What changed?
Some of you might already have noticed that I am not a great fan of charities. I do not like them for several reasons, first there are very few problems that have ever been solved by a charity, that tends to take government action, secondly they provide a shield for governments to hide behind and dodge their own responsibilities, and finally they are how rich people salve their consciences. They dodge tax, campaign for ever lower taxes and then give some of their savings to charity.
But recently there has been endless coverage of the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, the “concert that changed the world”.
Except did it?
What really changed? There was a great getting together of pop stars and fans, millions was raised and we all patted ourselves on the back and then what?
Has war, famine and disease been conquered? Did we not just go back to work the next day and try to earn as much as possible? Did we still complain about taxes, and vote for those who promised to lower them, or did people campaign for higher taxes in order to feed the world?
40 years on climate change is devastating much of the developing world and we are putting up the barriers to immigration and cutting our aid budgets to the bone.
Nothing changed, we are still as selfish, greedy and uncaring as we ever were, maybe even worse, but don’t worry a nice cuddly charity will be along soon to cure all the world’s ills, for free.
That will make us feel better, won’t it?
From Jonty Bloom Media Ltd
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
Parochial message on the role of charities and in particular the Central London YMCA. As a long term member of the Y in Tottenham Court Road I and fellow members were surprised and shocked that the club could be closed with virtually no warning and no consultation in February this year. The Y it seems is made up of a number of independent charities with their own trustees not a worldwide organisation. For reasons too complicated to include on this post, the organisation was not being run with its future in mind and consequently the funding and level of membership fees etc were unsustainable. It has long been used as a social facility for many across the area and the closure has hit many people hard. The local MP is the PM, the building is almost unique as a major sports facility with 4 badminton court size and triple height for most indoor games. There is a a 25m pool, sauna, steam room, gym, weights rooms etc. The building was sold to Criterion Capital, notorious property developer currently doing battle with the Prince Charles Cinema in Shaftesbury avenue over the future of the cinema.
Rant over but as a symptom of what can happen under the eyes of a ‘charity’ it is a lesson worth studying and protections should be in place to avoid a repetition.
I wish that I coud disagree with you.