was just hopipng for opinions in the light of the UK giving £25M to Beruit, when the UK has many thousands of homeless. So should charity begin at home ?

In the 1980's there was major exploitation of 'Aid'. Some saw it as bribery for commercial contracts. I know Africa used to accept hundreds of tonnes of used car tyres to be buried, as in the 1980's the UK was still not capable of recycling them.

Then the Bhopal / Union Carbide disaster.
hopal-Union_Carbide_1_crop_memorial.jpg" target="_blank">[Link]

The only reason this foreign investment was given, is because India had no H&S regulations at the time. Labour was cheap too.

thoughts anyone ?

I disengage, I turn the page.

25 mil wouldn't be much considering the current wastage. Hopefully, it will be used properly - it won't be checked on. A lot of the money going to Africa is simply bribes. Several times, when anyone bothered tracing the money, it was spent on such necessities as Champagne and Rolls Royces.
I guess with the narrative you are starting with, you could surmise that we really don't care that much about our own people or about foreign people either. Definitely much more was raised for rebuilding Notre Dame, than this Beirut explosion, for example. Although, you might get a few new charity programmes on the tele yet.

Red and Blue Army!

I tend to agree. And it's as much of a gesture really, not a huge amount. Lots of these actions grease the wheels of commerce of trade further down the line too. Better to have decent international relations than to develop a reputation for not having a care for those in need other than on our own doorstep. As with anyone it's all about finding the right balance.

I think whilst the UK is relatively affluent, giving money away needs some explanation/accountability.
For example, the UK gives India Foreign Aid, and they have their own space program.
If it's bribes for business, then fair enough. But if Aid is being channeled into (for example) the arms trade, or a space program, shouldn't this be questioned ?

I'd like more transparency

Especially when ex-forces members (with PTSD) make up a not insignificant amount of the homeless people on our streets.
Should we not be getting out own $hIt together first ?

Edited by Forest Hillbilly (11 Aug 2020 11.20am)

I disengage, I turn the page.

It's disgraceful how the ex forces are treated.

Red and Blue Army!