to a MASSIVE foreign aid programme through my taxes.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Interesting article here about how giving money to poor people in Africa
(Aid or Comic Relief)

"Recognising that poor countries are poor because they have extractive institutions helps us understand how best to help them. It also casts a different light on the idea of foreign aid. We do not argue for its reduction. Even if a huge amount of aid is siphoned off by the powerful, the cash can still do a lot of good. It can put roofs on schools, lay roads or build wells. Giving money can feed the hungry, and help the sick — but it does not free people from the institutions that make them hungry and sick in the first place.

It doesn’t free them from the system which saps their opportunities and incentives. When aid is given to governments that preside over extractive institutions, it can be at best irrelevant, at worst downright counter-productive. Aid to Angola, for example, is likely to help the president’s daughter rather than the average citizen."

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/...why-aid-fails/


we send around 2.3 Billion to Africa each year in aid

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Interesting article here about how giving money to poor people in Africa
(Aid or Comic Relief)

"Recognising that poor countries are poor because they have extractive institutions helps us understand how best to help them. It also casts a different light on the idea of foreign aid. We do not argue for its reduction. Even if a huge amount of aid is siphoned off by the powerful, the cash can still do a lot of good. It can put roofs on schools, lay roads or build wells. Giving money can feed the hungry, and help the sick — but it does not free people from the institutions that make them hungry and sick in the first place.

It doesn’t free them from the system which saps their opportunities and incentives. When aid is given to governments that preside over extractive institutions, it can be at best irrelevant, at worst downright counter-productive. Aid to Angola, for example, is likely to help the president’s daughter rather than the average citizen."

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/...why-aid-fails/


we send around 2.3 Billion to Africa each year in aid

I do understand that argument, I truly do but I just think that stopping aid from going there is going to result in the poorest of the poor starving to death on the streets because their governments don't give a **** about them

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I do understand that argument, I truly do but I just think that stopping aid from going there is going to result in the poorest of the poor starving to death on the streets because their governments don't give a **** about them

but if we aim to exact change you need to change at the top and not just give to the bottom.

Of course a lot of foreign aid is to help uk companies get contracts

[Josy]

I don't give to comic relief.

Not interested in my money being invested time and time again in shady goings on before it even reaches if it ever does the cause in question.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I do understand that argument, I truly do but I just think that stopping aid from going there is going to result in the poorest of the poor starving to death on the streets because their governments don't give a **** about them

Sounds like you are describing the UK there tbh.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Josy

Sounds like you are describing the UK there tbh.

People in the UK have access to help though alot more so then the poorest people in Africa (unless it's foreign aid workers helping them)

[smudgie]

Stopped giving to them years ago.

Far too much corruption in Africa and enough people in need in this country, I prefer to give to children in need.

[jennyjuniper]

I'm all for giving to charity, so long as the money that goes abroad is used to help people to help themselves. Irrigation and agriculture for example. But just throwing money at a country, where half the time it's the local warlords and despots who pocket the cash, is not a good way to help.

[Jarrod]

I'd rather donate to Children In Need - which I do.

[T*]

when i was younger, I loved it. Mufti day and fun at school, a tv show where there's loads of funny sketches- and everyone wears a red nose!
nowadays, not too much. It's all a bit 'Here's some funny sketches! NOW WATCH A BABY DIE WHILST WE SHOVE A CAMERA IN IT'S FACE' and i'm just a bit like :/

[GiRTh]

Comic Relief is a great cause doing fine work in difficult regions.,

[LeatherTrumpet]

if the celebs are so bothered about africa

drive a small kia and sell their range rovers, dont go to dubai this year, sell their house and buy a small flat?

use a old school nokia and a dell laptop and not apple

there is so much they can do save going to africa which costs them zero pounds

[Vicky.]

I would never donate to something like comic relief, mainly as I don't believe it helps. I suspect a huge chunk of it goes to the corrupt governments of countries like this...who oddly enough arent struggling and have gold ****ing toilets and stuff, while their people starve to death in the scorching sun. Its sick really.

I used to send shoeboxes with toys and stuff at xmas, until I found out that the company I was donating via were looking through the boxes for things of value and just sending the junk Now I am a skintflint when it comes to charity stuff now tbh. Also the endless stream of people knocking on my door or chasing me up the street when I am out trying to guilt trip me into setting direct debits up is shocking, I am immune to all the stuff they say now.

[Jamesy]

I don't bother with Comic Relief since it never seems to help, given the billions of pounds the UK gives each year there would have been noticeable improvements by now. Obviously the money doesn't go where we're told it goes.

I only donate to charities I feel need it. Diabetes UK is probably the only charity I donate to and that's only because I volunteered there and saw how very little charity money they get (and struggle) compared to other big UK charities.

When it comes to celebs I don't mind them asking us at home to donate if they themselves donate and help. Although most of them get paid to go to Africa, visit for 1 hour and say how it 'touched' and 'changed' them, donate nothing and then get paid more to speak in front of a camera in a studio for the show, all so they just appear like a kind hearted person. I do wonder if there are any genuine celebs on these charity events that do care. Probably not, but that's showbiz for you.

[mizzy25]

I rarely watch it let alone donate to it.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Get ready for celebs in Africa wringing their hands and asking for money even though we pump millions to all parts of that continent via aid


How do you feel about millionaires asking people in the UK for money for Red Nose day?

I am really moved by this photo of Olly Murrs and those poor men and I shall donate even more now.

They obviously are poor as church mice. I mean, what kind of fancy dress costumes are those? They're not wearing any type of Pirate clothes except the eyepatches and even those are not the right colour.

I will send money, might pay for a skull and crossbones hat or a plastic cutlass or two. Everyone has the right to dress up at least once in their lives.