Comments on: Brand, Ross and the DR CONGO http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/ Sat, 19 May 2012 16:50:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: dl http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/#comment-2452 dl Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:15:07 +0000 http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/#comment-2452 There are two separate issues coming together here: Firstly, we all tend to have a somewhat parochial attitude to world news. We slate the Americans for it, but we're not a whole lot better ourselves. Most Brits probably don't know where DR Congo is. And the other issue is the obsession with celebrities. The media tend to get blamed for this, but the media are only providing what the consumers want. Evidence for this is the relative sales figures of News of the Screws vs, say, the Observer. I must say that it's a bit of an eye-opener to learn here that "contractors" are being used to ensure aid gets through. Who pays? Surely, the charities involved haven't got the cash, and any Western Gov't funding isn't enough to buy the supplies let alone pay for expensive private protection? Thanks for the mention, btw! Best wishes, as ever. D. There are two separate issues coming together here:

Firstly, we all tend to have a somewhat parochial attitude to world news. We slate the Americans for it, but we’re not a whole lot better ourselves. Most Brits probably don’t know where DR Congo is.

And the other issue is the obsession with celebrities. The media tend to get blamed for this, but the media are only providing what the consumers want. Evidence for this is the relative sales figures of News of the Screws vs, say, the Observer.

I must say that it’s a bit of an eye-opener to learn here that “contractors” are being used to ensure aid gets through. Who pays? Surely, the charities involved haven’t got the cash, and any Western Gov’t funding isn’t enough to buy the supplies let alone pay for expensive private protection?

Thanks for the mention, btw!

Best wishes, as ever.
D.

]]> By: Bendy Girl http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/#comment-2450 Bendy Girl Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:40:10 +0000 http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/#comment-2450 My ex spent time in Africa doing very similar things to you so I had a little more insight than the 'norm'. I wrote something on my blog recently about poverty and how it is ridiculous for charities to spend so much on raising 'awareness' when the real issue is that people are aware, but for a variety of reasons can't and don't want to be. I think this situation is very similar, but whilst it is to an extent understandable that individuals find it very difficult to confront these realities, the govt and media should be hanging their heads in shame. Stay Safe, BG My ex spent time in Africa doing very similar things to you so I had a little more insight than the ‘norm’.
I wrote something on my blog recently about poverty and how it is ridiculous for charities to spend so much on raising ‘awareness’ when the real issue is that people are aware, but for a variety of reasons can’t and don’t want to be.
I think this situation is very similar, but whilst it is to an extent understandable that individuals find it very difficult to confront these realities, the govt and media should be hanging their heads in shame.
Stay Safe, BG

]]> By: JH http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/#comment-2449 JH Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:42:08 +0000 http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/#comment-2449 Norm you are right but we both know that people have a fun idea of whats important or right and wrong. Are you going back there? Norm you are right but we both know that people have a fun idea of whats important or right and wrong. Are you going back there?

]]> By: Sally http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/#comment-2448 Sally Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:50:50 +0000 http://unclenorman.com/2008/10/30/brand-ross-and-the-dr-congo/#comment-2448 You are very right of course.... You are very right of course….

]]>