China Increases Typhoon Aid to Philippines

[joebloggs]

China is increasing the amount of its relief aid to the typhoon-hit Philippines, days after it offered an initial donation much smaller than that of other global powers.



read more here .. http://www.voanews.com/content/china-increases-typhoon-aid-to-philippines/1790035.html

[grahamw48]

It all helps. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[sars_notd_virus]

thank you
xie xie!!
:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Arthur Little]

:xxgrinning--00xx3: ... well done, China! :smile:

[Terpe]

Let's not think that China's dispute with Philippines doesn't count...........it does.
That's a fact of life.
China is a neighbour, it's also the second largest economy on the planet.

But anyway, every help is a big help and I and my family am glad for that.

[gWaPito]

Let's not think that China's dispute with Philippines doesn't count...........it does.
That's a fact of life.
China is a neighbour, it's also the second largest economy on the planet.

But anyway, every help is a big help and I and my family am glad for that.

''China is actually still a poor country. Its per capita income finally topped $9,000 last year, which ranks China about 90th in the world, depending on the exact measure.

Nearly 130 million of its people live on less than $1.80 per day. With a renewed sense of urgency to tackle the country's many economic reform challenges, China has far too many pressing needs at home to be cutting big checks abroad.''

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-china-gave-such-meager-aid-to-the-philippines-2013-11#ixzz2klWivjLt

[joebloggs]

While China and the United States both have among the greatest number of millionaire households, they have among the highest rates of income inequality, according to the United Nations. Millionaire households, or households with $1 million or more in total AuM (assets under management), represented just 0.9% of all households in 2010. These households own 39% of the total wealth, however. This is an increase from 37% in 2009. As wealth increases, the amount that is owned by millionaires increases dramatically.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/15/countries-most-billionaires/2811571/

[grahamw48]

Well, if China can afford so many grandiose projects...buying up half the world's resources of metal, etc....

[Terpe]

''China is actually still a poor country. Its per capita income finally topped $9,000 last year, which ranks China about 90th in the world, depending on the exact measure.

Nearly 130 million of its people live on less than $1.80 per day. With a renewed sense of urgency to tackle the country's many economic reform challenges, China has far too many pressing needs at home to be cutting big checks abroad.''

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-china-gave-such-meager-aid-to-the-philippines-2013-11#ixzz2klWivjLt


:Erm:

[gWaPito]

Well, if China can afford so many grandiose projects...buying up half the world's resources of metal, etc....

Yes, but can they afford it while 130 million of it's citizens suffer in silence

[joebloggs]

Yes, but can they afford it while 130 million of it's citizens suffer in silence

gWaPito your sounding like a caring socialist :biggrin:

[SimonH]

Sounds more like proof that socialism doesn't work :wink:

[gWaPito]

Sounds more like proof that socialism doesn't work :wink:
Cheers Simon :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[joebloggs]

Cheers Simon :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Nearly half of all children in Britain's most deprived urban areas are living below the poverty line, new report reveals

it shows capitalism doesn't work from the newspaper of the year :icon_lol:


One in five British children live below the poverty line with the number rising to nearly half in the most deprived areas of Manchester, according to research released today.

The Campaign to End Child Poverty published figures today showing that 20.2 per cent of British children are classified as below the poverty line, before housing costs.

In eight areas of large cities, more than four out of every 10 children lived in poverty in 2012, the research showed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2281567/Nearly-half-children-Britains-deprived-urban-areas-living-poverty-line-new-report-reveals.html

[SimonH]

From the same article:-
But that is a decrease on the 19 parliamentary constituencies that had 40 per cent of children living in poverty in 2011.
The poorest constituency for children was Manchester Central, with nearly half (47 per cent) of children living in poverty.
More than four in 10 children were living in poverty in Belfast West (43 per cent), Glasgow North East (43 per cent), Ladywood, Birmingham (42 per cent), Liverpool Riverside (42 per cent), and Middlesbrough (40 per cent).


