Comic relief

[Ben Wah Balls]

I didn't realise comic nose day was today either. I did see some bloke dressed up in a dress earlier but I just assumed he was a nutcase.

[strooood]

it was quite unnerving having a man dressed in a big red wig and nose drilling holes in my face  :-))(

[Simon Pieman]

i'm not comic reliefs biggest fan either. charity is all about volunteering and giving money to those causes you want to - the good samaritan anybody? it seems that people are being forced to give money to CR, even if they don't want to.

Also, cancellation of African debt would be the biggest step forward. I challenge those countries who hold this debt to do something about this

[Titch]

Also, cancellation of African debt would be the biggest step forward. I challenge those countries who hold this debt to do something about this

That is just so so true!!    I do actually think this may indeed happen because of the amount of pressure being put on these countries.  Mind you the US are so self-centered they are not even prepared to cancel some of the subsidies in their own country even though they have been judged illegal by the WTO.

[Piemonte]

You see all these kids in Africa walking around with massive guts on them.

They dont look hungry to me, they need to go on a diet the fat little cunts

[janaage]

Soapy tat wink!!

[Simon Pieman]

Also, cancellation of African debt would be the biggest step forward. I challenge those countries who hold this debt to do something about this

That is just so so true!!    I do actually think this may indeed happen because of the amount of pressure being put on these countries.  Mind you the US are so self-centered they are not even prepared to cancel some of the subsidies in their own country even though they have been judged illegal by the WTO.

yup. also, we saw governments giving money to the tsunami. they have a pot to provide aid to national disasters and relief to those in need etc. it's not like they couldn't find the money to wipe out this debt. i'm fairly certain this could be wiped out within 5-10 years easily.

[Titch]

It could fairly easily be wiped out immediately!!

[Simon Pieman]

mmm $100bn of debt. could easily be wiped out yes

[Titch]

Easily may be a slight exaggeration but i looked into this for some economics i was looking at for a course i was doing.  If  people were truly commited it could be done.  It is not just the immediate debt relief you have to think about, it is also the long term improvements it would create.  It just needs people to have the bottle to do it!

[janaage]

That's me out then, I haven't got any bottle me.

[Titch]

[Simon Pieman]

$10bn a year, after being wiped out i read somewhere

[walrus]

mmm $100bn of debt. could easily be wiped out yes

Actually it could be.  Don't know if anyone wants to dig up the statistic, but the British government could wipe out the Third World Debt in one fell swoop if it rose taxes by a very small margin - we're talking a couple of quid.  Its important to remember that many countries are now having to take further loans to pay off astronomical interest rates - the only thing which prevents governments from taking action is greed.

Comic Relief is out of fashion now.  Every year they raise approximately 10 million, which is absolutely pitiful considering we live in a nation of 60 million people - that's less than 20p each.  The celebrities who appear on Comic Relief inevitably have hidden agendas, and whether or not the full extent of the money donated is felt by those in Africa is debatable.

I loathe such organisations as if people really cared they would do more than give a quid once a year.  I also think that, whilst I sympathise with the situation in Africa, that giving money is not the answer - corruption (not being critical of Africans - government officials are inevitably corrupt if they are struggling for a decent wage themselves) and unwise spending is rife, plus the money could be used better to help our own population.  Instead of building fancy water wells and big impressive electricity projects, why not force people to donate by raising taxes marginally and cancelling any debt owed to Britain.  In this way, other countries would be obliged to follow suit.

[reeves4england]

I think the idea of CR is a good one. They raise millions of pounds to help people, and some money does actually stay in the UK. And you get a fairly good Friday night's TV (no Sky at my house!)

BUT

I don't agree with the way people are almost forced to give money. At school we had to pay £1 to go in non-uniform. I know its not a lot of money for most, but there are some people with 3 or 4 kids at that school who can't afford to pay £4 to help people 1000 miles away!