Comic Relief Options

[Svein]

I'll be watching...

[Simsydav]

I dislike Comic Relief allot.

Although, yes, it is good to give money to those worse off. But, the problem is, is that almost everyone after the Comic Relief stuff is over, and off of the telly, people go back to their normal selfish self, saying they care about the starving and the poor people, and then going to Mcdonalds.

Its the same with the Tsunami appeal. 2005 was supposed to be the year, set aside for the ending of debts in Africa, in which millions of people are in poverty, and die every single year as a result. Because of the Tsunami, and because of everyone giving money to the Tsunami appeal, Africa will yet again suffer the concsequences. People only seem to react by giving, when there is a catastrophe, or a natural disaster (Tsunami, 9/11 etc.), and the people of Africa are having a life struggle, all the time.

Im not saying dont give money to the Tsunami Apeal, just, dont forget Africa. Yes, I realise that Comic Relief is for the people of Africa, but, the amount raised every year is miniscule when compared with what Comic Relief raises.

I hate it how two faced people are. Yes, give money and things to good causes, that are on the TV, just dont forget them afterwards, and most importantly, dont forget those that are always suffering. Its all very well supporting the people of Africa while Comic Relief is on, but then, a week later, when the TV coverage is gone, dont forget them, they are still suffering.

Poverty is not like a cold, like suffering for a week or two, and then getting better. It is like an almost incurable disease. And the only way to cure it, is by getting wrid of personal greed, and Capitalism, and, whats easier, by helping all the time.

Its like a diet, for the time that you are on the diet, you loose weight. But, afterwards, and you go back to your natural eating habits, you put the weight on again. Poverty requires more than simply a months worth of donations to be cured, it needs years of work.

Dont forget them, as so is often done, after all the fuss has gone.

[Starscream`s Gho...]

I realise that Comic Relief is for the people of Africa

Wrong, and a very common misconception, and part of the reason I don`t particularly like Comic Relief.

Yes, a lot of the money goes to Africa, but that`s not all, it`s supposed to go to UK-based charities too, which it does, and does a lot of good work too. But everytime they advertise on the telly on the run-up to CR, they always show starving African kids, or African kids with AIDS. That to me is playing with people`s emotions, and I don`t like it. It says a lot about the attitude of the West these days when we get more worked up about problems thousands of miles away, and couldn`t care less about homelessness or poverty just outside in the street.

It also highlights a deeper problem I have, that of the West being made to feel "guilty" or "responsible". Too many times these days do we hear that we have to give money because we should feel "responsible" because we have so much, and other countries have so little. Why? Because I`ve been born in the "4th richest country" (which I don`t believe for a second, poverty is rife in the UK) I should give my money to other countries? I think not, especially when there`s so much in this country that needs sorting.

Besides, it smacks too much of being the "World`s Policeman" again, and I don`t like that feeling that everytime there`s trouble in the world, Britain will come running. Surely the US and Europe should stick their necks out once in a while too, but you never seem to hear much about it.

Anyway, rant over. My point is this:

Give to charity if you wish to. If not, never let anyone guilt trip you into it.

[toasted rayman spawn]

Wrong, and a very common misconception, and part of the reason I don`t particularly like Comic Relief.

Yes, a lot of the money goes to Africa, but that`s not all, it`s supposed to go to UK-based charities too, which it does, and does a lot of good work too. But everytime they advertise on the telly on the run-up to CR, they always show starving African kids, or African kids with AIDS. That to me is playing with people`s emotions, and I don`t like it. It says a lot about the attitude of the West these days when we get more worked up about problems thousands of miles away, and couldn`t care less about homelessness or poverty just outside in the street.

It also highlights a deeper problem I have, that of the West being made to feel "guilty" or "responsible". Too many times these days do we hear that we have to give money because we should feel "responsible" because we have so much, and other countries have so little. Why? Because I`ve been born in the "4th richest country" (which I don`t believe for a second, poverty is rife in the UK) I should give my money to other countries? I think not, especially when there`s so much in this country that needs sorting.

Besides, it smacks too much of being the "World`s Policeman" again, and I don`t like that feeling that everytime there`s trouble in the world, Britain will come running. Surely the US and Europe should stick their necks out once in a while too, but you never seem to hear much about it.

