Well ..........it reduced me to tears.

Sorry Soozy... I didn't see it... I was watching Love they Neighbour. What channel was it on?

Sorry, but I have no time for this recurring carp. Red Nose Day has always send some so called celeb over to Africa to get the 'real feel' for it. What a load of rubbish. I'm pretty certain that after 60 years of knowing about Africa (after freedom), there's nothing they can tell us.

BBC1 or 2 can't remember. It really breaks my heart though. Unbelievable how some people are forced to live IMO.

We are never, ever gonna solve all their problems but do you not feel that even a little helps? I shall give as I always do ..............obviously we're not gonna solve or make better a whole continent better but .............................surely to God a little helps (especially in the long term projects). I'm fairly certain most of us wouldn't miss£5 ...................it's not gonna change the world but if it makes life just a little bit better for some it shouldn't be poo pooed - should it?

Yes..... 

This used to break my heart when I was 10 (still does). My mother paid for one of the Biafran children to go to school, university and become a catholic priest, he was killed by the Nigerian Government. I was made to hand something very precious back to make the sacrifice for others I'm talking 50 years ago and I've paid a certain amount eversince, apart from seeeing it first hand in Nigeria.  When you are stopped to buy one cigarette at the traffic lights you understand that the problem will never be changed by Red Nose Day or Children in Need, although these things do a sterling job.

Yes i too think they do a sterling job.I have never seen it first hand as you have (thank God). I know the problem will never be changed. I know it's on an unimaginable scale ............but - even if my donation goes towards helping just one or two people that's enough for me TBH.

Sooozy, you're donation will not go straight to the people that need it otherwise they would definitely not have to plead for mosquito nets anymore. They only cost a pound each, so how come people are still pleading for them? I have seen all this first hand and lived with it for some years, we used to watch Children in Need on satellite, but nothing ever filtered back to the villages surrounding the compound we lived in. The bush wars carried on, the wars between christians and muslims carried on (I'm talking bow and arrows), nobody ever came and relieved this shoite.

Well I'm fairly certain that it doesn't go to a corrupt government. It probably goes to specific projects - Africa is a huge area ...................not everyone will get served by the donations (unfortunately) the fact that at least some (albeit a minority) do benefit will not stop me donating.

TBH .........your attitude may put some people off from giving and I find that very sad. If we had another 100 or 1,000 comic releif days it wouldn't solve Africas problems - the fact that it solves a small fraction is good enough for me.

I don't think my attitude stops anybody from 'giving' because the subject of the money never getting there has been going around for decades, so please soozy don't.
I'm fairly certain it does go to corrupt African Governments, mainly because most of them are corrupt. If it doesn't go to the corrupt Government it goes to the charity workers. The rest, filtering through to real people, is peanuts.

I think comic Relief came about secifically to get to the root of the p[roblem. I may be wrong but I'm fairly certain the governments see nothing of the money. It is directed at projects directly supporting the people and local communities. That's how i see t anyway.

Ok soozy, if nobody talkes about blooming mosquito nets, I'll concede the point. We'll wait and see.

Cologne I know Mosquito nets are vitally important - so is fresh drinking water - vaccinations - support for families suffering HIV - crop failure - I suppose it's about prioritising. It's a huge continent with endless problems.

i just feel that negative comments about corrupt governments stops people from donating. IMO ............Comic Relief is a drop in the ocean but ...............if it helps a handful of people that's got to be a good thing hasn't it?

I really wasn't attacking you personally.

Info on funded projects in Africa..
 http://www.comicrelief.com/how.../search-for-projects

in the UK :
 http://www.comicrelief.com/how.../search-for-projects

woops, wrong link for the second one.. anyways you can check the UK supported projects from the first link

The situation in Africa will always be on-going IMO. Has it moved forward since the " Save the Word" campaign by Geldoff? I dont know, but it seems to me to be a never ending campaign. A counntry so rich in gold and minerals to be in the state it is today? Seems like the rest of the world has no interst in Africa even when Celebs like Jolie and Madona raise awareness by adopting children from there. Hope this post dont offend but there doesnt seem to be an answer in the long term to this problem.

i don't feel attacked, but I do know, from first hand experience, that the money does not go to the people who need it. I know they show you what improvements have been made, but they would have been tenfold if they didn't have to go past the Government of that country.

