Hungry and Homeless

[Raven]

How can any country spend the billions holding a two week sporting spectacle, when they still have hungry and homeless people in the streets?

A country in Africa is holding the African cup. The U.S. frequently holds olympic events, and then there is China holding them this year.



Dont you think the worlds priorities are a bit skewed? In Virginia, not so long ago, the people of Sandbridge spent a couple of million to add a few feet to the beach because of erosion. Sandbridge is just exactly that. A sandbar in the atlantic with expensive houses on it that cant even get insured for floods because of where they are. But the people of Viginia Beach defeated a proposal to turn a decrepit hotel into a homeless shelter. Where is the sense of right and wrong in this world?

[mikeinie]

I know what you are saying and from a human rights perspective things look kind of screwy. However (there is always a however…)

China is an active participant in the Olympics, and is a strong contender event after event. If they, as a major global community can openly participate, then why should they not be able to host it?

The Objective of the Olympics has always to promote the spirit of sport and competition over politics.

A country in Africa holding the ‘African Cup’?? Well where else would you host the African cup, in Asia???

Which country in Africa? There are dozens of them and many are progressive and modern.

[Raven]

mikeinie;762039 wrote: I know what you are saying and from a human rights perspective things look kind of screwy. However (there is always a however…)



China is an active participant in the Olympics, and is a strong contender event after event. If they, as a major global community can openly participate, then why should they not be able to host it?



The Objective of the Olympics has always to promote the spirit of sport and competition over politics.



A country in Africa holding the ‘African Cup’?? Well where else would you host the African cup, in Asia???

Which country in Africa? There are dozens of them and many are progressive and modern.
Sorry but I think you may have misunderstood me. I wasnt objecting to ANYONE participating. What I object to, is people playing games while others are hungry and homeless. And spending BILLIONS on hosting the events, while they still have people sleeping rough and going hungry. In this day and age, NOONE should be homeless or hungry. And it's Ghana, holding the African Soccer Championships.

[Patsy Warnick]

Raven

To hold a event that costs millions ( with blinders on ) is appropriate isn't it ??

Oh, don't worry - we'll feed the hungry & homeless & poor later.

This attitude is acceptable - and starts at the top with Bush.

Bush ignores the parks & alleys full of homeless & hungry, screwed the poor with Medicare. Bush would rather spend millions on a war, and put on those blinders. This attitude trickles down the corporate ladder.

Its like being rewarded with a party - and you haven't done anything yet.

Dessert first type idea..

One would think - the people of any Country would be priority

Patsy

Good to see you Raven

[Bruv]

Have you not considered that the spending will return some investment in where ever its spent ?

All that money, provides jobs for locals ?

Buildings will remain ?

It is not all down the drain..............

[Accountable]

Patsy Warnick;762120 wrote: Raven



To hold a event that costs millions ( with blinders on ) is appropriate isn't it ??



Oh, don't worry - we'll feed the hungry & homeless & poor later.



This attitude is acceptable - and starts at the top with Bush.


Bush is the top of Ghana??

[KB.]

Raven;762021 wrote:

Don't you think the worlds priorities are a bit skewed?


Very much so. As for the Bush comments. This was going on long before him and it will be going on long after him. No, I am not a fan.

[moonpie]

Vancouver, Canada will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics here. There is so much spending and building going on by the government. There is so much poverty here in this city. There are people sleeping on the streets all year around. Yet the government is redoing alot of the skid row hotels to accommodate the media and such while they are here. Yet they tossed out many of these low income people to do it. Montreal in I think in the 1970's was another example of how much the government spent for their World's Fair, and recently they just finished paying for all the spending that went on then. The government(s) it seems are doing things for the glory only and to hell with the people and citizens that they walk on to get to their goals.

[Patsy Warnick]

BRUV

Sure theres instant revenue from holding a event

The expensive a City puts into renovating a town to glorify & mask the ugly is astronomical, and they push the poor & homeless out of the way to do it.

Lets all pretend we have the prettiest City - and we have no poor or needy.

Patsy

[hoxtonchris]

the olympics generate work which keeps even more folk from poverty,to try to do away with homelessness etc we would have to have a pure socialist or comunist state ,capatalism dosnt "do"christianity.also if we became a true welfare state or world there would be millions who would take advantage of that as they do here in the uk.keep sports etc by all means,but let sports and the arts support themselves and if they cant then they cant be wanted that much can they?...another thing about us humans is we tend to look down on the down and outs presuming its self in flicted by drink and or drugs,there are true unfortunates to,i know i met loads,and was related to a vagabond too,yes he was an alcoholic but truly unfortunate non the less.so it will remane those that care will do for the poor those that dont will just bang the drum,

[Bruv]

Patsy Warnick;762621 wrote: BRUV

Sure theres instant revenue from holding a event

The expensive a City puts into renovating a town to glorify & mask the ugly is astronomical, and they push the poor & homeless out of the way to do it.

Lets all pretend we have the prettiest City - and we have no poor or needy.

Patsy


The preparation for an event like the Olympics takes years, the UK is already working toward 2012 giving work to the very people who might need a hand up.

The infrastructure, roads, tube links (subway to you) Arenas, facilities, accomodation etc. will still be there years after the most people have forgotten the games themselves.

It is not merly instant revenue, he rewards remain long after.

[Nomad]

The wealthy create jobs for the homeless people. That is if they want them.

Or would they rather stand on the street corner begging every day ?

And how come theyre always wearing expensive tennis shoes ?

[moonpie]

Because of the rising employment rate here in Vancouver, there are more signs in windows at retailers, resteraunts now that I have even seen before. I know that it would be pretty hard for a lot of them to clean up to even get a job. I still have people trying to bum money, cigarettes and even a last drag off my cigarette from me. This makes me feel uncomfortable because either I am trying to get myself to my job, or taking a break from it. Just how giving do you feel after you have been hit upon so to speak for all of the above, day after day. It gets frustrating.

[Patsy Warnick]

Bruv

I completely understand - I agree with the revenue long term, thats growth which makes the city.

I guess my take on this thread was the amount of money spent on a event $$

which could be used elsewhere within the city.

I guess I feel strongly about this - watching the Helter Skelter for the Super Bowl.

Everything has tripled in price - the poor are kicked out of rentals/lease not renewed - just to rent it out for the S. Bowl week.

and the cycle never stops - I suppose unless put in a position of living on the street, would you understand.

Nomad - love the shoes. your so right

Patsy