“Please Sir, I want some more”
“Poverty is a very complicated issue, but feeding a child isn’t.”
— Jeff Bridges
Three years ago this blog was born. It’s focus was on three areas; food, travel and SLOW life. But more than anything I’ve written about travel. Places we’ve seen. Things we’ve witnessed.
Almost twenty years ago we left U.K to live and work in rural Zambia. A part of our jobs as Teacher Trainers, was to travel out to rural villages each semester, visiting our trainee teachers and mentoring them.
I remember vividly a day where the level of poverty in front of us was particularly upsetting. I said to PKP, we are witnessing all of this through our own eyes, not the lens of a TV camera. “Things should be better”.
I realise now, that we never needed to travel that far, to see poverty.
I’m disgusted at the news in recent days, about the vote in the U.K’s parliament. The opposition had tried to extend the free school meal scheme until Easter 2021. This was rejected in parliament, with 322 MPs voting against helping British children.
This is an issue of child poverty, unacceptable anywhere. But it seems unimaginable in a so called developed nation.
British MPs receive a daily allowance for their food. It costs the British tax payer somewhere in the region of £6 million pounds each year, to supply public servants with subsidised food and alcohol. And MPs recently received a salary increase to £74,000 (before expenses). One would imagine that they could afford to buy their own lunch out of that.
Meanwhile, many British children go hungry. That sounds a lot like corruption. Are you O.K with a society where kids go hungry but politicians receive food subsidies?
It’s not O.K
And while the U.K is in theory a rich country, is it now resembling the traits of a developing country?
So called banana republics are countries where the wealth is held by a minority, the elite are in charge and they look after the interests of the super rich. Does that sound familiar?
“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.” – Confucius
In the U.K many go hungry, not just children, with more and more people relying on food banks. We had never heard of food banks before. But after ten years of a right wing, ‘austerity ideology’, this has been normalised. Crime is on the increase in many areas. The rich poor divide is increasing exponentially. I’m reminded of the line from Oliver Twist; “Please Sir, I want some more” and the theme of grinding poverty in Dickens’ work. Aren’t things supposed to be better now?
Watching on, we’re appalled. And our perspective is a bit different here. We’ve lived in four developing countries; Zambia, South Africa, Kenya and Indonesia. For years we have heard people in Western countries orate about the developing countries we were living in. Sometimes they had not even visited where we were. But still, they knew best.
Many will lap up the continuous negative news, which perpetuates the stereotypical image of life in developing countries; crime, corruption, a fractured society.
But we look now at U.K, and see that in many ways, it’s not so different.
Of course some won’t look. Some prefer to look away. It’s easier to live in a bubble and pretend it’s all fine. The “I’m all right Jacks’ will go on with life in their leafy suburbs and celebrate their lovely lives. ‘Villages and lives in bloom’.
But be mindful that another society exists. And it’s not a plane ride away, it’s a train ride away.
It’s not O.K that any kids go hungry. It’s not O.K that society fails so many individuals. And it’s not O.K if we’re not angry about that.
We have been lucky to travel with our work, to see so many wonders in our world. But there are so many horrors too. And these very real problems may be closer than you think.
We can see poverty in many forms. But we also detect a poverty of spirit amongst some, an uncaring section of society who are all about the money and care only about themselves. A lack of compassion.
What’s gone so wrong?
© Maggie M /Mother City Time
Disgusting sense of entitlement and privilege in the Tory party. This is not a new problem either. Covid has exacerbated an already deplorable situation of child poverty that has been growing in the UK for years. How very dare they.
You are right. It’s disgusting. It’s difficult to point to anyone in the party who hasn’t been to private school and been afforded huge privilege.I doubt that any of them have ever worked for the minimum wage and they seem entirely out of touch with the people that they govern. Having worked in Education for twenty years, we have seen how hunger can effect learning and morale for students. This was not just a bad decision but an inhumane one. I was so upset about it yesterday and started writing the post in the early hours of this morning, as it was still on my mind. People deserve better. Thanks for your comment, Irene.
Years of austerity has hugely damaged the infrastructure of the UK and changed the shape of government immeasurably not to mention increased the gap between those that have and those that have not to a yawning chasm. You are also right in that our government and (very small) ruling elite are seen by many as entirely reflective of some traditionally seen corrupt powers in poorer nations. I think the vast majority of UK voters are now aware that corruption is rife amongst the UK government who care for non of its people, let alone the most vulnerable. They only care about their own personal interests and those of their (usually non UK) business partners.
