to think comic relief is a manipulative millionaire sleb lovein?

[glasnost]

After watching most of last night's nth comic relief can't help thinking it's ever more hypocritical in laying a guilt trip on us poor folk to get us to part with some of the dwindling cash we have whilst never getting to the root of the problem.

Political corruption, greedy pharmaceutical companies etc. Without addressing these core problems we'll keep on having comic relief as an annual salve to people's consciences while poverty and injustice continue.

Jonathan Ross et al who earn vast amounts have alot of front in standing there emotionally blackmailing us when the obscene wealth he and others like him earn is part of the problem. AIBU?

noddy me and Len are LIKE THAT.

LDNMummy wonder whether you'll now be accused of racism as I have been? And they don't even know my background.

And no I am not speaking for every African, but I comefrom a social circle that consists of many scholarly Africans, lecturers in Post Colonial theory for instance. I know my view is shared by many, but not all. The people who do share my views on the other hand, are educated in the subject matter.

The poor Africans they use for CR do not understand the complex issues behind what is happening because they unfortunately are not educated to a higher educational standard or lack education full stop. There is a handout mentality, even in my own country, and a 'white man saviour' mentality. Aid and charity work are bad in the sense that they keep this going.

They can call me what they like, I love my country and my people, which is why I speak out against things like CR in the first place.

Its my generation and people like me who want to make our countries self suffcient, who want to get rid of aid workers who come to do 'a good deed' on their gap years by teaching the locals English and further reinforcing the colonial mentality of needing English or related qualities to survive. Its people like me who want to reverse the effects of religious colonialism and revive our heritage, who want to throw out history books that teach an european view of history and start teaching our children about our medieval empires and the great things that we have done for the world (and the fact that Egyptians were black African men and women). Its people like me who want to reclaim our artwork that is sitting in the British museum, taken from us during colonial times. Its people like me who want to bring educational and health care reforms, not just sit around waiting for a mosquito net, but divising ways to fund actual medical preventatives. Lets all talk about CR while the African farmer has to sell his goods to Europe at the lowest rate because he has no choice.

So whatever people want to say I don't care.

This is a rant, so take what you will from it.

LDN don't you think the 2 can work alongside though.As to reach that level from within would take forever if it ever happened at all?

It wouldn't take forever if foreign companies and governments would get their hands off our gold, diamonds, metals, agricultural and other resources.

Africa on the whole is the richest continent in the world. My country alone has all the above mentioned things, including oil which I forgot to mention.

so what do we do then ldmummy?

the great grandchildren of the colonists?

Do we do nothing?

or try to do something? and if so what is that something?

This question has been asked and I already stated, A nationwide effort against the power states and their exploitation of other nations. An ACTUAL boycott of large companies that exploit these nations and a greater effort, such as protesting en masse and not sitting at home justtalking about how awful it is. There are 62 million people in this country, if the majority refused to allow this to go on, the government of this country would have to listen. But unfortunately, people are too accustomed to leaning on poorer nations to support a better lifestyle here. It would be good if this would turn around for a start.

I would say reparations but I don't think it is an effective solution.

I gave my last money to CR last night, not much I know I didnt even watch it, I now have to borrow money to last till pay day in 5days. I give every month to charities and more than I can afford, I run out of money at the end of the month. I dont do this to feel better, and I feel no better for giving only sad that there are people in such need. Guilty that there is nothing more I can do that other than giving what little I have I dont know how else to help and regardless of that small amount I give people will still suffer.

LND while those thing would be great, most people will not get involved to that extent. Especially when it would mean huge upheaval in their own lives.

If I were to do as glasnost suggests for example; to boycott shell/BP, I would be unable to get to work. I would be unable to pay my bills and feed DS.

Are there any political parties that don't support big multinational corporations that have fingers in the pie? What parties do not have affiliations with those same companies? I don't know any except maybe the green party, and they are such a small minority that I feel my vote would be waasted on them.

It isn't as simple as just saying "boycott". We are trapped by our own culture and way of life, not to mention our own economic status. I for one would love to buy exclusively fair trade and organic, but I cannot on my income. Sorry. I, like the majority of people in the UK, am too busy worrying about how I can pay my rent and keep my car on the road to get to my poxy low paid job.

That doesn't mean to say that I am unaware of the situation, that I have my head in the sand or live in, what was it? "lala/TV land"??? Just that don't have the luxury of a choice. I do the best with what I have.

I support what you are saying in principle, but unfortunately I alone cannot make ANY difference. However, I CAN help individuals (via aid) and I can lobby parliament.

