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Join the Battle! Wasteful Foreign Aid

(62 Posts)
CelticRose Tue 21-Nov-17 14:20:24

Petition 200292 requires 100,000 e-signatures in order for the Government to debate UK paying wasteful foreign aid. A campaign has started today. For those GNs who agree, the link to the website follows:

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200292

mcem Thu 23-Nov-17 21:16:23

Hope that celticrose sees that the plea in the OP is gaining minimal support on GN and the original petition isn't getting an overwhelming number of signatures either.

Lazigirl Fri 24-Nov-17 20:55:16

Yes the negative response, in the main, to this mean spirited petition appeal has been extremely heartwarming. smile.

durhamjen Sat 25-Nov-17 00:29:04

Has anyone on here signed it, apart from CelticRose?

I always think of a Celtic Rose as being concerned about other people. Obviously wrong.

durhamjen Sat 25-Nov-17 11:54:46

The EU has cut the amount of money given on foreign aid, and reduced the number of categories.
Fortunately health and education are still considered important.

GillT57 Sat 25-Nov-17 12:20:22

A no from me too. These petitions are often started by ghastly Britain First, they had a lot going with during remembrance day, suggesting that the only reason veterans are in the streets is due to immigrants jumping the housing queue. I don't know what worries me most, the fact that they churn out these lies or the fact that stupid people believe them.

Wheniwasyourage Sat 25-Nov-17 12:44:02

Not signing. It seems obvious to me that quite apart from pressing humanitarian reasons for giving aid from rich countries, as ours still is, to poor countries, there is also an argument of self-interest. If life is so miserable for people that they think it is worth risking their lives to come to Europe, it must be pretty bad. If we do nothing to help things improve where they are now, they will want to come here in ever larger numbers, and who could blame them? Surely the self-interest argument would appeal to those who want to raise the drawbridge?

Smithy Sat 25-Nov-17 22:18:55

Very well put,WIWYA.

GracesGranMK2 Sat 25-Nov-17 23:07:00

I certainly wouldn't sign it. It's not a 'battle' I would want to join in any way, shape or form.

CelticRose Mon 01-Jan-18 16:59:19

So much for not shooting the messenger, then! Democracy still working - you had a choice. The Petition has been signed with more than the number required, and Government will debate Foreign Aid being sent to corrupt governments. Now that Mugabe has "left the building" so to speak, perhaps Foreign Aid will get to those in Zimbabwe who need it rather than to those who stash it in private Swiss bank accounts. Zimbabwe once again invited to join the Commonwealth of Nations headed by HM The Queen.

Baggs Mon 01-Jan-18 17:05:33

Something in the news today about Boris Johnson changing the foreign aid "jam jars" so maybe the petition is already having an effect. I think he wants to help Rohingya refugees more, for instance.

petra Mon 01-Jan-18 20:24:37

Claire Short, the UKs first International Aid minister is backing this, she said:
Im afraid the department has lost capacity and 0.7% has ended up being destructive