So things are improving :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[joebloggs]

:laugher: that article i posted was from the mail , you have to go back to feb to find a recent article about child poverty on there , i wonder why :icon_lol:


The Government has a statutory requirement, enshrined in the Child Poverty Act 2010 , to end child poverty by 2020. However, it is predicated that by 2020/21 another 1 million children will be pushed into poverty as a result of the Coalition Government’s policies.

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_projects/child_poverty/child_poverty_what_is_poverty/child_poverty_statistics_facts.htm

[SimonH]

Joe, thank you :xxgrinning--00xx3: That link has giving me the biggest laugh I've had in ages :icon_lol:

From the article :-


How does poverty affect families?
24% of children in the poorest fifth of households are in families who can’t afford to keep their house warm, compared to just 1% in the richest fifth.
Nearly half of all children in the poorest fifth of households are in families who can’t afford to replace broken electrical goods, compared with just 3% of children in the richest households.
62% of children in the poorest fifth of households have parents who would like to, but cannot afford to take their children for a holiday away from home for one week a year. This only applies to 6% of children in the richest fifth.

So, 1% of the richest families can't afford to keep their homes warm, 3% can't afford to replace electrical goods and 6% can't afford a holiday :laugher:

[grahamw48]

How do you define 'poverty' in the UK ?

Struggling to afford the sports package on Sky ?

Having to roll your own smokes ?

Can only afford a takeway 3 times a week ?

Can only afford cheaper beers ?

Holiday abroad only once every two years ?

Sorry, but a LOT of people are in so-called poverty in this welfare-state country because of their own stupidity.

It's their kids I feel sorry for.

I just wish they could be stopped from producing them until they adopt a more responsible attitude towards life. :NoNo:

[Terpe]

China ready to send medical teams to PH

http://static.rappler.com/images/tacloban-aid-grafitti-20131114-epa-640.jpg
A Filipino woman walks past a closed store in super typhoon Haiyan devastated Tacloban City

China says it is "ready" to send emergency medical personnel to the disaster-hit Philippines after its earlier pledges of financial and material aid were criticized as meager given its economic power.

The Chinese government, which has a long-standing territorial dispute with the Philippines, initially offered just $100,000 to help in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) but raised its offer by a further $1.6 million on Thursday, November 14.

"In light of the current actual needs of the typhoon-hit areas, the Chinese government is ready to dispatch the emergency medical assistance team on humanitarian grounds," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement posted on the ministry's website Sunday, November 17.

He added that private groups, including one under the Chinese Red Cross, have also expressed willingness to travel to the Philippines to assist in disaster relief.

Hong said the rescue teams would depart "when conditions" allow but did not provide further details on the contingent.

China was in close contact with the Philippine government on the provision of medical assistance, he said.

Beijing's offer of aid has been dwarfed by contributions from the US, which is leading the relief effort, Britain and Japan.

Questions over the size of Chinese assistance come as Beijing and Manila are involved in a dispute over islands in the South China Sea that both nations claim and which has cast a shadow over their bilateral relations.

Source:-
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/typhoon-yolanda/43935-china-ready-to-send-medical-teams-to-ph

[grahamw48]

Thanks for the update Peter.

Let's hope nobody is still hungry and thirsty after all this time ! :bigcry:

[gWaPito]

How do you define 'poverty' in the UK ?

Struggling to afford the sports package on Sky ?

Having to roll your own smokes ?

Can only afford a takeway 3 times a week ?

Can only afford cheaper beers ?

Holiday abroad only once every two years ?

Sorry, but a LOT of people are in so-called poverty in this welfare-state country because of their own stupidity.

It's their kids I feel sorry for.

I just wish they could be stopped from producing them until they adopt a more responsible attitude towards life. :NoNo:

Spot on Graham. I would call having to live on £1.70 a day poverty..just like the 130 million folks in China and 40% of the Philippine population That was before the recent earthquake and tyhoon.

