Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Aid - what does it mean to you?

(41 Posts)
Franski Sun 09-Mar-25 16:01:50

Real aid means UK stopping the brain drain from poor countries by using their trained and highly qualified nurses and doctors to staff our own NHS. It means paying the true cost of goods exported from those countries and puttting pressure on fairly traded products. Basically it's about justice not charity.

Wyllow3 Sun 09-Mar-25 15:21:13

In the cuts due to defence spending the direct aid has to be kept and I believe will, development aims are much more complicated.

Wyllow3 Sun 09-Mar-25 15:19:29

fancythat

The reality may be this

What are the priorities for UK aid spending?
The Labour Government, which took office in July 2024, says its development aim is a “world free from poverty on a liveable planet”. Its priorities include economic transformation and addressing unsustainable debt, providing climate finance and humanitarian aid, conflict prevention, and empowering women and girls. The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has commissioned three reviews into UK aid policy, and is currently considering his response.

Thats the development bit, direct aid is food, water, disease control, initiatives for small steps like farming and small businesses and basic education.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 09-Mar-25 15:12:01

Aid helps educate women and girls, supplies water etc.

I do agree with the charity that RS is involved with, where individual people are given the cash to spend as they wish. They spend it much more wisely and know what they need much better than someone sitting in a charity’s HQs does.

SaxonGrace Sun 09-Mar-25 15:09:55

Very possibly because most aid is stolen by Hamas

MayBee70 Sun 09-Mar-25 15:04:25

Aid means that diseases such as Ebola are controlled at source and don’t spread around the world.

Mustafafag Sun 09-Mar-25 14:58:02

I am utterly appalled that our ally Israel is refusing to allow ANY aid into Gaza, and the silence that has greeted that announcement.

silverlining48 Thu 06-Mar-25 15:06:23

The question was what does Aid mean to you. My view is similar to Babs.
We all know what China is doing in Africa and other places too, but we also did a lot of exploiting ourselves.

Cossy Thu 06-Mar-25 15:04:34

Babs03

Aid means helping other nations which are struggling, many due to western governments plundering their resources and meddling in their politics.
I see it as a first world obligation.

👏👏

David49 Thu 06-Mar-25 14:43:15

Babs03

Aid means helping other nations which are struggling, many due to western governments plundering their resources and meddling in their politics.
I see it as a first world obligation.

Catch up Babs most of Africas debt is owed to China it is they that are exploiting developing countries - along with their own corrupt governments.

Babs03 Thu 06-Mar-25 14:32:00

Aid means helping other nations which are struggling, many due to western governments plundering their resources and meddling in their politics.
I see it as a first world obligation.

fancythat Thu 06-Mar-25 14:30:38

The reality may be this

What are the priorities for UK aid spending?
The Labour Government, which took office in July 2024, says its development aim is a “world free from poverty on a liveable planet”. Its priorities include economic transformation and addressing unsustainable debt, providing climate finance and humanitarian aid, conflict prevention, and empowering women and girls. The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has commissioned three reviews into UK aid policy, and is currently considering his response.

lixy Thu 06-Mar-25 14:25:40

Helping others to become independent.

winterwhite Thu 06-Mar-25 14:08:00

Yes but manpower, goods, medicine cost money. That’s where the cash is needed until local resources and capacity are built up.

Ilovecheese Thu 06-Mar-25 14:06:16

Vaccinations, education, attempt to help people stay in their own countries and live a good life there.

Cossy Thu 06-Mar-25 13:59:40

Lots of talk about Aid, particularly Aid to other less fortunate countries.

To me, Aid is so much more than just “cash”, it’s help in many other ways too. Manpower, expertise, goods, medicines, solidarity.

What does Aid mean to you?