Anyway, rant over. My point is this:

Give to charity if you wish to. If not, never let anyone guilt trip you into it.

Of course you don't hear much about fundraising in other countries, you live in the uk. Last time i checked i don't think the uk were 1st place in the table of those that give aid to other countries. You are right for the wrong reasons. A lot of problems in the third world were *created* by british imperialism, so thats we (namely the british government and whoever else is responsible)should put our hands in our pockets... however the responsibilty shouldn't lie with those of us who have hardly any money to begin with. I work for the minimum wage, but i'll give what i can to any charity, at home or abroad, whenever i have the opportunity- because i know the situation won't change anytime soon so if i can help at least one person today, i'm pretty happy with that... no matter what side of the globe that person is on.

[Starscream`s Gho...]

A lot of problems in the third world were *created* by british imperialism, so thats we (namely the british government and whoever else is responsible)should put our hands in our pockets...

Why? As I`ve said before, this was *our* (my family is Irish, so we were fucked over by the Brits too) ancestors who did this, so why should we feel responsible? True, I have nothing against any sort of charity (apart from the aforementioned religious charity) but I hate the attitude that "You have to give because <insert Western country here> is so rich."

That being said, it`s good to see that they`re mentioning the G8 summit, because only things like fairer trade and cancellation of debt will truly help the third world, all aid does is exacerbate (that means make to make things worse ) already bad situations.

[Simsydav]

....my view is that I didn't know the British caused AIDS or created the guerrila wars and dictators taht've plagued Africa..but then I'm pretty stupid.

Well, actually, it is the fault of many western nations, when we gave the countries independence, thats where most of the problems come from.

We made the borders along our own borders, of which had been conquered by the original nation (UK, France, Holland etc), thus meaning, that ancient tribal borders were being ignored, and tribes were spread out in different countries, and split up.

This is the same as what happend in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. We ignored the ancient borders, and set it up ourselves, not listening to the people. This is one of the major contributors to the Pakistani-Indian war, and now, agitation.

Also, it is also our fault, because we exploited them, through us having an empire there, and exploiting the indigenous black people, the actual blacks were very poor, and lived under apartheids, e.g. South Africa. This lead to the massacare of one of the type of people in Rwanda (I cant remember the name of them now), and this was because, this tribe was given more important jobs than the rest of the tribes in former Rwanda, during the Empires, this made them more equal and more important than the rest of Rwandian blacks. Thus, the government caused agitation after the fall of the empires, and Rwanda was given independence, and brought up the old hatred of that tribe, and led to the massacre of them.

Also, the fact that they were exploited by us, and are now poor as a result, means that when in dire need, people turn to a strong government - dictatorship. But, also, factions rise in nations, to try and have power, which will make them richer, and have a higher chance of survival, than the rest of the population that is starving.

Agreed, much of the causes of this are our ancestors fault, not ours, but, Capitalism keeps them poor, and so, we are all equally to blame for the poverty there, because we all have an effect on our economy, which in turn has an effect on the global economy. Capitalism needs exploitation in order to survive, and the people that will bear the brunt of that exploitation, are the poor. Capitalism cannot get people out of poverty.

This has all led to the situation in Africa today, charity can help, but, it cannot get people out of poverty, on a nation scale. Sure, its easy to get a few thousand out, even hundreds of thousand, but, they will all slip and fall back into the hole of poverty, as they will still be the poorest people, maybe not as poor as they were, but on a global scale, are still the ones that will be the most exploited by Capitalism, and thus, as long as Capitalism is there, poverty will be there.

Charity is therefore the least that you can do, to try and help out sort out the mess of your ancestors, but more importantly - To help relieve human sufferering. You cannot choose where you are born, or who your parents are, it is stupid and ignorant to be a nationalist. Sure, your thinking on a bigger scale than just living in a hole, where its just your family and freinds, but, where has human decency gone? The strongest thing that binds us, is not our borders, its is that little part of our DNA which makes us human. We all live in the world, all life feels pain. Would you rather them suffer, while you have more than enough? Greed is what causes segregation, agitation, which leads to violence. Sure, Capitalism is nice for those who are the haves, but it completely destroys the havents.