[joebloggs]

How do you define 'poverty' in the UK ?

Struggling to afford the sports package on Sky ?

Having to roll your own smokes ?

Can only afford a takeway 3 times a week ?

Can only afford cheaper beers ?

Holiday abroad only once every two years ?

Sorry, but a LOT of people are in so-called poverty in this welfare-state country because of their own stupidity.

It's their kids I feel sorry for.

I just wish they could be stopped from producing them until they adopt a more responsible attitude towards life. :NoNo:

so if there is no poverty in the UK, why is there a Child Poverty Act 2010 :Erm:

the bill received cross party support :doh

[joebloggs]

Spot on Graham. I would call having to live on £1.70 a day poverty..just like the 130 million folks in China and 40% of the Philippine population That was before the resent earthquake and tyhoon.

tell me gWaPito, as you do your weekly shop, do you spend more than £11.90 on food a week (£1.70*7), oh and don't forget to take off your rent, poll tax, gas, water, electricity, everyone has to pay these :wink:

now tell me what is the minimum you need a day to survive:Erm:, and then what figure you would use to say your living in poverty. i wait your answers :wink:

[SimonH]

There is no definition of poverty in the UK, it is taken that anyone earning below 60% of the median wage is below the poverty line, so therefore the bottom 30% of earners are always going to be below the poverty line :cwm25:

[Michael Parnham]

How do you define 'poverty' in the UK ?

Struggling to afford the sports package on Sky ?

Having to roll your own smokes ?

Can only afford a takeway 3 times a week ?

Can only afford cheaper beers ?

Holiday abroad only once every two years ?

Sorry, but a LOT of people are in so-called poverty in this welfare-state country because of their own stupidity.

It's their kids I feel sorry for.

I just wish they could be stopped from producing them until they adopt a more responsible attitude towards life. :NoNo:

Well said Graham! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[grahamw48]

tell me gWaPito, as you do your weekly shop, do you spend more than £11.90 on food a week (£1.70*7), oh and don't forget to take off your rent, poll tax, gas, water, electricity, everyone has to pay these :wink:

now tell me what is the minimum you need a day to survive:Erm:, and then what figure you would use to say your living in poverty. i wait your answers :wink:

People on most benefits DON'T have to pay rent or council tax.

Food has never been cheaper in this country...and HEALTHY food more easily available year-round.

Energy bills are high (but so are comfort levels in homes).

ANYBODY who is classed as in 'fuel poverty' (ie spending more than 10% of their income on fuel) is entitled to receive free home insulation, and in many cases a brand new replacement boiler too.

There are two lots of heating subsidies being paid by the govt. this winter for those on Pension Credit, as well as the elderly.

Then we have the various additional freebies for those on most benefits or on OAP...ie free dental treatment, glasses, prescriptions etc.

How anyone can compare our mollycoddled existence to REAL poverty in countries like the Philippines is just beyond me. :NoNo:

[joebloggs]

Well said Graham!:xxgrinning--00xx3:

tell me Michael and Graham what monthly figure would you define as poverty ?

[grahamw48]

tell me Michael and Graham what monthly figure would you define as poverty ?

Poverty is a 'condition' a 'state of being'. Figures are meaningless, as they are so variable and circumstances-dependent.

You've either got sufficient for your basic needs (not bloody Sky TV, fags and booze !) or not.

There is a system set up in this country to help prevent people from being poor, to the extent they are suffering.

Of course you can take a horse to water...:NoNo:

[joebloggs]

People on most benefits DON'T have to pay rent or council tax.

Food has never been cheaper in this country...and HEALTHY food more easily available year-round.

Energy bills are high (but so are comfort levels in homes).

ANYBODY who is classed as in 'fuel poverty' (ie spending more than 10% of their income on fuel) is entitled to receive free home insulation, and in many cases a brand new replacement boiler too.

