What is the right way?
There is something that has been bothering me lately, and I would like your, fellow Ql'ers, input on this.
A friend of mine in Dubai has started a massive campaign to help a large amount of stranded workers in Dubai. These people had not been paid ,fed or given even the bare necessities for survival for 3 months.
Now, here is what I am contemplating.
IF we help, do we make it possible for the situation to continue? If these workers were to perish (God forbid),which they would if we did not help, would those who allowed this situation to happen in the first place, be forced to make changes, due to the outcry this would surely cause? Would it make those desperate enough to get themselves in such situations think twice?
Would our acceptance of a certain loss be justified by the change of path this may cause?
On the other hand..should we attempt to change the situation completely to the betterment of many, or do our duties as humans to give water to a thirsty man come before everything?
What is your opinion?
OH LOL! I totally thought you were saying something to me! LOL Blonde moment :)
lol
giving them education instead of aid
Huh Eco, what about a Harvest in 2010?
Well, how many people give because it makes THEM feel good?
although they know ,not to give may be the only way that might change the situation for the better?
Proactive way is to do something...anything.
Eco, what would be taught in those evening schools?
And how many of those who work here, outside in the heat, would be willing and able to attend?
They come abroad because of the lure of higher wages and PROMISES of a better life.
They are abused by their won countrymen (agents) and then by unscrupulous employers. They are let down by their embassies who are too gutless to stand up for their right because they generate much needed foreign revenue to the economy.
Well we should support these unfortunate souls in every way we can.
They are victims of circumstances, first they pay a lot of money to manpower agents in their own countries, then come here and work in poor conditions and top of that get treated like third class humans.
They are exploited from the time they think of coming to this region. Their circumstances drives them to make decisions to come here and their mental and physical suffering continues.
Yes how can we help them. Ensure that a high profile campaign is waged against the offenders.
will be beneficial in long run, there will be plenty of volunteers to teach free in the evenings. Think over this project tonight, yes we can do it
Yes that's the one I posted link for. Don't know how to post an image here.
your link:
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/591561-75-of-low-paid-workers-in-dubai-have-no-health-cover
Interesting article I came across today, Working outside in 50 plus degrees from sunrise to sunset at a construction site where accidents can and do happen, they work without any health cover.
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/591561-75-of-low-paid-workers-in-dubai-have-no-health-cover
we should change the system, collectively we can do that.
We worked with the local embassy to get the passports. The carrot was that they would not demand their back salaries. This way, we managed to get a few. Then we bought those who wanted them a single ticket home and gave them 500 riyals spending money.
We didn't help those who wanted cash. Instead we made sure that they were provided with food and neccessities as long as we could afford to.
Sadly, when people offer to help, too many "imposters" come into the picture. There was one case where a sleeping quarters was burnt down. The workers lost everything. We mistakingly gave a lump sum of cash to the manager to distribute. Turned out, he pocketed it himself :O(
Olive you are right, but this is been happening since donkeys years, no one cares. They go through all the shIt, few suicide , rest and their family back home starves for months when the embassy or someone rescue them. It goes on and on.
Recently one of our local channel telecasted a story, a group of them braught by another from their country and dumbed in a camp. He made them sign some papers at the bank, later they came to know he has taken loans from the bank in their names, they owe the bank a big sum,no job, no pay since 7 months.
The international community will not voice anything till the Oil and gas runs out over here. The ones who would've understood a warning would have understood it before this as well. Like I said in the very first post- Some people will only learn from mistakes if they commit it themselves. There will always be fools who make these mistakes no matter what kind of warning is sent out.
True. But perhaps it would act as a warning to those who want to come over here, or bring more scrutiny from the international community.
Two wrongs does not make a right, Olive. It's not going to change anything over here if anything major happens anyway. They don't give a hoot about value of Non-Arab life.
Well there's the thing Arien, they aren't going to open their eyes unless something major happens. If we keep giving hand outs and saving these people from the brink that major thing that needs to happen won't happen.
