I work in Africa mate (Nigeria) and the money that comes through the governments hands through Oil revenue is obscene and we're talking Billions every year. The place is still a **** hole and still classed as a third world country and poverty is rife. It's not quite like the Sudan where they have nothing, no revenue, no water, nothing. This place has the means to be one of the best countries in the world, but they never will be due to the corrupt government. Just to piss people off even further here's a few figures to get your head round. Exxon Mobil Nigeria produce roughly half a million barrels of crude daily. Their contract with NNPC (Nigerian Government) is a 60% - 40% split in NNPC's favour, Exxon Mobil bear the brunt of all cost and overheads so that a 60% pure profit for NNPC. Today the price of Brent Crude is $106 a barrel, that's a profit of over $31m a day for NNPC and that's just off Exxon. You also have similar figure from Chevron, Total, Shell, etc, etc. Would I give money to Africa? would I ****, you'd just be making the evil bent twats at the top even richer.
That's ****ing shocking that is. Half the country starving with not so much as a bowl of rice or a loaf of bread & those fat ****s in government sitting in their ivory towers dining on the fines foods. BTW, what do you do with your time over there on your days off?
That recent Flood relief they did for Pakistan - charitable donations topped £30m or something didn;t they - in less than a week. Now I'm all for helping where it's needed but how much would Pakistan give to us if we had the same thing happen? We'd be lucky if it was £30 let alone £30m. most other countries look after number one first and the rest later. britain only seem to care about the foreigners because it boosts our relationship and, potentially, economy. I gavce nothing to the Pakistani flood thing. I give to Marie Curie (lost my Granda to cancer), Heart Foundation (Grandma to heart disease and Dad recently had a bypass due to the illness) and Diabetes UK (I'm diabetic). I look after those close to my heart first. I do charity nights for certain things with my singing where I play "for free" (I always charge a fee but then donate it all to the charity and I only do it for charities which I have time for - i.e. I wouldn;t do it for the Pakistani flood relief) Too much money leaves this country for chritable donations and disappears into the pockets of the government in the country it is going to.
My attitude has changed over the last year or so. I used to give a lot through my business because I thought it would make a difference. Now that I've returned to the UK, and ended the business, my income will reduce dramatically. I'll still give but only to UK charities where I can monitor the results. I'm sorry but I've been giving to foreign charities for years and they still don't have water, food, health care or mosquito nets. So all that money I've sent was a complete waste of time. Will the situation ever change while corrupt people skim off the money before being ousted by more corrupt people? No, just like it will never change in Russia where a handful of gangsters like Abramovich take all the wealth.
Also Pick any precious metal or gem stone or valuable commodity and put it into google i.e diamond reserves and see where each country sits Eye opener
I give to charity in two separate and unrelated ways, firstly I make regular donations to Great Ormond Street hospital, just because I feel they do an amazing job and I really don't mind if the director of the company gets my money or if they spend it on a machine to treat a sick kid. The charity is well run and that's only because of the people who manage it, they are all saving these little kids lives every day, from the surgeons to the cleaners to the boardroom. Secondly, if I see a guy or girl in the street and they ask me for a 'quick chat', if they are passionate about their cause and they really care (and you can tell if they don't) then I feel it's my duty to reward them and make them feel like they're doing a good job, regardless again of where the money ends up. It would be a sad day if everybody gave up volunteering in our country, we are one of the most benevolent nations in the world and that's something to be proud of. Mainly I give to animal welfare charities in this case, homes for dogs and stuff like that. If some advert for starving kids in Africa comes on, endorsed by a ****ing A-lister for some reason, as if we're all brainwashed by Chris ****ing Martin, then I'm inclined to stare at the television, deadpan, emotionless. I feel no connection to this as a plausible avenue to donate my money, there's no incentive, nothing is changing and above all, no ****er is making them wear a condom and until that happens the HIV/AIDS pandemic, won't stop for all the money in the world. Good topic Smug, challenging the charity 'industry' would be considered a taboo subject, too many people just willing to conform because they are brainwashed to do so.
Have to say this is spot on - I went to Tesco at the Nook in South Shields the other day - there were a couple of young girls promoting "Scope". They knew their target audience. both pretty young things and they only stopped men in their middle ages (mid 30's to around 50). EVERY bloke stopped to talk to them - not sure many of them listened as all I could do was stare at their tits - I won;t apologise! I didn;t give but only because I give to charities which mean a lot to me. It also pisses me off when they say "what can 20p buy you" and then go on to say "for just 20p a day". That's £6 a month to you and me. OK so it's not a great deal but, to some, £6 is a big deal. They signed up a few blokes - I stood and watched them for a while and their "marketing" techniques were brilliant Also - I used to love U2 - but Bono is a twat - "If we all give £x to charity" - well give them half of your multi million pounds instead of begging people who have paid a weeks wages to come see your band. Funniest ever was the one where he was clapping his hands every second or so saying "every time I clap my hands, a child in Africa dies" and someone in the crowd shouted "well stop ****ing clapping you cruel twat"!!! Brilliant
Don't get any mate. My rota is 28 on and 28 off and I work 28 days straight, minimum 12 hour shifts, but if I can grab a day off I usually get pissed if I'm onshore.
Haha yeah I remember, the finger clicking thing. I tell you what, I'm not swayed by any celebrity to give to charity, such as Bob Geldof or Bono. As far as I'm concerned the pair of them can go and boil their heads. Sorry but they get ****ing WAY too much credit for what they do. Ricky Gervais does massive amounts for charity, particularly for animals, as does Simon Cowell but you don't see their faces every time somebody shouts 'AIDS'. Fair play to them all for doing it anyway but those two knighthood/lord chasing idiots make me cringe. My gran has got Alzeihmer's, she's really old now but I was asked to make a donation to the home that is looking after her. I said I'd bring them £100 next time I was in only to learn that the government have seized 90% of my gran's estate equivalent to around £400k to pay for her treatment and care. Instead, next time I go to see her I'm going to start stealing the plates and cutlery! Robbing bastards have no shame.
But where do you go for a few beers? My brother in laws cousin works for an oil company over there & he reckons you can't go far without an armed escort. Not like you can just wander into a local bar is it?
You may find this interesting Smug http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10224104/30-charity-chiefs-paid-more-than-100000.html They don`t do badly do they?
What a great gig that is eh? No shareholders to please, no chance of a hostile takeover and no way of checking to see if they've made any change.
Aye, that's true mate and when I'm onshore I'm on a camp which has a bar, so I can get a drink if I want. If I'm in Lagos in the office it's classed as safe so we can wander anywhere really and there's loads of places. But we do have to have armed escorts when travelling about outside of the camp, or coming and going to the airport. Who does this lad work for then Billy?
I must admit I thought they did ok but didn`t realise they were on those kind of salaries. That`s just the ones at the very top there`ll be more right down the line. A colossal drain on donations. Done a bit more research. The British Red Cross charity's chief executive Sir Nicholas Young is paid £184,000. Oxfam chief executive was paid £119,560. Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth is paid £163,000. The RSPCA’s chief executive Gavin Grant earns up to £160,000 a year. No wonder they want it kept quiet.
This is exactly my point why I find giving to small charities which are often set up by families or friends to buy kids wheelchairs or medication or help run local independent animal shelters or local homeless charities, things like, is the best way for my small donations to have a more direct effect. Do the Salvation army have a large pay-role? That's a large charity I do give to, I'd hate to think they behave this way.
Makes you proud. Such a great institution. Takes a lot to make me feel patriotic these days but that Charity really is an absolute credit to a once Great Britain. Thanks Pops. Made my day there.