There are two lots of heating subsidies being paid by the govt. this winter for those on on Pension Credit, as well as the elderly.

Then we have the various additional freebies for those on most benefits or on OAP...ie free dental treatment, glasses, prescriptions etc.

How anyone can compare our mollycoddled existence to REAL poverty in countries like the Philippines is just beyond me. :NoNo:

give me a figure graham, tell me what you think the minimum monthly amount would be that anything less you would then class as living in poverty for

someone on benefits
someone working
a married couple both working with 2 kids.

[grahamw48]

Try PERSUADING people to have FREE insulation and FREE new boilers.

I do it nearly every day of the week, and have been doing so for over 30 years.

You wouldn't believe the stupidity, apathy and bone-idleness I encounter. :NoNo:

[grahamw48]

Joe, I will NOT be giving you any meaningless figures ...sorry.

It's a bone I won't be fighting over.

[joebloggs]

Poverty is a 'condition' a 'state of being'. Figures are meaningless, as they are so variable and circumstances-dependent.

You've either got sufficient for your basic needs (not bloody Sky TV, fags and booze !) or not.

There is a system set up in this country to help prevent people from being poor, to the extent they are suffering.

Of course you can take a horse to water...:NoNo:

you work graham, you must have a minimum figure you need to survive without cigs, beer, sky etc, a figure you need, at the end of the month you would have £0 left or your were getting in debt :Erm: you've never thought about it ?

[grahamw48]

I know the figure, but that is my personal business. :smile:

Fortunately I've also CHOSEN not to be in debt.

[joebloggs]

Joe, I will NOT be giving you any meaningless figures ...sorry.

It's a bone I won't be fighting over.


there are not meaningless figures , I'm asking you for a minimum monthly figure you regard as being in poverty ..

[grahamw48]

Joe, when I came back from the Philippines in 2003 and found that my wife had found a new man during my absence, I was standing at 'her' front door, homeless, jobless, with a flight bag and £180 to my name...having left 99% my stuff in the Philippines....never to be seen again.

Does that count as being in 'poverty' ?

Booking myself into the YMCA hostel . Poverty ?

Though in shock and despair at losing my family and my home, the next day I went looking for work. I first laid a floor in a company's office, which earned me fifty quid.

I was then offered a job door-knocking for wall insulation and hopefully selling it. Commission-only.

I had no transport, and only construction boots to put on my feet, so I worked locally. My sister gave me a warmer jacket.

That is not easy work, and a lot would turn their noses up at it, but it enabled me to earn some money and start saving for a car and better accommodation so that I didn't have to walk the 3 miles each way to see my son, after having walked all day long too (at the age of 52). Spending time with my son was what kept me going, even though the surroundings in a hostel weren't the best.

I kept working, pounding the streets in all weathers, gradually building up some funds until I could buy an old car and some outings with my boy.

When the duty-free cigs ran out I went to the smoking clinic and got some patches, which enabled me to stop smoking for the next 3 years.

And so it went on, until little by little, working hard every day, including Saturdays, I was able to find a nice little place to rent and some reasonable transport. No work...no money. Always commission-only. No benefits.

So yes, I know what poverty is, and hardship, and making things happen through your own efforts.

[SimonH]

That sounds to me like a man who was kicked in the :censored: but instead of whinging and crying, he dusted himself down, stood up straight and got on with it. A man that has a bigger pair of :censored: than 99% of the scrounging unwashed out there :smile:
Well done Graham :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[stevewool]

poverty, well what is it, growing up with another 12 sisters and brothers, did i ever go without, well compared to others yes and compared to some not at all, did i have pocket money, no, did we eat three meals a day no, did we go without anything no, it was what we were brought up with, you all can go on about figures and this and that, and yes there are some unfortunate children in this country, but its down to the parents to help them get out of the poverty they find themselves in.

