General Chat

when I see the presidents of these poverty stricken countries living in the same conditions as their subjects, then I'll be happy to see us sending aid to them, but in the meantime, no!!!

If we were to stop giving to these "undeveloped countries " how on earth are the heads of government there expected to maintain the elaborate life style they have become used to. how will they be able to afford their Mercedes Benze fleets of cars, weapons for their so called army's, how will they be able to filter millions away to their private bank accounts.??
Be realistic people, give generously, you know it makes sense.... ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)


George :-) :-)

So because some heads of state live a luxurious lifestyle it's ok for us to watch while people starve? Not getting the logic of that at all.

Fortunately governments of all political sides realise we do have an obligation to the third world and we will carry on giving aid despite the type of views expressed by some here.

Gwynne

Could you tell me how some heads of state in these poverty stricken countries can afford to live the luxurious lifestyles they do Gwynne. I cannot see the logic in that, when their fellow countrymen are starving to death.

We must continue to help India fund needy projects like the planned manned space mission to Mars, nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, especially as they are buying French fighter aircraft rather than British. That reminds me, what's the current status of Britain's space exploration?

Don't understand why colour was mentioned in the opening post.

Yes I agree that money should still be sent to the poorest countries, as has been said before we have fresh water on tap, access to benefits, health care, our children and people on benefits get free medicines and so do people over 60 even when they are still working. We also get £200 to help with our winter fuel bills.


I'm with Hayley on this, If money that we as a family have paid in saves the life of another human being then I am happy.

Withdrawing aid is an easy thing to vote for. I'm very old and giving aid to 'starving Africans' was just as rife years ago . Not much has been achieved over the years.

However, there is no real poverty in this country. We are all human beings and the life of a child in Africa is as important as one over here.

Let's count our blessings; grit our teeth; and go along with Government.. I'm not a fan of DC but one has to admire his stance - he could so easily buy popularity in this matter.

Happy days

I agree entirely, Just Ginnie - just as long as my money is going into the right hands and benefiting the people who need it.

I don't for one moment think anyone of us would refuse a starving child food or water, or a better chance in life. However, I think foreign aid is simply a palm greaser used in whatever country rich or poor where favours/incentives are required. There is also a major issue with educating poor people in certain countries I believe that sex education and the training of women and girls to be one of the most important contributions we can make. A Governments job is not to look after its own people sadly. A Governments job is to collect as much tax as possible from its drones to spend on whatever it deems fit, normally for big business, not in the national interest, just short or long term business interests,this certainly includes foreign development and wars.
International development aid is one of the biggest scams of our times. It is a massive industry which now exists to perpetuate itself. 80% of all DIFID monies received by aid agencies is spent on administration and salaries. Aid agencies like to spread the lie that only 10% of their income goes on administration- what they don't tell you is that they are only referring to UK based administration. When the money eventually reaches under developed countries the administration figure jumps to 80% - usually paid in massive salaries and expenses to ex pats. Unfortunately nothing can be done about this fraud because aid agencies are amazingly efficient lobbyists with highly effective (and highly paid) PR departments and consultants. They have developed a network of politicians and journalist who have been on many a 'freebie'
to see their 'good' work and are sometimes conned into being on their company boards.
If they want to do good why not give up their mega thousand salaries and just volunteer!

NB I do not include Bob Geldoff and his Live Aid appeal as I know first hand that ALL of the money raised back then reached the targeted areas.

I don't read the Sun, but, here's the view of one who I should think, knows:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15055738


This is probably where a lot of our money goes:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20553872


We need to be careful where we send our money, considering people here have to use food banks. And many people's wages have essentially been cut over the past 3 years

"from the depths

Nakwetikya from Ndedo, Tanzania, used to have to collect the scarce water available, polluted with animal and human waste, from the bottom of deep and dangerous hand-dug pits. Sickness and deaths were common. But life changed with the WaterAid project.
"The situation here used to be bleak," she explains. "There was no water and we had to dig pits to find some. Can you imagine what it was like? My legs used to shake with fear before climbing down those holes. There was no choice. If I didn't get water my family couldn't eat, wash or even have a drink.
When I heard that we were going to get clean water I remember laughing, it was so funny. I can only compare it to someone who is in prison for a long time. When they are set free it's the most fantastic experience.
Since having the new water source life has changed in so many amazing ways. My status as a woman has been finally recognised. I have the time to look after my family as we have more time and energy.
"Before we formed a committee and prepared ourselves as a community, men just saw women as animals. I think they thought of us as bats flapping around them. They had no respect for us and no-one would allow you to speak or listen to what you had to say.
"When I stand up now in a group I am not an animal. I am a woman with a valid opinion. We have been encouraged and trained and the whole community has learnt to understand us."

Water Aid...

Who is it that actually decides who receives this money anyhow? Is it one minister? Or an independent body?

Genuine question.

why can we not have British representatives in these counties to which we are giving aid to see that the money is not used by corrupt people - if that were in place I would be happy, but I'm not up for giving a luxurious lifestyle to a despot

This might be useful info? Last year Aid worked out at around £137 a head.

"Note that DfID, which spent £7.6bn on ODA last year isn't the only government department in charge of UK aid. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK Border Agency, for example, also contribute towards the 0.7% target"

from here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/datablog/2012/sep/26/uk-aid-money-key-datasets

£137 a head? And yet folk howl at the 27p per head for the royal family lol...

I edge towards being anti overseas aid if i'm honest but i'd need to know a lot more about the decisions made re the allocation so I can make a more informed decision.

I know it is a bit off topic, but if we are concerned about £137 going in foreign aid, it would be interesting to know how much we pay for defence of the realm and how much Germany pays.

Germany is a larger country than the UK, but I rarely see loads of German troops and hardware in these "peacekeeping" troops in Iraq and Afghaniatan. Or Japanese, Or Swedish. Or Russian. Or Chinese. The list goes on.

The world must be very impressed by how much we are prepared to spend to destroy places round the world, then try to repair them. In future, how nice to be known instead as a kind and caring country that leads in providing aid to countries who desperately need help.

what the hell has German troops being in Afganistan got to do with overseas aid and why be interested in what they pay, it won't effect you, yep its right off topic

I'm sure I'm right in thinking that there are many restrictions on Germany regarding armed forces and all things associated with warfare after they tried unsuccessfully to take over Europe - twice - in the last century - they can never be trusted

There are no restrictions on Germany's armed forces. They are one of the best equipped and trained in NATO. The reason the UK has to be seen sending its armed forces all over the globe and continuing with nuclear weapons is that we have one of the permanent seats on the UN Security Council. Lots of nations would love to replace us. The link with maintaining foreign aid is pretty obvious.

It is a sad fact that only a small percentage of aid of any kind ends up where it should in order to be of the best help

I do donate regularly but try to give to causes where administration, and goodness knows what else, doesn't swallow up most of what I have donated. For example a cheque for the fight against cancer was given directly to the cancer unit at the hospital.

I do believe we should help in educating under privileged countries but we need to close all the loop holes that suck up most of the money before it gets to where it was intended.

Wendy