Britain to cut aid to African countries that persecute gays
95 replies, posted
[img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/r-UK-CUT-AID-large570.jpg[/img]
[quote]The British government says it will cut aid to African countries that persecute LGBT people.
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell revealed the UK has already cut funding to Malawi by £19 million after two gay men were sentenced to 14 years in prison last May reports the Daily Mail.
Though Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were eventually pardoned by Malawi's President, Bingu wa Mutharika, their freedom came with a stern warning.
"These boys committed a crime against our culture, against our religion, and against our laws," Mutharika said. "We don't condone marriages of this nature. It's unheard of in Malawi and it's illegal."
The Daily Mail notes the UK has donated over £200 million to Malawi during the past three years but that the government will continue withholding funds from the country if it does not stop threatening and punishing its LGBT citizens.
Other countries on the UK's watch list include Ghana, where earlier this year Western Region Minister Paul Evans Aidoo called for the arrest of all gay people and Uganda, which has considered a "Kill The Gays" bill and saw its first gay bar shuttered last week.[/quote]
[url="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/britain-cut-aid-africa-gays_n_1003213.html"][U]Source[/U][/url]
Not sure what to think about this one
Good.
I'm glad. They're silly nations.
winner
[QUOTE] It's unheard of in Malawi and it's illegal."[/QUOTE]
It's time to start listening and waking up to modern culture, most countries now don't give a fuck if you're LGBT but the lack of gay marriage here is stupid.
UK is doing the right thing IMO.
Even if I was the biggest homophobic asshole out there, £19 million sounds way better.
anyone else think this is a pretty cynical thing to do?
[editline]10th October 2011[/editline]
I mean that money could have gone to feeding people, seems like the govt is just using this as an excuse to save money rather than for any idealistic reason
hating on the homos is a pretty cynical thing to do
[QUOTE=RAG Frag;32718435][img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/r-UK-CUT-AID-large570.jpg[/img]
[url="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/britain-cut-aid-africa-gays_n_1003213.html"][U]Source[/U][/url]
Not sure what to think about this one[/QUOTE]
...why? should the developed world keep sending huge sums of money to continue propping up governments that oppress their people?
:golfclap:
While it's noble, using this logic shouldn't they stop sending money to countries like North Korea as well? They're even worse than African countries that are persecuting homosexuals.
[QUOTE=Chrille;32718826]While it's noble, using this logic shouldn't they stop sending money to countries like North Korea as well? They're even worse than African countries that are persecuting homosexuals.[/QUOTE]
They send money to North Korea?
let's stop giving african nations food because they have corrupt governments
swell?
But they just don't want to eat da poopoo...
we donated £200 million to malawi in the last 3 years alone, what the actual fuck are we doing, massive economic downturn and we're pissing money away, that country is so corrupt there's no point in just throwing money at it, it's better sending people in to help out.. I think one of the big charities did a survey not to long ago and it turns out that the people of 3rd world countries prefer recieving tools and useful things instead of just money
[QUOTE=Sector 7;32718762]...why? should the developed world keep sending huge sums of money to continue propping up governments that oppress their people?[/QUOTE]
It's because of the shit that was done to them in the past hundred years with imperialism and what not. I think it's something like that.. well one of the many reasons other than resources.
[QUOTE=TBFundy;32718911]let's stop giving african nations food because they have corrupt governments
swell?[/QUOTE]
The sad thing is, a lot of the aid is taken by rebels or horded by the corrupt.
[QUOTE=taipan;32718885]They send money to North Korea?[/QUOTE]
Apparently not, it was the United States. My bad.
Nice!
The governments don't always spend the money on food or medicine anyway
[QUOTE=RAG Frag;32718435]
Not sure what to think about this one[/QUOTE]
I do.
Good idea, UK.
As long as they do not cut any aid that goes to the people, as opposed to through the government, I am fine with this.
It's kind of sad that a bunch of people might die from lack of aid just because some moron in the government refuses to accept these people
[QUOTE=Zoook;32719094]I do.
Good idea, UK.[/QUOTE]
It's not black and white
[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/25/malawi-aid-freeze-could-harm-dfid-good-work[/url]
Maybe they're just using it as an excuse to cut back on spending more.
You can still share the expenses of living with whoever you want to, without being married or anything.
But that's got nothing to do with persecuting gay people. That's not right.
Good for the UK. It's about time someone took a stand against the intolerance of the world.
Hopefully this forces the hand of those countries to stop oppressing their people. Even if the aid is important, protecting the peoples human rights is more important, and Im glad Britain decided to stop feeding into that.
It's about damn time someone starts telling these African dictatorships off. But this isn't good enough; if I was the leader of a nation giving them aid, I would demand they set up education systems, work on getting clean water, and keep the people fed. Otherwise they shouldn't be getting a dime.
In all honesty, it does seem silly that of all the reasons they could have denied them money, it was a lack of respect for the LGBT community that did it. When many people are dying of easily curable conditions, others are starving, and most can't even read a scratch, this seems like a small problem in comparison.
It's a shame that the people being persecuted will suffer as well, though.
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