Today i am very fortunate to have what i want when i want, but i dont choose that, i make sure that i wont go without in the future, the problem i see is rather then put food on the table people would rather have the latest game or clothes, just my thoughts no offence meant to others who are struggling to live

[joebloggs]

So yes, I know what poverty is, and hardship, and making things happen through your own efforts.

so if you know what poverty is, you can put a rough figure on what someone would need to survive ?

i take it then having £0 is poverty to you ?

i'm not trying to trick anyone, it seems some people on here are saying there is no poverty in the UK, but when i ask for a rough figure of what you would call poverty no one can answer :doh

[joebloggs]

poverty, well what is it, growing up with another 12 sisters and brothers, did i ever go without, well compared to others yes and compared to some not at all, did i have pocket money, no, did we eat three meals a day no, did we go without anything no, it waas what we was brought up with, you all can go on about figures and this and that, and yes there are some unfortunate children in this country, but its down to the parents to help them get out of the poverty they find themselves,
Today i am very fortunate to have what i want when i want, but i dont chose that, i make sure that i wont go without in the future, the problem i see is rather then put food on the table people would rather have the latest game or cloths, just my thoughts no offence ment to others who are struggling to live

so your parents had £0 money steve ? no benefits or they didn't work ? , i dont know about expenses in the past, but if we talk about today in terms of money

say your working, after tax would you say £800 for a single person is poverty ?

[stevewool]

joe i have no figure for what you are looking for, but i know myself whatever figure i had to live on it would have to do, yes there may be lots of going without but you will survive you just have to, remember poverty to one is not having a hundred quid in your pocket, yet to others its have nothing in your pocket, so tell us what your figure is or what you would feel comfortable with

[stevewool]

so your parents had £0 money steve ? no benefits or they didn't work ? , i dont know about expenses in the past, but if we talk about today in terms of money

say your working, after tax would you say £800 for a single person is poverty ?

being the youngest in the household Joe, i did not know what was coming into the house, dad was working, free school meals and a new school uniform is all i can remember, like i have said you cut your cloth according to how you live

[joebloggs]

joe i have no figure for what you are looking for, but i know myself what ever figure i had to live on it would have to do, yes there may be lots of going without but you will survive you just have to, remember poverty to one s not having a hundred quid in your pocket, yet to others its to have nothing in your pocket, so tell us what your figure is or what you would feel comfortable with


being the youngest in the household Joe, i did not know what was coming into the house' dad was working, free school meals and a new school uniform is all i can remember, like i have said you cut your cloth according to how you live

well my mom struggled with 3 kids when she became a widow :NoNo: anyway ..

everyone has to pay certain bills, whether your on benefits or not, if you have £0 left at the end of the month or are getting in debt then that's no way to live, just surviving is that poverty ? isn't that what many in the phils do, just survive ?

roughly rent for a 1 bedroom flat near me i would say minimum of £400 a month
electric\gas £100 a month, water £30, poll tax £100 , food £7 a day = £200 a month. I'll not include luxuries like a TV license or internet, a car, insurance, clothes etc,

£830 a month your struggling :NoNo:

[grahamw48]

so if you know what poverty is, you can put a rough figure on what someone would need to survive ?

i take it then having £0 is poverty to you ?

i'm not trying to trick anyone, it seems some people on here are saying there is no poverty in the UK, but when i ask for a rough figure of what you would call poverty no one can answer :doh

Google it Joe.

How the hell would I know what other people need ? :doh

[joebloggs]

Google it Joe.

How the hell would I know what other people need ? :doh

if you don't know what other people need how can you say there is no poverty in the UK ?

GWaPito said many survive on £1.70 a day in the Phils, i just said that a single person would need to have at least £830 a month to survive unless we want people to start living in cardboard boxes on the street and I'm sure none of us want that, then yes you can survive on a lot less.