I don't believe the two principles, ie charity and development are mutually exclusive. Remember a great many changes came about in our society in the 1800, along side philantropy and innovation, revolution and a sense of social responsibility. This needs to happen in Africa, but it will take time. And little Bantu or whoever, dying of AIDS or malaria, cannot wait for several decades for the change to happen.

thanks misshissy you posted exactly what i was going to say.

i do the best i can within my limited powers.

but i do agree with ldmummy.

Just seen had my posts re. Lenny Henry deleted which is breathtakingly hypocritical as I was articulating the obvious. I've read the most vile racist opinions on MN re. gypsies and eastern europeans which seems to have become acceptable in these anti multicultural times yet mine gets deleted which was highlighting the BBC's racism. This isn't a place to have proper debate. It's for misguided white western schmucks who live in a dreamworld created by the media.

It's our western governments' fault there's poverty in Arica. It's the Catholic Church's fault. It's our fault for voting for them AND not changing our lifestyles. Noone gives to help the poor over there. They give in order to salve their conscience for a bit and then maintain their lifestyle over here which relies on so many millions around the globe being poor and babies dying.

Why do you think we're bombing Libya now after supplying Gaddafi with arms and propping up his regime for so long. Some don't wanto hear the truth, methinks.

hissy there are other parties out there to vote for but noone bothers as they think they're wasting their votes. But they're not.

Token black is a phrase used to highlight racism. It's not racist. Tokenism is racist.

I reported your post, glasnost, as I said I would.

Not only was it especially offensive, it was also potentially libellous - both good reasons for MNHQ to delete it.

Glasnost , I don't disagree with your statement about ethnic minorities being underrepresented in the BBC, it just isn't the place in this particular thread, and the way that you put it across was very insulting. It also isn't fair to single out CR for that fault as it is a much bigger issue which needs to be addressed perhaps in another thread.

I haven't read these other threads you have mentioned about gypsies and eastern europeans, and if I had I would have backed you up in slating them.

I also agree wholeheartedly that it is the responsibility of western powers to instigate change, and we are a party to that. But I refer you back to my last post, re; who should we be voting for, that is a realistic, viable option? Are you in politics, are you running for a seat in parliament? If you feel so strongly about it and you aren't, why not? You are obviously passionate enough about it.

About changing lifestyles, it isn't as easy as all that for a lot of people. In an ideal world there would be plenty of local jobs, plenty of housing, and people wouldn't have to travel to work. In an ideal world, there wouldn't be such disparity between the wealthy and the poor. In an ideal world, I would be earning enough to be in a position to take a paycut, and forego a holiday in order to help. I cannot.

I don't go on holiday. I don't have a mortgage, I don't send DS to fee paying school, I don't splash out on meals out, I don't even go out to the pub, I can't afford alcohol even in the supermarket. I buy cheapie own brands and haunt the reduced aisle to afford food. I don't buy fish and rarely meat, even chicken. Nearly everything I own is second hand, including my car, TV, PC, beds + mattresses, and much more. I struggle to pay the basic, ie my utily bills, rent, and car insurance. I have in the last month had to cancel DSs swimming lessons and Taekwondo, because we can no longer afford those luxuries.

I don't say this to plead poverty. I know I am so much better off than many others. I have a roof over my head and food to eat. I have healthcare. My DS is educated. All my basic needs are met. I am happy. But were I to take a reduction in my current quality of life, I would be struggling just to survive. So I really, really do not have an option. Because when it comes down to it, if it's a choice between my DS and someone else's, I'll save mine. Sorry if that sounds self absorbed, selfish etc. So be it.

We don't all live in middle England you know.

OH, and FWIW, for the above same reason, I don't feel at all guilty about people suffering poverty. I feel anger, rage, pity and compassion. That moved me to donate what I could. But no, I do not feel guilty.

but glasnot i do what i can within the framework of my life.

if comic relief, odious though it may be, changes one person's perspective of the problems developing countries, then surely it is not all in vain?

asking anybody to change their lifestyles, even if those lifestyles come at the detriment of others, is a big ask

How do you suggest about going about it? How do you encourage people to change?

ps sorry for misspelling names hissymissy and ldnmummy

Can't bear the "fly in fly out" celebs - suffering for a day / week then reappearing on Friday night all dolled up drinking champagne. The only way to really help is to provide a level playing field. End the ridiculous trade subsidies. EU sugar floods the world market undercutting poorer farmers because of generous subsidies. And that's the tip of the iceberg.

would be quite helpful to know glasnost, if you don't mind posting

The green party would not be a minority party if people actually voted for it instead of saying their vote would be wasted.

The Socialist Party baskingseals.

Cue right wing harpies shrieking fest.