Comic Relief (and other appeals)

[Greentinted]

Maybe its indicative of my ever-changing outlook on life, I dunno.
I am finding the cut away episodes of myriad global tragedy particularly moving and poignant (and yes I know thats the point) and most of all it puts some perspective on our own societies ills.
I know its all relative and comparitive but seeing children scavenge on a land-fill site for food is monstrous. We take so much for granted here; benifits, schooling, NHS, etc.
If nothing else, it has certainly humbled this particularly irascible, grumpy auld git and made me think that maybe we should all spend a wee bit time appreciating what we have, respecting others and arrest the self important impulse we are so very precious about.

[Danderhall Hibs]

Maybe its indicative of my ever-changing outlook on life, I dunno.
I am finding the cut away episodes of myriad global tragedy particularly moving and poignant (and yes I know thats the point) and most of all it puts some perspective on our own societies ills.
I know its all relative and comparitive but seeing children scavenge on a land-fill site for food is monstrous. We take so much for granted here; benifits, schooling, NHS, etc.
If nothing else, it has certainly humbled this particularly irascible, grumpy auld git and made me think that maybe we should all spend a wee bit time appreciating what we have, respecting others and arrest the self important impulse we are so very precious about.

I'm the same mate. Got 2 kids of my own now and seeing those kids like that in the video clips is heart-breaking. I think I was a real heartless bass a few years ago.

Glad it's not just me.

[Hibbie_Cameron]

The one at the beginning which featured the young boy who looks after his blind mother, disabled father and his younger brother who suffers some rare illness which effects his physical appearance aswell as mentally.

The lad does everything for his family and is the only one who leads a "normal" life. Normal being his health is fine, but he is bullied has no friends and is his brothers only "friend"

What a total sin it was to see. 11 years old and a real hero

[Betty Boop]

"There is enough in the World for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed". (Ghandi)

[Pete]

Maybe its indicative of my ever-changing outlook on life, I dunno.
I am finding the cut away episodes of myriad global tragedy particularly moving and poignant (and yes I know thats the point) and most of all it puts some perspective on our own societies ills.
I know its all relative and comparitive but seeing children scavenge on a land-fill site for food is monstrous. We take so much for granted here; benifits, schooling, NHS, etc.
If nothing else, it has certainly humbled this particularly irascible, grumpy auld git and made me think that maybe we should all spend a wee bit time appreciating what we have, respecting others and arrest the self important impulse we are so very precious about.

It certainly puts the cutbacks we all have to make into perspective.

Even if you lose your job it's nothing compared to what we've seen tonight. That bit about the kids with malaria seemed surreal.
kids dying and their heartbroken parents watching on...all because they didn't have a net that cost less than a round in the pub!

One thing that's putting me off is wondering where the money goes.

Are there measures to ensure it doesn't end up in the back pocket of some dictator who has a fleet of mercedes?

[Bishop Hibee]

Maybe its indicative of my ever-changing outlook on life, I dunno.
I am finding the cut away episodes of myriad global tragedy particularly moving and poignant (and yes I know thats the point) and most of all it puts some perspective on our own societies ills.
I know its all relative and comparitive but seeing children scavenge on a land-fill site for food is monstrous. We take so much for granted here; benifits, schooling, NHS, etc.
If nothing else, it has certainly humbled this particularly irascible, grumpy auld git and made me think that maybe we should all spend a wee bit time appreciating what we have, respecting others and arrest the self important impulse we are so very precious about.

I've got 3 boys myself and while the images are terrible, I feel I've been looking at the same things for at least 25 years going back to Band Aid 1984 and nothing has changed.

Our glorious leaders have supplied arms to Africa for years and bled the continent dry of raw materials. We are ready to spend at least £20 billion replacing the Trident nuclear deterrent which many in the army do not want http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7859046.stm while we individuals donate a fiver raising a drop in the ocean.

At home our government props up the failed banking sector with billions while social workers struggle to protect vulnerable children largely due to a lack of resources.

Our society has a lot going for it but until basic structural problems are addressed, our own children will be making these same comments in 25 years time. :boo hoo:

[AllyF]

I was quite surprised to find myself in tears watching the clips - I normally don't pay that much attention to them.

The one that got me was when they showed the boy's life just draining away. The last minutes of his five year old life. The worst thing was that his parents were just standing there helpless, watching on.

[matty_f]

I'm the same mate. Got 2 kids of my own now and seeing those kids like that in the video clips is heart-breaking. I think I was a real heartless bass a few years ago.

Glad it's not just me.

:agree: It's when you take the time to watch these things and see what people go through, day in, day out. Heart-breaking stuff that is just taken for granted as normal daily life.

It's totally astonishing that these things are allowed to go on in this day and age. People have it within their power to change it, though - whether that's through donating time or money, or putting pressure on the politicians who can make a difference.

Just now, they're saying 1 in 8 women in Africa lose their life giving birth. That is a disgrace.

I genuinely don't know the politics behind it all, but surely to God this stuff is fixable if people have the will.