[stevewool]

roughly rent for a 1 bedroom flat near me i would say minimum of £400 a month
electric\gas £100 a month, water £30, poll tax £100 , food £7 a day = £200 a month. I'll not include luxuries like a TV license or internet, a car, insurance, clothes etc,

£830 a month your struggling :NoNo:

Indeed Joe, so something has to give, and you then turn the heating off, and maybe that may help, i must say most on this forum has some time in their life struggled to pay their way whether its a few months or years , but you still get by one way or another,

In fact i can remember the jumble sale too when we was kids, thats where we got a new toy and maybe a crap jumper that you had to grow into and that took a year, bloody baggy things and why did they always itch too :NoNo:

[joebloggs]

that £830 doesn't include clothes, savings to replace worn out stuff, cooker, fridge etc, getting to work - transport costs, cheapest i know of is a monthly bus pass thats near £70 a month.

[grahamw48]

if you don't know what other people need how can you say there is no poverty in the UK ?

GawPito said many survive on £1.70 a day in the Phils, i just said that a single person would need to have at least £830 a month to survive unless we want people to start living in cardboard boxes on the street and I'm sure none of us want that, then yes you can survive on a lot less.

Please show me where I said that Joe. :NoNo:

I didn't plan to get into a silly tit for tat argument over this Joe, because I've better things to do with my time, and all the answers are there for you on the internet as you well know.

The government have set what they and their experienced advisors have deemed to be the minimum income required by either individuals or families in this country.

I check people's benefit documents, income, bills etc every day of the week..in their own homes, as well as chat to them about their circumstances (and reasons for being in 'need'). I also visit working people from all backgrounds every day of the week, and have been doing so since 1977. Before that I worked at the Unemployment Benefit Office.

Friend, I know what I'm talking about, and that's the end of the discussion as far as I'm concerned. Sorry if that comes across as arrogant. It's just the truth.

You can rake around looking for an argument for as long as you like. It isn't happening this afternoon. Google is your friend. :smile:

[fred]

if you don't know what other people need how can you say there is no poverty in the UK ?

GWaPito said many survive on £1.70 a day in the Phils, i just said that a single person would need to have at least £830 a month to survive unless we want people to start living in cardboard boxes on the street and I'm sure none of us want that, then yes you can survive on a lot less.


I wish I could once again give you, Joe and Graham a rep but I can't as system wont let me.. I agree with you both at the same time!!
I've seen the locals going through a real tough time this week.. It's hard to explain really, but after watching how the "poor" here react to adversity here actually never fails to amaze me!!

They smile as if everything is almost normal..

Completely different culture and a completely different way at how life is assessed in different parts of the world..
I know this may sound crazy but I've been poor on both parts of the earth..For some strange reason if it ever happened again to me,I woulds choose to be here.. I don't think I would have the guts to be "poor" in England again.

Just sayin..
Fred.

[joebloggs]

Please show me where I said that Joe. :NoNo:



every time I've posted about poverty in the UK you've always posted that their parents find money for cigs, PlayStations and beer

so now your telling me there is poverty in the uk ?

[gWaPito]

it seems some people on here are saying there is no poverty in the UK

Not compared to the likes of The Philippines and China, there isn't.....This is all I was saying Joe

[gWaPito]

I don't think I would have the guts to be "poor" in England again.

Just sayin..
Fred.

Same goes for me. .It perhaps makes me what I am.

I know when I first met Jane I extended my vacations....I could ill afford it but did it anyway. ...you could say we were living like the natives.

I couldn't begin to imagine doing that again here in UK, not at my age. You never forget hard times.

[joebloggs]

Not compared to the likes of The Philippines and China, their isn't.....This is all I was saying Joe

and why is that then gWaPito ?

[Arthur Little]

Then we have the various additional freebies for those on most benefits or on OAP ...ie free dental treatment, glasses, prescriptions etc.

Yes ... OAPs receive free prescriptions, Graham. But neither dental treatment NOR glasses are free to the over 65s here, unfortunately. :NoNo:



How anyone can compare our mollycoddled existence to REAL poverty in countries like the Philippines is just beyond me. :NoNo:

...................... :yeahthat:'s true, :iagree:!

