Thank the Lord for what you have!

britexpat
By britexpat

We must thank the Lord for what we have and remember those who are less fortunate. (see pic attached)

Is the Bishop correct in his thoughts?????

We are all facing a credit crisis, but these are nothing compared to those faced by the world’s poorest, according to South African church leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Today, as the world teeters on the edge of an economic precipice, the 76-year-old humanitarian warns that it is the hungry and destitute who have the most to lose.

"THIS year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration is a symbol of precious freedoms and basic human rights such as the right to live without poverty and hunger.
Yet, in 2008, more than 850million people still go hungry every day.

With the global food crisis now casting a long shadow over the world, no issue could be more important.
Despite all the news coverage and discussions at political summits, there is no agreement on what has caused the massive rise in food prices.

There is much talk of climate change, economic growth and the rise of biofuels being to blame.

People also look east at the growth in the burgeoning economies of India and China as fuel for the crisis, driving up the price of oil and other commodities.
But, in truth, hunger is a hugely political issue and much of the blame can be placed at the door of leaders in the rich world. The support given to farmers for growing biofuels in Europe and the US amounted to £5.7billion in 2007.

Encouraging farmers to produce biofuels has led to food being used for fuel instead of going on to people’s plates.

Over the past 100 years the world’s richest countries have been responsible for producing the lion’s share of global carbon emissions that cause climate change.
But it is the developing world that is being hit first and hardest by global warming.

Extreme weather, sea-level rises and drought are all leading to disruption of food and water supplies.
It is even estimated that by 2020 African harvests could drop by up to a half because of rising temperatures.
What’s worse is that international aid, particularly aid to agriculture — crucial to development in Africa and most of Asia — has been steadily dropping to £1.9billion a year. That’s half of what it was in 1980.
It may sound a lot, but £1.9billion is equivalent to only one per cent of subsidies given to farmers in rich countries.

As always, there are a number of things coming together to cause this “perfect storm”.
But the reality is that people are left starving with the poorest hit hardest.
Now the time has come for all of us to speak out more strongly against hunger.
My hope is that the UN and world governments will hear our voices, act to save lives and honour the important pledge we made 60 years ago. "

From UK Paper

By Adorman• 20 Aug 2008 22:00
Adorman

well I agree with you guys, magic they need to be more active and more educated. I blame the governments coz they dont take action.

britexpat I do too.

By QT• 20 Aug 2008 21:32
QT

Agreed BritExpat, Muhanis and MagicDragon!

By britexpat• 20 Aug 2008 18:57
britexpat

You are absolutely correct. It si our duty to help others whereever we can and not standby and watch people die.. The help can take many forms and should be geared for their long term benefit..

IMHO, I also believe that we should be grateful for what we have .

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 18:32
anonymous

Right!, Muhandis

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 18:30
anonymous

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evils, but because of those who look on and do nothing

-Einstein-

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 18:17
anonymous

What this thread was about: to thank God for what you have if you compare to what others don't have. I think we could show here that thanking God is not achieving anything. It rather sues your mind and takes away your responsability. And I agree that it applies to the Africans themselves. But they seem to be very religious people. Maybe they should be more active people?

By Adorman• 20 Aug 2008 16:55
Adorman

It's not biofuel, global warming or even the amount of food is the reason for the starving in Africa. And not because they got the independence before they aren't prepared ( i think there were africans living with no problems before "the white masters left magicdragon"). the problem is in africa we have a corrupted governments that are supported by some westerns gov. I dont understand when i see starving in Sudan for example- country suppose to provide food for all arabic countries and with all the resources they do have there. In africa these kind of tragedies happening not because there is no food it's because we made a choice and we deserve what happening to us when let these kind of governments lead our countries. sick governments.

By heero_yuy2• 20 Aug 2008 14:45
heero_yuy2

I mean money payment for fuel, ok?

At a time when we never had cars or electricity, even the poor workers or beggars at that time get an adequate meal a day...

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By britexpat• 20 Aug 2008 14:28
britexpat

I agree with you to a point..

Yes, perhaps the colonials could and should have done better, but most of these countries have been independent for a while..

The time has come to stand up... They can't blame clonialism for the rest of their lives..

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 13:11
anonymous

Thank you, brit, I know these facts. But wasn't it a bit like this: the colonial powers were never interested in creating an African elite to question the situation. And weren't the Africans then sent into independence without being prepared? You see, the Africans knew well how to live, but they were told to forget these things. Now the white "masters" left and the "children" are helpless.

