Tuesday 17 December 2013

Season of Goodwill

Obscenity is not just pornography or even provocative photo's of the human body. There are other types of obscenity. One of which is the portrayal of photo's on blogs and words describing their pre- christmas fare gluttony !I have just visited one blog that said that on the following morning that the author was so stuffed from the meal of the previous day that all they had was a slice of toast for breakfast. Well whoopee for you I thought!


Then I thought again about the five million people in the UK who are suffering from food and fuel poverty, also of the half million and more in Ireland who are in a similar situation. Well who cares - who actually cares ?


One might name a charity, almost any charity. 


Ah'yes! But be careful that they are not just in the Business of Re-distribution. For example the other day a national Irish newspaper published a list of forty-one well known charities of which there was only one in which the CEO took no salary. Of the other CEO's who did their salaries ranged from €80,000 to over €100,000 per annum.


That one single charity whose CEO receives nothing is Br. Kevin Crowley of the Irish Capuchins see  http://www.churchandhalston.irishcapuchins.com/Day_Centre.html


We stopped sending Seasonal Greeting cards a couple of years ago, instead we make a donation to an organisation that cares for people who are in great need, the numbers of which are growing daily. This year it will be to the Capuchins.


Whether you have a religion or a belief or not or are simply a pagan like myself. My wish for you is that you are warm, free from hunger and surrounded with Love.



15 comments:

  1. Thanks Mel, you too.
    I have enjoyed giving non perishables to the local food bank this year (not just at Xmas). At least you know that your donation is going exactly where it is needed.

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    1. Hello Kath very good to hear from you.
      The local branch of the Lions organise similar collections from our local supermarkets, I'm not certain whether they distribute the goods or pass it on to Vinny de Paul's. As long as it helps someone that's all that matters.

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  2. The gluttony is appalling isn't it? It is terrible to think of so many people going hungry in countries as supposedly civilised as Britain and Ireland. I shall take note of the Capuchins. There is so much poverty everywhere….I echo your wish and hope you have a warm, loving festive season and a great start to 2014.

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  3. How dreadful that anybody starves these days. The cost of governments funds for war is enough to pay for food for the whole world. Our Country gives Billions in overseas aid and yet there are people starving here. I cannot phathom that one out. I get so angry that the greed of the minority would willingly let people die so that they can have luxury and power. I too wish everyone a happy, warm well fed festive season. xxxx

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    1. Thank you Margaret you so right the war chests of the UK alone would feed the world - it certainly makes you think doesn't it !

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  4. I give to several charities year round and double my donations at Christmas. I make donations of clothing and food on a regular basis. We try to never "pig" out, but enjoy the company of family that has come together to share our love.

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    1. Good to hear from you Janet and it sounds as if you are sharing the love all the year around, thats wonderful, really wonderful :)

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  5. Thank you for your wishes Mel, thankfully we will be warm, safe and fed this holiday period, unlike many.
    Memories of people sleeping rough in the city shop doorways as I was walking through to my work always broke my heart. Especially when all around them people were spending large sums of money in these shops where they had spent the night.
    Schools are now full of children starving as they start their day, unwashed and unloved-it's so wrong.

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    1. Thank you Suzie.
      What we are witnessing today is a travesty and a tragedy brought about by the policies of governments whose preference is to the well being international business concerns, rather than their own people.

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  6. I notice that british newspapers and news programmes are failing to report this
    Taking food from the hungry’: UK govt rejects EU food bank subsidy
    Visit : http://rt.com/news/uk-refuses-eu-help-467,

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  7. This very morning I was dealing with a family in this situation.I really really hope they get sorted out. I made a few phone calls as i'm out of the area where I work. We never gorge ourselves at Christmas as we are vegans so a nice healthy meal, a nice warm space and sometimes bring in some solitaries like ourselves to spend time together is sufficient. I don't have too much extra but donating clothes or books or sometimes a bit of time, healing or referring to someone who can help is as good as it gets so thanks for that link.

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  8. I think that people do care, but it is hard to choose a charity to support. Like you, I am suspicious of ones whose CEOs take a lot of money. But when they are a large organisation with many strands, like Oxfam, you might think that it is a false economy not to pay for the kind of person who is used to running something of that size. A lot of money can be wasted by inefficiency. There is a charity called Convoy Aid Romania which seems to be run entirely at the expense of the people who started it, and they send detailed updates and videos of what they do. Happy Christmas to you, and a good 2014!

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    1. Thank you Jenny, I do understand what you have to say about the CEO of Oxfam however, there are quite a number of smaller charities whose CEO's have enormous salaries.

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