UK to write off Third World debt

Discussion in 'U.K.' started by Zonk, Oct 1, 2004.

  1. Zonk

    Zonk Banned

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  2. The World of Dan

    The World of Dan FSMFTW

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    I think it's great... If we can help them out by clearing the debt, then I'm all for it... (why should it be one rule for the rich and one for the poor?).

    *proud to be british*
     
  3. Zonk

    Zonk Banned

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    I think you missed my point.:)
     
  4. The World of Dan

    The World of Dan FSMFTW

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    Maybe... I'm good at doing that... in any case, I'm still roud to be british.. I think it's a great thing we're doing.
     
  5. Paul

    Paul Cheap and Cheerful

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    It's a step in the right direction, I'd say that much. I'm certainly not proud to be British though ... we've a far bigger history of making a mess of things than getting it right.

    Saying that though I'm glad I'm British, but that's got nothing to do with pride, more like grateful for not being born into some of the more seriously oppressed nations. (like the US :D )
     
  6. DoktorAtomik

    DoktorAtomik Closed For Business

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    Saying your proud to be British is like saying your proud to be a turnip. It doesn't mean very much and it just makes you sound silly :p
     
  7. TheFly

    TheFly Member

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    Is it only me or do I feel there must be some incredibly cynical reason for doing this now... the Jubilee 2000 campaign has been running for years... why now?... hmmmm, could it be to distract us from the balls up over Irag and the fucking farce that has resukted from the campaign to ban fox hunting?... suddenly Balir and Brown have decide to wipe out the thirld world debt after four years of campaigning from the likes og Bono and the rest of the Drop The Debt organisation...

    Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

    Fly...
     
  8. The World of Dan

    The World of Dan FSMFTW

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    Oh sure, the timing is suspect.... but we're still doing it, and people are going to benefit, so what's the problem?
     
  9. Zonk

    Zonk Banned

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    Nobody will benefit....it's just semantics!
     
  10. The World of Dan

    The World of Dan FSMFTW

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    How can you be so negative about it?
     
  11. Zonk

    Zonk Banned

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    Very easily. I spent my childhood in the 'third world'.

    The 'poorest' countries who get their debt dropt I can guarantee will also be the ones who are up to their neck in arms contracts with British companies. It's called giving with one hand and taking with the other and is just basic capitalism. Do you really think this is being done now from the goodness of their hearts?

    If you want to see equality let the 'third world' compete with western markets without having to compete with subsidies. Of course that isn't going to happen, unless you believe we are suddenly going through a period of world revolution.

    For one Starbucks plastic cup of coffee costing £2 a small child or women in South America has to pick a POUND in weight of coffee beans to earn that £2.

    Like I said it's just semantics.

    Just like voting.....If it changed anything they'd make it illegal!:p


    This might interest you http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3709244.stm
     
  12. Zonk

    Zonk Banned

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    Well bloody hell! They finally got around to that little token gesture then!
     
  13. Smartie.uk

    Smartie.uk Member

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    well i think its nice that they have finally done it.. regardless of there reasons and the timing.. its a step in the right direction.. and if its gonna prevoke other countries to follow suit then it must be good to some extent. surely? no? alright then have it your way.
     
  14. The World of Dan

    The World of Dan FSMFTW

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    See, this is what I'm talking about... It's surely better to do it, than to not do it at all...
     
  15. Zonk

    Zonk Banned

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    Well now I'm sure that'll be a great comfort to the impoverished millions....
     
  16. Peace-Phoenix

    Peace-Phoenix Senior Member

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    It's what I call the Tesco effect, 'every little helps!' Of course it's not enough, and of course it's just a token gesture. There's so much more that we can do, but I don't think we should be nagative about what little our governments do that is progressively ethical and good. Or else all of our campaigning voices would be straight out the window. We should work for more, radically more, but let's be thankful for small mercies....
     
  17. Doost

    Doost Member

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    I agree this is probably a token gesture, but i really hope its a token that will do some good. Maybe this will be the start of a roll for blair .. mm maybe not.
     
  18. Zonk

    Zonk Banned

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    Yes, I spend all my time sitting on my arse reading shite from internet warriors like you.:rolleyes:

    Perhaps you'll be encouraging people to go to McShits aswell next?
     
  19. Peace-Phoenix

    Peace-Phoenix Senior Member

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    For all its bad press, Starbucks has actually come a long way in the last year. You can read Oxfam's report on them. They are improving, and we should be thankful for this. It's like the carrot and the stick. Encourage the good they do, but beat them over the back for all the wrongs they are still committing. Coffee wise, I think Oxfam's new initiative through co-operatives of developing world growers is probably the most ethical around....
     
  20. Zonk

    Zonk Banned

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    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3722020.stm

    Well time will tell. It's not like we don't know what the solutions to 'third world' poverty are, is it?! ;)

    "The (Africa) commission meeting comes exactly 20 years after the Ethiopian famine that prompted a worldwide humanitarian response and generated the Band Aid relief effort."

    Nothing like rushing is there.....


    Cynical? It comes from experience I'm afraid.
     

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