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 13:10
anonymous

Ah, MD, that can be used as fuel! Bury the bags underground and moles and other underground species can finally see the light, by way of lightbulbs powered by methane.......its the way forward! Eureka!

By labda06• 20 Aug 2008 13:09
labda06

same sh*t, different day

"Quit hanging on to the handrails . . . Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day." Melody Beattie

By britexpat• 20 Aug 2008 13:07
britexpat

The Africans have to learn to stand up for themselves..

Look at Zimbabwe.. Mugabe "redistributed" the land to African farmers and now they are lying idle and will take years to produce again.

I other countries, theer is so much corruption that leaders are living it up, whilst the people starve and die..

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 13:06
anonymous

What you're gonna do with the filled plastic bags, nurse??

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 13:04
anonymous

No, climate change is from cows farting and eminating methane.....so, we have to look at how many cows are in each country........then we can pinpoint a country and stop their cows farting......I'm thinking a plastic bag type contraption sealed to their bums! WAHEY! A nurse has found the solution to the global warming!!Wahey!!

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:59
anonymous

[img_assist|nid=103941|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

NIL ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:58
anonymous

"after all the climate change is our fault." I'm not so sure about that. But what I'm sure of is that instead of teaching them how to farm and irrigate land we taught them how to pray to God.

By Gypsy• 20 Aug 2008 12:58
Gypsy

Guys poor Bob is busy. Peaches just married a crackhead rockstar and ran off to the States. Give the poor man a break :P

Visit www.qatarhappening.com

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:56
anonymous

No, Bob has something much worse on his conscience that not giving all his money away to Africa......his kids have names like cabbage patch kids.....NOW that IS unforgiveable.......

And he couldn't sing but hey....

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:55
anonymous

To say he has more money than most of us can ever dream about, maybe he should dip into his bank account more often.

[img_assist|nid=103941|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

NIL ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

By Oryx• 20 Aug 2008 12:54
Oryx

I often get the feeling that when people bang on about the evil West and starving babies in Africa...

that they have never actually been there...

if it was all that easy it would have all been fixed by now.

yes super...I bought his book (excellent pithy insights) so its his fault

By Gypsy• 20 Aug 2008 12:53
Gypsy

The West isn't entirely unblameable, after all the climate change is our fault. However, NOBODY knew any better, and Africans have made the problem worse.

Visit www.qatarhappening.com

By dragonfly212• 20 Aug 2008 12:51
dragonfly212

Supernurse, BoB is doing the best he can i think. I like him

Everybody is right everybody is wrong, it depend where you stand

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:51
anonymous

Maybe here is a solution

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7568695.stm

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:47
anonymous

I blame Bob Geldof, if he had dipped into his wallet he could have saved them all by now....tight bstard....

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:44
anonymous

decades.

We gave them the money, and they have not built 1 "spud u like" or "Hardees" .....

[img_assist|nid=103941|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

NIL ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:41
anonymous

exactly.......sew em up good and proper that'll stop 'em!

We should just concentrate on the mess in our own countries and let their governments (who live a life of luxury and corruption) sort out their problem....

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:39
anonymous

but didn't the colonial powers teach them exactyly the opposite: You are nothing without us, you know nothing, you need our guidance and control?????

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:37
anonymous

enough problems of our own.

Help yerselves before expecting others to bail ya out....

[img_assist|nid=103941|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

NIL ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:34
anonymous

whta is the fault of the "big bad west"? That these people have more than ten kids??

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:33
anonymous

feed them.

There is no need to have 10-15 kids in a family at all. Especially when food is hard to come by.

Yet again, its the fault of the big bad west !

[img_assist|nid=103941|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

NIL ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

By Gypsy• 20 Aug 2008 12:31
Gypsy

Not bitter at all, just don't believe in thanking the "Lord" for much.

I don't think you can put the blame for poverty and famine in Africa entirely on the shoulders of the rich nations. That's scapegoating. Are Rich nations part of the problem?? yes of course. But so are the money-grubbing, greedy governments of Africa, so is Africa's lack of concern for protecting it's own environment and people and the lack of concern for human life.

"developed" countries do need to help out more, but the problem is these days all these countries will do is accept monetary and food hand-outs rather then educational help, and the money and the food just goes into the pockets of the wealthy "politicians" and criminals.

