Haiti aid.

[anotheoldgit]

It has been reported that Britain has now trebled it's aid to Haiti now sending about £19m.

Why is Britain making this pledge?

Since we belong to the European Union, shouldn't it be up to the EC. to pledge a fixed amount, on behalf of all it's members?

[sp1814]

It's because we're nice guys and we have a very strong belief in charity.

Live Aid, Children In Need, Red Nose Day.

We're givers.

[Gromit]

More worryingly, it is reported that the British Public have donated £23million of their own money to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for the Haiti earthquake victims.

Why donate all that money to those suffering foreigners (many of them black) when you could spend the same amount on a week subscription to the Daily Mail?

[Everhelpful]

Main problem is,how much will get through to needy,and how much will get creamed off for "Expenses"?

[Sandy-Wroe]

If you gave through a charity like Christian Aid, or Oxfam, you could be sure your money was going to help desperate people.

[jno]

because, despite what every Daily Mail reader's worst fears, we are still independent of the Great European Superstate?

[New Judge]

Not so.

The independence only works when it comes to shelling out. No doubt, eventually, the EU will also pledge a wheelbarrow full of cash (confiscated from the indivdual nations) to give the impression it is a State in its own right. Meantime, of course, the UK is allowed by the EU to provide its own cash.

However, If there was money coming in (some chance!) it would have to be distributed centrally from the EU. The "poorest" nations would get the lion's share and those well off nations (which, inconceivably considering out current plight, includes the UK) would be at the back of the queue. We would not be allowed to cream off our share first.

The easy answer to this is for governments to cease making these payments, reduce taxation (thus allowing people to keep more of their own money) and let them choose what to spend it on. As has been shown, many of them may wwell spend it on disaster funds. But those who do not feel so inclined would not be forced to do so.

[rov1200]

I quite agree AOG it should all come from the EU. Today we have trebled the amount Britain is giving. Spendthrift Brown does not need to worry as it comes out of the taxpayers pocket.

[waterbabe]

Wont get to the people that need it, it never does you'll see

[fredpuli47]

Britain is sending just £20 million. The EU is sending £354 million (400 million euros)137 million euros is being sent for immediate aid, the rest is for medium and long term aid. [BBC online reports]

What was the question again, AOG ?

[Androcles]

Shed loads of cash - tell me again why we can't actually deliver any of the aid to the people who need it, in a timely way? Guy from the UN said they couldn't possibly drop food from helicopters because they might fight, so what are they doing now? Dropping food from helicopters......

[Mr Veritas]

Can you show me somewhere(link) how much the EU has (or has not) sent in aid?

[Booldawg]

Pleased to see American troops out there helping with the rescue effort. Where's all the critics that maintain America only sends in troop to protect oil interests?

[fredpuli47]

http://news/bbc.co.uk...d/europe/84565849.stm

is the link to the BBC account of EU aid to Haiti.

[fredpuli47]

Oops ! No it isn't. One digit too many. Try again.
BBC link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk...ld/europe/8465849.stm

[fredpuli47]

Oh, I give up.'Not found'. Try googling 'eu 400 million bbc' (or something!) Anyway that's where I quoted the account from: bbc,co.uk

[Mr Veritas]

With fred's help, this is from BBC Caribbean.

EU steps up to the plate

The European Union has pledged 400 million euros ($575.6m) to help the needy in Haiti and help rebuild the country from the rubble of last week's earthquake.

EU Development Commissioner Karel de Gucht said the aid would include 137 million euros for short-term needs and at least 200 million for the medium- and longer-term.

On top of such aid, the EU was moving toward sending 150 people to be part of a police force to beef up security in Haiti.

[youngmafbog]

Brown should not pledge any of our money. We (and the Germans) pay enough into the EU that should cover this sort of thing. As pointed out earlier, reduce taxes and let people decide where they want it to go.

I see we have the usual albeit disgused 'racist' slur from some pinko above as well. Get a life man.