Help those poor souls, its indeed a great gesture.Its not goint to end the scenario, unless those running this country opnes their eyes.
One of my basic principle...do a good deed just like the way you farting...again and again..but you never count it.
Those people mostly knows nothing about internet or other media to gain information. Moreover the rough life they have in their native country makes them dreaming a better life by selling their life in a distance..unknown country.
When you have nothing back home and somebody offering you a fullhand of dream ... is your logical mind working??...mine is not...that's why I came here...
Those dream of betterment force everyone to come here.
We can say they are foul..stupid or anything we like...but their knowledge is lesser then us, the fortunate ones.
I personally think that those who do not help hate to see their fellow man suffering much more than those who do help, as they have made a far greater effort, morally, to make things better for all.
So how did you help them Brit? It sounds to me like you actually made the situation worse.
The thing is, if you continue to do these things, people will come to expect it and all you do is perpetuate the cycle.
A noble gesture and worth supporting. You can't help everyone, but any help is better than nothing.
We carried out a similar exercise with an Asian embassy in Saudi Arabia. Most were in dire circumstances and we decided to buy return air tickets for them. The sad thing was that many employers "Demanded" money to release their passports (even though they hadn't paid them) and in many cases the workers themselves refused to go home, because they were in debt and had nothing to go back to. So, most just wanted cash handouts.
Sorry for the long post, but even given the above, we should do whatever we can.. :O)
It's the old teach a man to fish thing no merci. It's easier to give the man a fish and that way you keep him poor and under your control, if you teach him, then you might find yourself equals with him.
I was actually having this same conversation with my husband yesterday, we were talking about aid in Africa and how it's actually more harmful to the African nations then it is helpful.
Olive, yes, it is indeed a though question. Do we give itno our weakness as human beings,and more often than not, we do this for other reasons than pity,or do we take action, as though as it may be, to force change?
also, since there are so many who do not chose the tough moral way, and therefore destroy the other's effort completely, does it make sense for them to insist?
I personally think not.
I think history has told us that only if all pull the string from the same direction, will it be unraveled.
Trying and failing is much more acceptable than not trying at all. If one has capacity to help, one should.
Those people need every ounce of help they can get!
I support any and all methods of getting money and support to these people in their time of need.
It's a very tough moral issue. It reminds me of what the Vet and QAWS say, no matter how bad you feel for that exotic animal being kept in a tiny cage, don't buy it because all it does is give the pet shop owner money to buy more...which is what giving aid does as well. If we save these people then the pricks who put them into such situations will think that they can just continue to do it and someone will eventually save them....
As heartless as it may sound it may actually be better in the long run to let these men die...however not many people, including myself could do that.
I think the government should look into such companies, who mistreat their workers and lead to this situation. As an individual, it would be better to help rather than waiting for government to take action and ban such companies. It would atleast help the people in need. You cannot just wait for the rains to come by itself. Providing a drop of water might help save a life. Again, up to an individual to take a decision.
I dont think there is any need to think too much about it...if you can make a difference in a person's life that is what matters.
If I can help I will..
Whether you help these people or not will in no way become a detriment to the next set of desperate people who get themselves into this situation. People do not learn from others mistakes, they need to experience it for themselves.
Go ahead and help these people out if you can.
a person can make a difference, by helping those poor homeless and food less people, your attempting to do the right thing, while we are doing good regardless if others are doing it right or wrong we are helping, so let be the almighty GOD make the bad people suffer on his own way, and if you have anything in hand that you can help the poor, you are changing the world for a change from the human race.
help these guys first then we should think of changing the mechanism alltogether by forcing authority and continously highlighting the issue, we should see that somehow this should not repeat again, with collective efforts we can achieve many things, the effort is required.
Nothing will change if they perish. Human life is small change for the greedy people in charge. However, others may start thinking twice before coming over.