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AIBU

AIBU to think that people donating to the RNLI to save people from drowning shouldn’t object to 2% of that money going to save children in poor countries from drowning?

(130 Posts)
crystaltipps Mon 16-Sept-19 13:52:38

Just that really . The Daily Mail is making a hoohaa about it and many of their readers are complaining and stopping their donations. It’s in their accounts for all to see. They are funding teaching children in Bangladesh to swim in a country where 40 children drown a day. I can’t understand why anyone who gives a £1 wouldn’t mind 2p of it going to such a cause.

Joelsnan Tue 17-Sept-19 11:42:46

I think most people are upset about is the fact that they thought they were donating to the National Lifeboat Institute. Brits are very generous in their international charitable donations and if tbe RNLI had set up seperate charities to fund their international work (excellent work that it is). I have little doubt that donations would have poured in.
I think its not that the donations are going overseas, it is the perceived deception. This despite RNLI stating that this funding is shown in their accounts...i am sure very few donors would scan the charity accounts.
The salaries of charity CEO’s etc. is another outrageous issue.

Nelli123 Tue 17-Sept-19 11:11:39

To be fair, it was also reported in The Times, with the main point being that the RNLI is expanding funding to its overseas schemes by more than 10 per cent while cutting jobs in the UK because "it needs to live within its means". www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rnli-funding-burkinis-for-africans-while-cutting-jobs-tnctwwl7d

Whingingmom Tue 17-Sept-19 11:10:45

Human life is human life whatever shape, size, colour it is packaged in so it doesn’t matter to me as long as lives are saved.
However sometimes the six figure salaries of executives in various charities are unjustified and unnecessary in my opinion.

GagaJo Tue 17-Sept-19 11:06:02

EllanVannin, I'm sure your 7 GGC are a lot better off than children in Bangladesh. We're talking 2p in the pound.

We should NOT forget how much the UK raped and despoiled from overseas in our colonial days.

Anthea1948 Tue 17-Sept-19 11:01:48

It's the Daily Mail, so not even worth discussing really, and stopping donations is the kind of thing their readers would do - never mind that 98% of their money would still be going to rescuing people in the UK. I've just looked up the stats and although Bangladesh has about five times as many children as the UK, the number of children that drown per year in the UK is around 60 (still a frightening amount!), the number of the children that drown annually in Bangladesh is over 18,000. We are a far richer country than Bangladesh, why would anyone object to helping those children?

GillT57 Tue 17-Sept-19 10:54:10

Jennifereccles your post offended me in so many ways. I am speechless

Riggie Tue 17-Sept-19 10:52:53

What a nasty postangry

JenniferEccles Tue 17-Sept-19 10:38:52

Can you all not see that by providing a convenient water taxi service to those wishing to enter our country illegally, we are just encouraging others to follow suit?

WHY can you not see that?

So many of these are clearly not refugees at all or they would have sought asylum in France or any of the other safe European countries they would have passed through.

But no, they want to live here, don't they because we are seen as such a soft touch.

The only solution is for the boats to be towed back to France repeatedly until the message gets across that those wishing to come here need to follow the correct asylum seeking procedure.

It is not the job of the RNLI to 'save' illegal immigrants.

Shazmo24 Tue 17-Sept-19 10:30:37

It's only 2% of the total that the RNLI receives goes towards saving the lives of those living in Tanzania & Bangladesh. That's what the RNLI are all about - saving lives! I'm just watching the Jeremy Vine show and the people who are saying they aren't supporting them anymore due to this are ignorant!
I for one will always support them

seadragon Tue 17-Sept-19 10:29:47

inews.co.uk/news/uk/rnli-rise-donations-story-criticising-overseas-work/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=ijp&fbclid=IwAR1cG1n4S3xQGusxkAIDdut9ekCHlFtYqNrtOiyfUZcs6E83IhS1Z2RdiWo .... Donations increased I'm happy to say.

dirgni Tue 17-Sept-19 10:28:28

I will definitely continue to give to the RNLI

Gaunt47 Tue 17-Sept-19 10:14:10

pink quartz, of course you're correct, the RNLI does have to deal with eejits. But the point is that the lifeguards and lifeboat crews are not judgemental - if somebody needs rescuing they are out there doing what they have to.

NotSpaghetti Tue 17-Sept-19 10:06:34

EllanVannin, you may not know this but the government uses some of its foreign aid budget to support the RNLI overseas projects (such as the “learn to swim” ones in Bangladesh).
So the 2p in the pound that is being quoted will include this money from the government.

EllanVannin Tue 17-Sept-19 09:56:38

I have 7 GGC !!! They come first.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 17-Sept-19 09:29:33

Those withdrawing their support, should understand the outcome if everyone did the same.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 17-Sept-19 09:28:31

It is heartening to read that the RNLI site crashed because there were so many people trying to donate yesterday.

harrigran Tue 17-Sept-19 08:58:26

Just because £189,000 is the par does not make it right.

Gaunt47 Tue 17-Sept-19 08:32:52

Harrigran, just to say before you withdraw your support you should check the salaries of other major NGOs. You might be surprised that 189k is pretty much par for the course.

Namsnanny Tue 17-Sept-19 01:16:14

trisher thanks for the info.

I just wondered if people had a choice where their money wentsmile

harrigran Tue 17-Sept-19 00:27:40

I will not be donating again because I was not aware that the CEO was drawing a salary of £189,000 whilst also having a banking pension, meanwhile he is happy to have volunteers risk their lives for no remuneration. If he comes back and says that he will donate a percentage of his own salary to overseas projects then I will rethink.

felice Mon 16-Sept-19 23:07:53

A family member is a Lifeboatman , he regularly puts his life on the line for others, he and all the family are very proud of him and his colleagues. I am horrified that British people grudge the pittance which is given to save lives abroad. We should be applauding these generous individuals. Perhaps those who criticise should do a shift on a Lifeboat or give up a holiday to go to Bangladesh and teach children to swim.

pinkquartz Mon 16-Sept-19 22:44:39

I have also read that much RNLI money is wasted by tourists who haven't bothered to check tide times.

Also owners of expensive boats who don't really know how to use them and have to call for help.
Sadly we still hear sometimes of fishermen dying while out at sea. That is what the RNLI was for, to rescue men working at sea not dipsticks on their hols.

I don't mind some of the money going overseas
I would like to see people fined for being stupid though.
If you can afford an expensive boat then donate when you are rescued. .
A lot of stupid people in the UK cost more than teaching kids to swim abroad.

Anja Mon 16-Sept-19 22:34:43

Iam yes, little nasty jabs of racism creeping in. I noticed that too.

Fiachna50 Mon 16-Sept-19 20:58:05

I bought a lovely shopping bag from the RNLI in Whitby while on holiday there in May. I usually support them where I can. From what is stated here and I have not read the article, I have no objection.

sodapop Mon 16-Sept-19 20:44:16

Maybe they should put their own house in order before they do anything else.