General Chat

I`m sure I wasn`t the only one watching it last night. Was very saddened at the clips they showed of different situations in Africa, especially the little boy who was kidnapped, but later returned to his family, thanks to the money from Comic Relief. I was all emotional and crying(may be pregnancy hormones). It makes you step back and realise how lucky we are. Ok so the country may not be great,we moan about taxes/government etc! But how lucky we are! I donated last night and I hope things will get better for the people of Africa xxxxxxxx

its not just the hormones,i was crying my eyes out espically the two children aged 13(i think) and 7.they had lost their mum to aids and their father was dying and subsequently died of aids.to see these two children ,not much different in age to mine, broke my heart. like you said we forget how lucky we are Karen

that one also got me Karen. It`s just amazing and sad to see how they live. Fetching their water,walking bare footed. Could you imagine saying to your kids if you want a drink/wash etc you have to walk how ever many miles!! I think alot of children/adults who are bad/criminals etc need to go out there and learn a thing or two.

kevin I would like to solve the problem and if I didn`t have my son or a career I`d go out to Africa without hesitation. These people need our help to make their lives better.

Hi Kerry I also spent last night crying at the clips, especially the one where the mum died and left her son and older daughter, it was the sons sobbing that did me :-( I went to Keyna a few years ago on Safari and whilst travelling through Nairobi I saw the edge of the slums where they all live in the tin shacks, it was a shock to see even though I had seen it on tv, it made me appreciate what I have and I made a promise to myself that I would do all I could to make a difference to their way of life. The people of Kenya are happy, smiley people, I didnt see one person begging as we were travelling from one safari park to the next - the authorities dont allow begging anymore, what they now do is sell hand made animals, jewerley etc and if I could have brought one item from every smiling face I saw I would have done, the image that will stay with me forever is the image of a child who was so excited and happy when I gave them a sweet :-) - even now it brings tears to my eyes :-) Karen

Karen my mum and her partner also spent time in Kenya in 2003, she also said that although they live in such poverty they were smiling!She brought me this soap thing that was in a box made out of banana skins...it`s beautiful.

Every year we hear the same thing,This year its going to make a difference.Then you read of people like King Mswati 111,Educated at 'Sherbourne'one of Britains most exclusive private schools.Recieves more than£14.000.000.in International aid, Supposedly for his country'Swaziland'It has the highest rate of HIV.Infection,and yet he spends £9million on Palaces,£450.000.on BMWs.for his Queens,and £270.000.on a Daimler/Chrysler Maybach Car for himself,Now he is going to spend a futher £1.000.000.on a birthday party for himself.This country is part of the Commonwealth. I think that before we send any more cash to these countries,these despots should be removed as a condition of recieving aid. Hal.

Those clips they show really make you think don't they. I was watching it with my 6 year old and after one clip he turned to me and said 'Mummy, what happens when those children's teeth fall out, they haven't got a pillow to put their tooth under'. I couldn't answer him for the tears. He then told me that when his next tooth falls out and the tooth fairy leaves him some money he will send it to Africa. Bless him!

i can only speak as a father,and not as one with much knowledge,of what can be done,to allieviate the horrible suffering,that human beings,just like you and me,are going through. a good starting point,would be to write off third world debt,hoping the benefits would filter down,to village/street level...water supplies,filtration stations...self-sufficiency programmes for food...medication/drugs to be supplied/administered by the west. in the meantime,lets not run our charity work down,every donation helps...the problem is longterm. bryan...who also had the tissues out last night.

The wonderful thing about Comic Relief is that the money given does make a difference. I hesitate to give to some charities but always give to comic relief. I love the success films that they show, which demonstrate how much good our money can do for individuals. I love the reunion story witnessed by Billy Connelly. I cry every time I see it. Gwynne

Kevin where are you from??? I don`t care about my government, all I did was give money to a worthy cause, did not want a political debate about OUR government.

Comic Relief is an amazing charity and long may they do good work for the people of UK & Africa

The problem with removing despots before the country gets aid is that the despots won't agree to go...and then you end up having to use military force, which is what people objected to when the govt got rid of Saddam. nell

what country,do you live in kevin. bryan.

If your government is a model of virtue we would be extremely grateful if you would ask them to speak to our leaders, Kevin. We need some help in the right direction and you seem just the man to succeed where so many hundreds of thousands have failed. :-)

kevin, it was you,that run our government down! you wont name your country,are you so ashamed of them. dont preach to the british people,about charity,we put our money,where our mouth is! bryan.

The clip of the two sisters being reunited had me crying buckets of tears. Thankfully there are people who give money to this fantastic cause and don't hide behind pseudo political convictions as an excuse not to donate. :-)

My comment was directed at you ????????????

It was a question Kevin not a statement.

Kevin, You should be aware that many people in the UK DO lobby our Government about Third World poverty, debt cancellation, trade protectionism, etc, etc. The simple fact is that, once in power, Governments tend to do as they see fit, regardless of the wishes of the electorate, until it is time for them to be up for election again. Then, of course, we get all the grand promises of a better world. After we elect them, very little changes, apart from our taxes increase, we get ever less in return for them and Third World poverty gets worse. You can slate our, or any other Government, as much as you like, but when powerful nations do take action to remove ruling despots (who are responsible for most of the inappropriate use of charitable donaations), they are condemned by the rest of the world and accused of doing so for their own ends. You have a very warped view of the world if you think that the Government of just this country (part of the European Union) could solve the Third World's problems alone. Shouldn't you be directing your attack towards the EU or the UN? CB >|<