[Allant1981]

I thikn its great that money uis being raised for these countries but does all the moneuy raised go towards helping them re build their lives. By than i mean do they charities that help out pay staff etc or is it all voluntary

[Greentinted]

I see from the replies so far that there is a trepidation regarding the way in which the donations are distributed. I too harbour a great deal of suspicion re the administrative side and I have issues with multi-millionaires begging for a few bob (I often wonder if they make any material donations themselves other than that of thier precious time). However, what troubles me is the fact that these atrocities are allowed to continue throughout the world while we mump and moan and abuse a system that I consider a privelige. Its not the politics that interest me (as such) its the way in which we, as a society, make demands. As a for instance, as was highlighted above, on the one hand 1 in 8 women die whilst giving birth and yet on the other there are those who consider it their 'right' to have a child in perhaps a birthing pool, at home, in specific hospital, etc. I would imagine the ladies of West Africa would be happy just to survive whilst delivering a healthy, happy child. (This is merely an example)

[Hibs Class]

I think it was Stalin who said that one death is a tragedy but a million deaths is a statistic. What Comic Relief is brilliant at is bringing home the individual tragedies that get lost in the statistics. I'm sure that not all money gets to those most in need, but I do know that the majority does (both on causes in the UK and overseas), so that is no excuse for not giving.

[Mike777]

I would imagine the ladies of West Africa would be happy just to survive whilst delivering a healthy, happy child. (This is merely an example)

Its just the same in the east of Africa, outside a fairly priced hospital in Blantyre,Malawi there was a permanent hut made of plastic that is being used as a labour unit, Women would walk in and be out within an Hour.
the main problem is the price of prevention, Nets, or insect repellant are just out the question. Treatment is just the same, drugs or hospital care is just impossible for the poor.

in a period of 6 months i caught Malaria 2 times, the first time i had it it was malaria No3 , i woke up freezing at about 1am i had all the symptons. It took two hours to get transport to go to a hosptial 15 miuntes away. there are no ambulances, taxi drivers will not pick people up so late at night, and the organisation i was with where such a joke with helping me.
a Decent size Needle on the Bum, 3 days in a christian hospital and a nice bill for £200 and i was fine. I also got Bilharzia from the lake and i also had some dodgy dentist work done., :grr:

What annoyed me most about comic relief night was the amount of pleading the celebrities where doing. and the repeating of "£5 of your money will buy a mosquito net". They need more than NETS!!! you cant buy nets from local markets the only place i foud them was at the supermarket chains and they where priced more than £5. Africans living in poverty will trade nets for food to feed there children.

There is money to be made in Charity, so yeh most of this money raised will just go into the wrong hands and then the celebs will be out in force asking us to buy another mosqutio net.



A good cheap option of treatment which is starting to be used is a plant called Artemisia annua now this plant has been around a long time in Asia being used as treatment, its only in the last 3-5 years that some NGO'S have decided to introduce it to the country.

[Sir David Gray]

It certainly puts the cutbacks we all have to make into perspective.

Even if you lose your job it's nothing compared to what we've seen tonight. That bit about the kids with malaria seemed surreal.
kids dying and their heartbroken parents watching on...all because they didn't have a net that cost less than a round in the pub!

One thing that's putting me off is wondering where the money goes.

Are there measures to ensure it doesn't end up in the back pocket of some dictator who has a fleet of mercedes?

:agree: That's what puts me off as well. Perhaps if these countries had half decent governments in place, with people in charge who actually cared about their people, they might not be in such a bad state.

I would be very sceptical about sending money to many African countries, unless I personally knew the people in charge of the charities.

It's absolutely disgraceful that there are millions of people who cannot access clean drinking water, cannot afford education, die from illnesses that should be easily treated and die from childbirth.

[Pete]

I think it was Stalin who said that one death is a tragedy but a million deaths is a statistic. What Comic Relief is brilliant at is bringing home the individual tragedies that get lost in the statistics. I'm sure that not all money gets to those most in need, but I do know that the majority does (both on causes in the UK and overseas), so that is no excuse for not giving.

It's a given that a certain percentage of the money is taken to cover the overheads involved in the actuall appeal...but I'm not sure about how the money that we are told is going directly towards these african projects is distributed.

I'd be dissapointed if the money is given to a "government department" of a certain country for distribution. Most of it will probably be siphoned off to pay for some dictators fleet of seven series or gold plated bath taps in his palace.

I hope that all the money goes to those who really need it...and those who are in charge of making sure it gets there are completely independant. Otherwise what's the point?

[matty_f]

I'd be hugely surprised if the Comic Relief money went to anything other than specifically identified projects - there is too much at stake to have the integrity of the charity called into question.

As for the millionaires pleading for money - more power to them, IMHO. I don't doubt that they donate themselves, but by using their position to influence others into donating as well they do far more good.

IMHO, unless the folk criticising celebrities for getting involved in projects like Comic Relief are doing something themselves then they've a bloody cheek.

[Danderhall Hibs]

I'd be hugely surprised if the Comic Relief money went to anything other than specifically identified projects - there is too much at stake to have the integrity of the charity called into question.

As for the millionaires pleading for money - more power to them, IMHO. I don't doubt that they donate themselves, but by using their position to influence others into donating as well they do far more good.

IMHO, unless the folk criticising celebrities for getting involved in projects like Comic Relief are doing something themselves then they've a bloody cheek.

:agree: Well said. Didn't Jonathon Ross say that some of the celebs (can't rememeber who) had given up 1% of their earnings to Comic Relief since December?

[hibee_girl]

:agree: Well said. Didn't Jonathon Ross say that some of the celebs (can't rememeber who) had given up 1% of their earnings to Comic Relief since December?

He did, IIRC it was actors he mentioned.