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| Europe |
| EU considering massive cuts to food aid for poor |
| 2011-10-15 |
| The European Union is considering a roughly 75 percent cut in funding for a program that helps feed 18 million of its poorest citizens. The cuts, set to take effect after New Year's, would come at a time of rising unemployment and consumer food prices in many parts of Europe, as well as overall economic turmoil on the continent. The looming cuts already have raised fears among people who rely heavily on the program. "We poor, small people, we cannot face up to this," said Rene Waltener, 41, who is unemployed and married with four children. "We sometimes have difficulties getting through the month, so a bit of milk here, a tin of cassoulet, a bit of yogurt — the kids are happy with that and it allows us to continue." The Food for the Deprived program dates back to 1987. At first, it relied heavily on food surpluses from farms that benefited from a bloated and inefficient subsidy regime. But over time, as the farming became more efficient, food was increasingly purchased on the market to keep the program going. In recent years, Germany and other countries have objected to that practice, saying the program is not living up to its original mandate of doing something useful with excess products from farms. Germany won a legal case in April to outlaw the practice of purchasing the food on the market. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #20 The third thought that comes to mind is that I really need to do a better job of proofreading. ia = in a more other... pick one of them, please Let's acknowledge that there are children in real poverty through no fault of their parents, and adults likewise. But not many in the West these days. We are all on the same side, Rhodesiafever. I'm sorry you're struggling right now, but you have what it takes to come out right in the end, and probably sooner rather than later. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-10-15 23:11 |
| #19 My takeaway from reading the article is that the program has become too expensive for the desired effect, and ia time of limited funds, is being discontinued in favour of more other programs that more cost-effectively meet the need. The other thought that comes to mind is that in Britain, at least, obesity rather than hunger is a mark of poverty, and that more often straitened circumstances are seen among the "skint" too proud to go on the dole. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-10-15 22:36 |
| #18 My apologies for the gratuitous jab, RF, but (a) it's Saturday night and I'm a tad lit, so imagine we're in a bar just funnin' around, and (b) really, isn't "whiney bitchez with thin skins" what the WOT all comes down to? Isn't that the entire Islamic world, in a nutshell? For [whatever lame excuse or self-serving rationale] the world owes us? It gets old, fast, because every person here has experienced privation and hardship at some point in their lives, present company included - and I don't mean I once had to drink domestic wine with a vinegary bouquet. If they're not experiencing it right now, I'd bet it's because they performed a near-miracle, or ten, under God's protection, so they and/or their children would never have to endure it again. What's provoking certain of us, I think, is the attitude that your experience of the human condition is unique and makes you uniquely entitled to . . . something. So relax. Step away. This will all seem quite silly tomorrow. |
| Posted by: RandomJD 2011-10-15 22:32 |
| #17 Show me children in poverty and I'll show you a) fiscally incompetent parents b) crackhead/pothead parents c) both |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2011-10-15 22:04 |
| #16 Very masterful that, quote, 'whiney bitches' and thick skins, after saying we're all on the same side. For me and my thin whiney skin, I will say I am not on your side now, your attitude is arrogant and disgraceful in the extreme. War on terror, indeed. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2011-10-15 22:01 |
| #15 Rhodesiafever, 1. Car crash - I used a bicycle and then I've got a cheap scooter ($200). Lost a job (decent paying) at that time. 2. I took two min. wage jobs. 3. My newborn (wifey too) had enough nutrition with my two jobs. I had to noodle through personally before the second job came up. 4. In two yeas, I was able to save about $700, and manged to get some friends to loan me about $3k. I bought some gear (computer, scanner, software, then it was not cheap in mid-80's) and started a pre-press biz. My wifey left us, so that was a bit easier on my pocket despite taking my daughter to a private day care on weekdays. Fortunately, my apartment, office and day care were within 6km radius, so I walked most of the time. See, I could have been depressed right after the car crash, but with a positive attitude, it worked out. In three and half years, I was doing reasonably well. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2011-10-15 21:56 |
| #14 Yep, all them children in food poverty sure as hell got thick skins, I'm sure. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2011-10-15 21:32 |
| #13 Seems to me folk here remain more or less on the same side: "down twinkles" on whiney bitches. Betcha BP's cheap potatoes had thicker skins. |
| Posted by: RandomJD 2011-10-15 21:08 |
| #12 Jolly good for you, Bright Pebbles. And what did your child eat, or were you not allowed children due to market forces? |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2011-10-15 20:54 |
| #11 A single potato is probably cheaper. I lived on them and canned tomatoes for about 9 months when I was skint. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2011-10-15 20:43 |
| #10 Just an aside, 2x4, when your car gets torched or crashed and you can' t get to work, I really hope I'm dealing with your claim. Mmmm, that feels better. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2011-10-15 20:14 |
| #9 lol, 2x4, thanks for the advice, I will certainly try that whilst working at the Insurance Company for minimum bucks with a responsibility for issuing $6500 cheques, you a$$. I am not enamoured of you assuming things and am trying to be polite. I always thought that folkhere were. more or less on the same side, but that seems to be less so now. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2011-10-15 19:52 |
| #8 *of |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2011-10-15 19:39 |
| #7 Rhodesiafever, just munch on them and use a copious amount of water to wash them down. You can also soak them in water for a while. No doubt it isn't a treat, but is is edible. Mix with a can of flaked tuna fish (40p-50p), to get some protein. Oh yeah, and get a job, even a minimum wage one, or even two of them. I did it once when in need, so can you. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2011-10-15 19:38 |
| #6 Nope, FrankG, it was not sarcasm, you doing a lot og supposing this time of day. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2011-10-15 19:25 |
| #5 since your previous comment complained about Bad being "personal", I suppose this was sarcasm? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-10-15 18:35 |
| #4 Sure, Bright Pebbles, can you tell me what the cheapest food item there is in Tescos? Nah, didn't think so. Try noodles for 11p and live on them after fuel poverty, ie, no electric or gas, you fucking genius. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2011-10-15 18:05 |
| #3 It's a POOR attitude to getting off their arse and getting a job. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2011-10-15 17:28 |
| #2 What poor? I thought the EU was a socialist paradise, and we all know no one's poor in paradise. |
| Posted by: Barbara 2011-10-15 17:17 |
| #1 How about cutting Paleos off first? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-10-15 15:38 |