[joebloggs]

Arthur are you mollycoddled that you can afford to heat your home, if you can do you think there are pensioners out there who can't :cwm25: maybe you've got a private pension to help, there must be many pensioners out there that don't and wish they were mollycodded :biggrin:

[Arthur Little]

Arthur are you mollycoddled that you can afford to heat your home, if you can do you think there are pensioners out there who can't :cwm25: maybe you've got a private pension to help, there must be many pensioners out there that don't and wish they were mollycodded :biggrin:

:nono-1-1: ... as I've stated on here several times, I retired early from full time work with a modest, index~linked pension which - *when I turned sixty - was barely enough to support myself. And, from *then on, until I reached the age of sixty-five, it had to be topped-up with **Pension Credit ... **which was later discontinued when I became an OAP in September 2009 - six months after Myrna arrived in the UK as my wife. Being a State Pensioner now, I'm entitled to an annual Winter Fuel Payment of £200. But much as this isn't to be "sniffed at", :readingpapers: it barely "scrapes the bottom of the barrel" when it comes to coping with the heating bills - thanks to the greed of the Energy Companies.

So no, I wouldn't say I'm mollycoddled. But I recognise I'm DEFINITELY luckier than lots of folk ... :anerikke: ... mainly because I don't have the very hefty upkeep of a car to worry about.

[joebloggs]

So no, I wouldn't say I'm mollycoddled. But I recognise I'm DEFINITELY luckier than lots of folk ...

i can't argue with that Arthur :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[gWaPito]

so if you know what poverty is, you can put a rough figure on what someone would need to survive ?

i take it then having £0 is poverty to you ?

i'm not trying to trick anyone, it seems some people on here are saying there is no poverty in the UK, but when i ask for a rough figure of what you would call poverty no one can answer :doh

In my experience, once you've gone through something like Graham has, the thought of poverty never leaves you. No matter what I earn, it's never enough....I used to dread looking at bank statements and whatnot, I still do even thou I'm doing good..those broke years of the late 70s early 80s must of scared me :NoNo:.........I know I'm not the only one like this.

[gWaPito]

and why is that then gWaPito ?
Possibly something to do with the welfare state :cwm25:....there's none of that in those third world countries

[London_Manila]

I would imagine anyone on the minimum wage and living in London would be in poverty or very close to it

Renting accommodation here is sky high now and i don't know how most can afford it

surviving not living diba

[gWaPito]

That sounds to me like a man who was kicked in the :censored: but instead of whinging and crying, he dusted himself down, stood up straight and got on with it. A man that has a bigger pair of :censored: than 99% of the scrounging unwashed out there :smile:
Well done Graham :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Absolutely, Simon....I've only just read that post of Graham's :NoNo: bugger:doh

[gWaPito]

I would imagine anyone on the minimum wage and living in London would be in poverty or very close to it

Renting accommodation here is sky high now and i don't know how most can afford it

surviving not living diba

Tesco are starting to get respectable looking folks going through the food waste bins...especially in London so I can well believe what you are saying

[joebloggs]

Possibly something to do with the welfare state:cwm25:....there's none of that in those third world countries

i'd give you a rep for that gWaPito but it was a no brainier :biggrin:, so would you rather the welfare system was scrapped and have millions sleeping out in cardboard boxes and living ghetto's :cwm25:

[gWaPito]

i'd give you a rep for that gWaPito but it was a no brainier:biggrin: , so would you rather the welfare system was scrapped and have millions sleeping out in cardboard boxes and living ghetto's :cwm25:

Of course I don't :NoNo::doh although it would sort out our booming population crisis

[London_Manila]

Tesco are starting to get respectable looking folks going through the food waste bins...especially in London so I can well believe what you are saying

If people were paid more then they would not have to go through the bins