True but if in the interim at least some communities suffering is made more bearable .................isn't it worth five quid of your money?

Do they though? It's not donated by the government of this country - it's donated by the people. The way i see it - they simply get in there and get on with the project in hand. I honestly thought that was how and why Comic relief was set up .............it was bypassing corrupt governments and getting straight in to the root of the problem.

you're doing your usual thing and don't listen to a word anybody else says, but you're still wrong.

If i could afford it Soozt i would donate, but with all the cuts coming - i have to watch every penny. Sorry. See how these latest Govt cuts not only affect us in the UK but prob those in poorer countries as well. God- when i think about it, whats the point of life on this planet today? Great for the rich- shite for the poorer.

Hmmm, didn't watch it but I can't help thinking "poverty tourists".  The reason why these countries are so poverty stricken is a combination of capitalist exploitation by the first world, corruption and incompetence within their governments, tribal power struggles, civil wars and being used as political pawns by more powerful nations trying to hawk arms and gain power bases.

Last week Cameron was hawking arms to the Middle East.  Lenny Henry will be in the top 1% of the world's most wealthy and is a chief beneficiary of the system that divides wealth so unequally.  However, even people on the subsistence benefits in this country are closer to the top than the bottom.

Yes, we are lucky, but our luck is built on the long term and on going exploitation of other nations - that's not to say we're not exploited by our own masters.  It's said that the industrial revolution was built on the revenue of the slave trade.  Well maybe so or maybe not, but we don't mind thinking we've got a bargain if we can get a pair of jeans for £10 or a suit for £20.

I really thought I had listened and digested - and then put my own thoughts across. How have i not done that? i've answered your points and then put my own view across. Sorry if they don't agree with yours but surely we're all entitled to an opinion.

Obviously some peoples opinions are more valid than others!

I don't agree there cologne.. 

Jonesy, I see what you're saying.. but the same applies to some of the issues in the UK that funding is targeted to. I think Comic Relief does try to support initiatives that have the potential to effect change that is sustainable, even if it's on a relatively small scale

*edited to add -  it's more strategic than the Live Aid-raise loadsa dosh and then try and figure how to  properly "feed the world" rather than line the pockets of corrupt regimes approach

Sorry soozy, but you never digest and think about it. You're opinion is a valid as anybody's, please don't play the martyr.

Ah well.

Not playing the martyr ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,did i not address your points and answer them? perhaps it's you who doesn't read and digest. Whilst i accept you've had first hand knowledge I do think I read your responses and replied accordingly. Where have i ignored your contribution to this thread?

We don't always agree. I'm on firm ground here because 'veI lived in one the biggest African countries and seen everything first hand. Sorry.

You always come out all guns blazing and then at the end of the thread it's 'oh sorry, I didn't mean to cause any troubel, just my opinion. Well that's fine, but I, for one, have a different opinion and you never take it on. You have no idea about Africa, I do. Please understand that you are not always right and the little person having an innocent glass of wine and please don't attack me. You have an opinion, stand up for it, but be prepared for others to have a different opinion.

NO COMMENT 

Fair dos on that cologne - it was more the "you're doing your usual thing" comment  and the steer away from the subject  to that I was surprised at.

Anyroads, off to bed. G'night folks

Thanks cologne, I thought I'd be crucified for posting that!

Why not? Is it because you can't just come out with you're platitudes about live? You started this discussion. Stand up and be counted if you actually know anything about it.

Nowt to be crucified for,don't think there's many would argue with the bulk it,and loads would applaud! *standing ovation*  

Right, I'm off this time!

No way, you are completely right.

Night slinki.