38 replies to this topic

[newbambeeno]

six wheeler: Out of interest, did the farmers know about fair trade and that they were part of it? The O/H's mum went to Ethiopia in January and she said the coffee growers there didn't know what it was and they were supposed to be a fair trade farm. They had received more money for their crop, but this only met inflation, is this true of the places you saw?

[Jammy]

Do you want to take a lead on making a difference for children and young people with cancer?

CLIC Sargent
[*]Various
[*]Circa £75k

Job advert for director of services for a charity - this is the sort of thing I don't really agree with

They have to advertise their job opportunities competitively. Do you think the person with the right skills and experience to be in a position like that will just give up their time and do it for free, or even take a big pay cut purely for the gratification of the job? No, course not.

Also, there are quite a number of WESTERN companies who've made a lot of money out of the Iraq war. Contractors, those supplying the armies, protection companies, etc. I don't know about the oil (but surely that was the whole point behind going after "WMD" Saddam?). As for the UK, I doubt we went into Iraq for the oil as we have the North Sea oil reserves! However I thought the Alaskan oil was the wrong type of oil to make 'gasoline' from?

[Jammy]

Frankly when you donate abroad you really cant be sure where the money really is going? we have

Sorry, but your money could quite easily be misused as much in the UK as abroad. And countries abroad aren't lucky enough to have the superb welfare system we have that seems to want to give money out left right and centre.

[landy andy]

Do you want to take a lead on making a difference for children and young people with cancer?

CLIC Sargent
[*]Various
[*]Circa £75k

Job advert for director of services for a charity - this is the sort of thing I don't really agree with

They have to advertise their job opportunities competitively. Do you think the person with the right skills and experience to be in a position like that will just give up their time and do it for free, or even take a big pay cut purely for the gratification of the job? No, course not.

Also, there are quite a number of WESTERN companies who've made a lot of money out of the Iraq war. Contractors, those supplying the armies, protection companies, etc. I don't know about the oil (but surely that was the whole point behind going after "WMD" Saddam?). As for the UK, I doubt we went into Iraq for the oil as we have the North Sea oil reserves! However I thought the Alaskan oil was the wrong type of oil to make 'gasoline' from?

13 Trllion cubic meters of Natural gas and 79 billion Barrels of recoverable oil.Consrvitive estimate from the geological surveys done by the University of Washington. As I said...what do we need Iraqi oil for and go to the exspense of finding a way to transport and refine it? As far as the North sea is concerned you have about another 10-12 years of drilling before it runs dry and gets into unusable fossile fuel. At the moment 26% of the seabed deep drilling operations have already been abandoned. Seems like GB has greater needs to remove Iraqi oil than the US I'd say.

[sixwheeler]

six wheeler: Out of interest, did the farmers know about fair trade and that they were part of it? The O/H's mum went to Ethiopia in January and she said the coffee growers there didn't know what it was and they were supposed to be a fair trade farm. They had received more money for their crop, but this only met inflation, is this true of the places you saw?

Indeed they did, but I guess it depends on the crop, the country, the employer, the local organization, FLO rep etc., etc... Didn't really get that involved due to language difficulties, and I was on holiday so I can't really offer any indepth insights!


I just know that it was doing what it was supposed to be doing.

[landy andy]

Frankly when you donate abroad you really cant be sure where the money really is going? we have

Sorry, but your money could quite easily be misused as much in the UK as abroad. And countries abroad aren't lucky enough to have the superb welfare system we have that seems to want to give money out left right and centre.

sorry should have mentioned that we will only also donate money to causes where the organisation is run by volunteers. we normally pick very local charities or branches and actually get involved with them as well.
No offence but this country has sufferers too. When we see people on our doorstep who cannot get cancer drugs or organ transplants because our 'superb welfare system' will not allow the funding we feel that there is really just comparison to the suffering anywhere else in the world.
At least we can see that we are doing a good selfless act and hopefully the persons involved will go on to help other stricken people and their families.
Im afraid that our 'superb welfare system' does not chuck money around to the people that need it most as well you know jammy!
Please dont tell me that if this country went under, that Africa for instance would rush to our aid !

Well said Brother.