However – please do not underestimate the British people and the sense of community that is alive and well here!! Far from being apathetic and “I’m all right Jack” I’m encouraged to see a people who, whilst currently unable to affect change in the present ruling regime are very busy rising up and coming together to help the vulnerable in their own communities and to fill in the gaps where the government is failing us. Some of this is happening in an organised, “official” charity way but most of it is happening in a very grass roots, quiet, reactive and unofficial way – usually with the individuals that have in an area organising themselves via social media to provide what is needed locally for those that have not. Of course it’s not enough (the Tories have left us with far too many holes for us to be able to fill them all!)Just this year in my own area I have seen such groups rise up to provide vast amounts of missing PPE, make thousands of extra scrubs for local nhs, organise supermarket spares to be delivered to those living on the streets and a helpline set up to care for those in isolation due to Covid. Make no mistake – there is an army of Marcus Rashford’s, both known and unknown in every part of the UK doing what they can – from setting up “chatty” benches, to running the embarrassing amount of necessary food banks and everything inbetween! Our own local Community Fridge has delivered more then 750,000 free meals to those in need this year – all via volunteers! The response to Marcus Rashford and the disgraceful vote the other day is what I see as typical of the majority of the British people. It’s been overwhelming! So many have come forward to offer the missing free meals from cafes, restaurants, fruit and veg stalls, individual schools, individual teachers and even some Conservative councils. Because we know it’s wrong and we care! The same thing has happened with laptops for children in need, PPE and food for the homeless to mention just a few of the shameful mistakes that have happened this year. Yes it shouldn’t be necessary and our government is portraying such a poor, shameful and embarrassing view of “British values” to the world right now (certain sections of the media aren’t helping either!) BUT it does feel to me quite different to the Thatcher era when it seemed like everyone was out for themselves – the people do care and are trying hard to circumvent each challenge this government presents our communities with. I hope this reply gives you comfort and more confidence in the UK – compassion is alive and well – even in this leafy suburb!! 😁💜💜💜 lots of love and thank you for raising this discussion! Ceri xxx
It’s all very sad. The years of austerity have damaged so much. But many will not be aware or will not care and their lives go on just fine, regardless. It will take years to undo the mess that has been made. You have to feel incredibly sorry for any future government who has to right these wrongs and do what is in the interest of the people, not their rich friends.
I really hope that more people are now aware of some of the corruption, like the way that the contracts have been awarded to address the Coronavirus crisis. More people need to care. I’m kind of surprised sometimes that there is not anarchy and rioting on the streets.
But you are right about the sense of community and that is so heartening. I’ve seen posts on social media, where individuals are offering meals themselves, after the appalling school meals decision. I see too that there are small businesses who are also offering help, even though they are struggling more than they ever due to the pandemic. They are not offering help for publicity but to support the children of their communities. Thankfully there are still some compassionate people. I find myself saying it repeatedly; our world needs more compassion. Of course all of this brings shame to any government, when it is ordinary people who step up fill a gap in welfare. One can only hope that voters will remember all of this, when it comes to the next election.
Thanks for being you, Ceri. Thanks for actually caring too. And thank you for taking time to comment.
Very well written Maggie…
I really do wonder what is happening to this country!
How can those who are elected by the people sleep at night knowing they are allowing children to go hungry yet are awarding themselves a pay rise.
They have been caught out giving lucrative contracts (without the usual tendering processes) for PPE and the failed test and trace system to their cronies who have NO idea in the slightest about the products the promised to provide and when what they do provide turns out to be unfit for purpose or even worse they just do not provide anything, there seems to be a lack of comeback or investigation!!
And yet they all get away with it..
It is just awful. Xx
Thank you for your comments, Colleen.
I’m not sure how any politician anywhere can sleep at night, knowing that they are allowing children to go hungry, when they have the power to make positive changes. We have seen it in happening developing countries, where ‘leaders’ would arrive in poor communities in a Mercedes, wearing Armani suits, but the people greeting them wouldn’t have enough to feed their families. It made me angry then and this makes me angry now. We never imagined we would witness this in U.K.
It seems that many politicians everywhere, no longer even bother to project that they are there to serve the nation. They are clearly there to serve themselves. They take big benefits but have little or no conscience. There are still some leaders who act in the best interest of their people, like Solberg, Ahern and Conte but they are the exception, not the norm.
The ‘world leading’ track and trace in U.K collapsed. And yet there are no consequences. If ordinary people were so grossly incompetent in their jobs, heads would roll. No one seems to be accountable for their actions or inaction. Meanwhile ordinary, working people continue to suffer.
We watch on with horror, disgust and sadness.
Well written Maggie. For too long, too many have looked over their fence and made judgement, but didn’t bother to look in their own back yard. Living, where I do in Melbourne, is an area of great contrasts. Extreme wealth and extreme poverty with us somewhere in the middle. We open our door and it is not difficult to see the hardships that many are suffering. Taking a moment to stop and have a chat can unveil a hidden plight. The outcomes of Covid are going to create greater and less visible hardships and as it would seem, children and the elderly, the ones who need the greatest care and protection, are continuing to be forgotten by policy makers and implementers. Keep caring, keep doing and keep advocating.
Thanks for commenting, Alison. The deflection and the projecting that ‘everything is just peachy’ is sickening. As you say, many find it easier to look elsewhere and make judgements. We’ve seen this happen with the coverage of the Coronavirus. The British media was happy to serve up sensationalist reporting and ‘demonise’ other countries but the moment that the virus took hold in U.K, their tone changed. I digress. There are too many inequalities in our societies. It’s so important to acknowledge that and do what you can, where you can, to help. Of course politicians everywhere should make addressing these issues their priority, but sadly too many just don’t care.
I fear that you are right and that the future holds many challenges in many communities, with more small businesses collapsing and significant job losses. Some people are going to be looking for some compassion. It will fall to us to provide it.
Thanks for your encouragement. We will always try to help others, wherever possible. And we can only hope that raising awareness of many issues, whether it’s poverty, the environment or something else, will inspire others to help too. A better world is possible.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/16/unicef-feed-hungry-children-uk-first-time-history?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR0Q_Kewo5Ut43255Uj1DAejPG_KPJZEUJKRWN9NIgwqaB016pnOZ5EnCBU