13 January 2010
20:4237469I caught iCam on Radio 5 the other day stating that he proposed continuing with spending some nebulous and arbitrary percentage of GDP on foreign aid. I sent him the following:-
'Whilst not objecting per se to overseas aid (I have a monthly standing order to ShelterBox), I am at a loss to understand why we are paying one penny piece to India (c.£1 billion over last three years) who can afford their own Space Program, or China (£38 million last year) who spent £20 million on holding the Olympics.
I'd be grateful for your observations.''
The bottom line is that I got a very bland reply from his correspondence secretary one Anne Biles (who I just HAD to e-mail back to point out that her name is an anagram of En Lesbian).
Meanwhile, yesterday I read in the Times, that HMG give (taxpayers) money to the TUC from the Overseas Aid Budget for them to promote Trade Unionism overseas (£2.4 million 2009 - 2011!). The TUC, of course, in turn fund the Labour Party..... You really could not make this up!
Frankly I can not understand why we are paying one penny piece in Foreign Aid to anyone other than for disaster relief.
I would be interested to hear other forumites (dread word) views....
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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13 January 2010
21:1337473Always been a bone of contention this over the years Bob. I don`t know exactly what the money is used for, but I suspect some may go towards their space programme, either directly or indirectly, as with so many poor in the country, communication`s satellite`s are essential, and as they do have local enemies, and are a nuclear power, like China, space is the future, and who ever get`s going up there first, will be the next big economic power. India, China, and Japan are more forward looking than the western world, and again I suspect, it`ll be Captain J. T. Singh and Mr Wock who`ll be boldly going where no American has gone before.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
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13 January 2010
21:3837474foreign aid has always been just a bribe so that our companies get first bash at any money making venture in that particular third world country.
none of it ever gets through to the needy.
i was surprised that we still send a brown envelope to china though, do not see the point, 38 million nicker would not even buy them cristiano ronaldo.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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13 January 2010
22:0137481It`d buy a hell of alot of takeaway`s though Howard!
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Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
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14 January 2010
18:5037564I couldn't agree more with not giving money to India or China - their economies more than warrant being able to look after themselves, however when it comes to natural disasters such as the terrible tragedy unfolding currently in Haiti, I think we have do our bit. Haiti is such a poor country that it simply cannot look after itself at such a time; irrespective of politics, it's just human kindness to help where one can.
On the wider picture, though, I ask myself if Great Britain doles out money in foreign aid that wouldn't better be spent in the UK on homeless and children's charities that are equally deserving. "Charity begins at home" (Sir Thomas Browne, 1605-82)
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
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14 January 2010
19:4837581andy
foreign aid is a vital sweetener to the hierarchy of third world countries.
it is never meant to go the poor and needy.
on the subject of haiti, will the president dig in to his various swiss bank accounts to help his people?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
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15 January 2010
08:3237644He'll have to repair his Palace first Howard.
I don't agree fully with that Howard. Many Charities work on projects for the really desperate sections/areas of a country, but in many instances the money doesn't get to where it's needed most.
I do think that if we were a rich country then it's fine to send money regularly overseas, but the state our country is in, we should not keep doing it, but as Andy has said when disaster strikes, then give.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
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15 January 2010
11:5337663i think we are talking about different types of aid roger, the money that government send to another government is what i am referring to.
i have no problem with ny money given to aid agencies direct to provide assistance.
much more so with this terrible situation in haiti.
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
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15 January 2010
16:4837690In last Sundays newspaper there was an article saying that we may be asked to chip in £7 billion to bail out the Greeks who are in a worst state than we are. They made the mistake of joining the Eurozone, so why should we, who are on the bones of our arse and not even in the Eurozone, have to bail them out.?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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15 January 2010
16:5537692If we can hang on a few million years Alec, the problem will go away, as Greece is sinking.
.
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15 January 2010
17:1737704That's the Spirit!!!!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
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15 January 2010
17:2737713greeses problems started before they went into the eurozone.the eurozone has nothing to do with there prblem,its of there own making.how many times have i got to repeat this statement,greese has a corrupt goverment.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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15 January 2010
17:3637717Brian, they need their gods back out there. Great tourists attraction`s they`d be. ZEU`S, an APOLLO theatre and Joan Collins. I know she`s been there, ATHENA.
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Alec Sheldon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
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15 January 2010
17:3837718Too many palms are being "greesed" in greese Brian.
A lovely country, I have been there every year for the last 30 years and have many friends there. They have an overblown public sector and if you think that France is bad for strikes go to Greece. I don't think I have ever been there when there wasn't a bank strike on.
15 January 2010
17:3837719Brian - who hasn't???
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
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15 January 2010
17:3937720sod the gods,bring back hanging and such like.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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15 January 2010
17:5137726Sorry Brian, I`d rather see murderer`s turned to stone by gods, then used in sea defences to slowly erode away.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 January 2010
18:1037730i think that alec is making the point that we are being asked to bail out greece.
it is irrelevant whether they were a sick economy before or after joining the euro.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,698
15 January 2010
19:5437755Alec we will have to help bail them out only if the EU, as opposed to the Eurozone members only, decide to bail them out; then of course as members of the EU we will have to shoulder our share of the bill. As to whether this is right, fair or moral is a completely different question.
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