[landy andy]

Frankly when you donate abroad you really cant be sure where the money really is going? we have

Sorry, but your money could quite easily be misused as much in the UK as abroad. And countries abroad aren't lucky enough to have the superb welfare system we have that seems to want to give money out left right and centre.

sorry should have mentioned that we will only also donate money to causes where the organisation is run by volunteers. we normally pick very local charities or branches and actually get involved with them as well.
No offence but this country has sufferers too. When we see people on our doorstep who cannot get cancer drugs or organ transplants because our 'superb welfare system' will not allow the funding we feel that there is really just comparison to the suffering anywhere else in the world.
At least we can see that we are doing a good selfless act and hopefully the persons involved will go on to help other stricken people and their families.
Im afraid that our 'superb welfare system' does not chuck money around to the people that need it most as well you know jammy!
Please dont tell me that if this country went under, that Africa for instance would rush to our aid !

Well said Brother.

'sister' or even 'MOMA' but thanks xx

Ok Hot Mama! Ooops.....sorry. My small sexist Brain assumed you were male. Sorry.

[scrog]

i refuse to contribute to charities no mater how large or small as i meerly think it deminishes the sates responseability for those less fortunate
than ourself's end of

[landy andy]

Well, when most people who have posted seems to beleive that Oxfam funds terrorism I think I may have to rant a little...

First of all, yes, Africa as a continent owes a lot of rich countries a lot of money due to lending, but, some money IS donated. But why shouldn't it be? Africa is rich in terms of minerals. There is oil under most parts, which isn't allowed to be mined or else the US will stop giving them money. America, don't want this oil mining as "Too much damage has been done to the world through oil". Well, that's while America have Iraq and other parts of the middle east playing their fiddle, when that runs out, I'm sure they'll find governments they don't like in Africa

Also, the coffee you drink, how much do you think the people farming it get? Not even fair trade is that fair. The O/H mum is a proper fair trade supporter and she has given up so much time and effort to get Lichfield a Fair Trade city, and so many other places need to follow suit. Even she says that The amount farmers are paid is ridiculous for fair trade. But it's better than Nescafe and the b****** that run them- Nestle.

What diamonds do you buy? Are the 'clean'? Probably not! The West will always have it's way. The diamonds that most people buy fund terrorism and wars in Africa, the clean ones don't.

So yes, charity does start at home. But most people in the UK have a much better chance of digging themselves out of whatever hole they are in (and I'm not saying that everyone has it easy, I know that some people have to go through hell for whatever reason), and for that reason, I give to Shelter, who try to home the homeless. However, I give more to Oxfam, who give the money to THE RIGHT PEOPLE in Africa, not the governments to buy guns.

I wouldn't even consider giving to Cancer Research, or any of the like, as I'm undecided whether I beleive animal testing is right for medicine, but it definately ain't to smell nice.

I'm sorry this is a mega-probably non sensicle- rant, but I got a bit angry

People can beleive what they want, but until the world is a fairer place, I think that we have no right to begrudge a few quid going here and there (to charities) when these charities shouldn't need to exist, if everyone could trade on a level playing field.

Again, sorry!

Alright...I have heard this "America is taking the worlds oil" stuff on here dozens of times. So I challenge you to prove how much Oil has been removed from Iraq bt America. The only Oil and Natural Gas lines that have been made is for BP. NOT an American Company now is it?Seriously what a load of Sh*t. We have Alaska..the largest untapped oil reserve on the planet ..why the hell would we need oil from Iraq? Ever think the payback for standing shoulder to shoulder with us in the fight against terrorism was that we made it possible for YOU to rape the poor middle east of their precious oil not us? Think about it. We havnt taken a single drop...wonder what British Patrolium is doing with it?Wonder who is benifiting from that??THe American People...not realy mate.

The US has been giving money to Africa so we can take their Oil? Go on then.... what Countries and how much? The last big cash flood we gave Africa was 36 BILLION Dollars in 2004 to help fight Aids. Guess who had controll of the "Donation"..the UN. Guess how much is left after three years...none. PLaces like Africa and a majority of Countries in it are hampered by one major thing...themselves and their greed.

Post up and prove your rants have any credibility by posting up facts not blanket statements that are nothing but rubbish.

On topic....Giving to Charities is a good thing. Cancer research is very important. Wait till someone you know and Love lies on their deathbed wasting away to nothing day by day. Maybe then a couple of Rabbits wasnt such a sacrifice.

I completely agree with what you say about fairtrade foods.Farmers are constantly getting ripped off. Cadbury buys cocoa beans from the farmers but if there is not enough they will add regular beans to fill the orders and still sell it as fairtrade.

Anyway...donate and give. Just decide which charity works for you. Just make sure the money ends up where it meant to.

newbambeeno.....***echo.....echo***** ?