Visit www.qatarhappening.com

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:29
anonymous

"Thanking the Lord" is just pushing the load on somebody else's shoulders.

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:22
anonymous

I'll be around, too, gypsy.

I'm living in Qatar (none of the countries you mentioned)

I don't go to university anymore and I don't ride on a bus

I'm neither a child nor a woman

I made the AIDS test on entering the country (negative)

The Arabian plate is pretty safe concerning earthquakes, floods, and cyclones.

By britexpat• 20 Aug 2008 12:21
britexpat

You need to get busy and produce some offspring pronto..

You're bitter this morning..

One issue in the article was that the Arch Bishop was putting the blame of the famine etc on the shoulders of the "Rich' nations..

I personaly feel that the Africans have to take a majority of the blame also.

Do we as the "developed" nations continue to act as we are, or do we need to look at those less well off and start helping them more..

By Gypsy• 20 Aug 2008 12:10
Gypsy

Yes, but it's dropping. Soon enough I'll be the last person on Earth.

Visit www.qatarhappening.com

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 12:07
anonymous

wrong, gypsy, the birth rate is still higher than the death rate.

By Gypsy• 20 Aug 2008 12:05
Rating: 3/5
Gypsy

Thank you Lord for the 24,000 People a day dying from starvation.

Thank you for the 43 people killed in Algeria yesterday.

Thank you for the hundreds if not thousands who will die today in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Sudan, Georgia and other war zones all over the world.

Thank you for the student stabbed to death in South Africa yesterday. And the Genocide surviour burnt to death in Rwanda, and the 22 year old Canadian who was beheaded on a Greyhound bus.

Thank you for the women raped and murdered around the world today.

Thank you for the abused children.

Thank you for the millions dying of AIDS.

Thank you for the 100'000's killed in floods, cyclones and earthquakes every year.

Thank you so much God, cause at this rate I'll be the only one left soon enough.

Visit www.qatarhappening.com

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 11:53
anonymous

The Lord will not do anything. You have to stop over-using the resources. Sell your big SUV first. Stop eating fruits that come from anywhere else but Qatar. Live on what this country can produce. Hard luck, eh?

By 3sure-hunk3r• 20 Aug 2008 11:48
3sure-hunk3r

thanking lord for what we have is not enough, we must also ask the lord to give relief to the suffering of this starved people. and hope one day those culprit will realized the consequence of their greedy modus operandi.

"Born optimist nothing can keep me too low for so long"

By lovinni• 20 Aug 2008 11:06
Rating: 2/5
lovinni

i'll stop complaining and ill thank God for the abundant blessings..

government should give way to development of agricultural lands otherwise nations may suffer famine. tall rise buildings can never convert food...

I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it.  ~Charles Schulz

By thexonic• 20 Aug 2008 10:53
thexonic

Thank you god for everything. Alhamdulilah :D

--------

If leaving your past and moving on was easy, no one would have a heart.

By QT• 20 Aug 2008 10:34
Rating: 3/5
QT

...man continues to be man's worst enemy!

The leaders of Rich nations do nothing or next to nothing for the poorer nations as it would affect the own peoples feeling of wealth and prosperity!

Their own countries resources would be depleted if they used them for another country! There would then be feelings of discontent and leaders would be replaced!

Simple economics! ...and nothing will change at least for the next 100 years!

By janeyjaney• 20 Aug 2008 10:28
janeyjaney

Thank you but the end of the world is coming!!

LOL

-------------------------------------------------

╬ Jai Guru Deva ╬

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 10:27
anonymous

Praise the Lord....

By Bahraini83• 20 Aug 2008 10:23
Bahraini83

"Despite all the news coverage and discussions at political summits, there is no agreement on what has caused the massive rise in food prices."

i think that you know why the above quoted sentence is true, those who are getting money are asking for more ... those who can't afford food are wished to rest in peace in heavns and paradise... all what major industry people think about is how to generate more cash to invest and generate more cash than what was initially invested, it never ends those who die in this process are the poorest nations ..

thank lord we're still alive

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 10:21
anonymous

thank the LORD for all our blessings and to share our blessing to others..

better to give/share than receive..

never give up...

By anonymous• 20 Aug 2008 10:19
Rating: 3/5
anonymous

Suggesting that these numbers are correct, there seems to be some advance.

"About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. This is down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five."

However, just imagine that 24,000 human beings die every day from hunger !

By mjamille28• 20 Aug 2008 10:14
mjamille28

sad, but true...

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