Famous, Rich and in the slums

[darkstar]

This is the newest documentary for Comic Relief on BBC, though it's not the usual affair. It's not a case of the celebrities simply turning up to the slums and reporting on the conditions, they live, work and socialise there. It's very interesting and a massive eye opener. kudos to the 4 who completed the experience, they really got stuck in, which surprised me to be honest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00z6dnn/Comic_Relief_2011_Famous_Rich_and_in_the_Slums_Part_1/

Anyone else watch it? What were your thoughts?

 

[Aint Skeered]

Hell on earth.
Very good doc though.
Just loved the way the women told Angela Ripon, that if her hands where to sore to wash clothes, she could always try prostitution.

 

[steve52]

how long has mankind had slums? and whys dose squalor go hand in hand with poverty? we are doing something wrong, poverty i have no idear what the answer is, squalor, im thinking is due to lack of motivation and education, maybe? but excepting bad behavioure and not demanding more of ourselves also has something to do with it. thats what it made me think anyway

 

[summerdays]

I found it very interesting and moving to watch, especially how they were unsure of how to deal with things to not intentionally give offence to the people they met and shared a bit of time with.

 

[vernon]

This is the newest documentary for Comic Relief on BBC, though it's not the usual affair. It's not a case of the celebrities simply turning up to the slums and reporting on the conditions, they live, work and socialise there. It's very interesting and a massive eye opener. kudos to the 4 who completed the experience, they really got stuck in, which surprised me to be honest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...e_Slums_Part_1/

Anyone else watch it? What were your thoughts?

It's all fine and dandy to get stuck in when you know that you don't have to put up with it for more than seven days.

I'm not sure that such programmes can ever have the same degree of impact as the humanitarian disasters that featured in Live Aid and some folk are 'compassion fatigued' or just hardened against the impact that social injustice/poverty films and documentaries hope to generate.

Comic Relief doesn't part me from my money any more. I do however regularly contribute to a range charities by direct debit and doorstep collection.

 

[darkstar]

It's all fine and dandy to get stuck in when you know that you don't have to put up with it for more than seven days.

I'm not sure that such programmes can ever have the same degree of impact as the humanitarian disasters that featured in Live Aid and some folk are 'compassion fatigued' or just hardened against the impact that social injustice/poverty films and documentaries hope to generate.

Comic Relief doesn't part me from my money any more. I do however regularly contribute to a range charities by direct debit and doorstep collection.

They were mentioning the fact of how this is different compared to their usual trip to Africa, as instead of just visiting one of these tiny houses, and thinking to themselves "oh I'm only here for a few hours", they were actually there for a whole week. One of them, Reggie went out and worked a night shift clearing our the public toilets (used by thousands of people), with nothing more than a bucket and a cart. I don't know many people who would do that. Yes they're only there for a week, but seriously, what would you ant them to do?

I think comparing Red Nose day to live aid is utterly ridiculous. And again, this is different than the usual "injustice/poverty film"...

How bizarre that you feel the need to tell people of your charitable contributions. A lot of people do that, it must be to in some way reassure people that they are a good person. In truth, most people give to a charity, so it's not even worth mentioning.

You could always sign up to go and live in the slums for a week, cleaning out the toilets. Heck, I'll pay your air fair if you're serious.

 

[montage]

how long has mankind had slums?

Since mankind developed cities

 

[vernon]

You could always sign up to go and live in the slums for a week, cleaning out the toilets. Heck, I'll pay your air fair if you're serious.

Please do.

I've lived in squalor that matches that of ghettoes it's just that you can not imagine it being possible here in the UK.

Cleaning out latrines holds no fear for me. I had a summer job working in the Leeds sewage system scraping grease off the linings and pulling a range of detritus clear to allow the free flow of excrement. Unlike the week long experience 'suffered' by the stars, mine lasted twelve weeks.

It was a crap job but someone had to do it.

Try suffering yourself. I've done my bit.

 

[montage]

Please do.

I've lived in squalor that matches that of ghettoes i

I've been to Preston as well

 

[vernon]

I've been to Preston as well

 

[darkstar]

Please do.

I've lived in squalor that matches that of ghettoes it's just that you can not imagine it being possible here in the UK.

Cleaning out latrines holds no fear for me. I had a summer job working in the Leeds sewage system scraping grease off the linings and pulling a range of detritus clear to allow the free flow of excrement. Unlike the week long experience 'suffered' by the stars, mine lasted twelve weeks.

It was a crap job but someone had to do it.

Try suffering yourself. I've done my bit.

What a hero, you're practically 3rd world...

comparing working in the sewage system in the UK and hauling bucket loads of waste and dumping it in a river, used for washing is laughable. Keep telling yourself you've had it tough, though

And nobody it saying the week spent by the stars is comparable to working full time for 12 week...

You've done your bit, but i'd be willing to bet you've always had access to a roof over your head and your wife hasn't had to resort to prostitution. The 'ghetto' in the west is entirely different, for a start the poverty level is far higher, abject poverty is under $1 per day.

 

[vernon]

What a hero, you're practically 3rd world...

comparing working in the sewage system in the UK and hauling bucket loads of waste and dumping it in a river, used for washing is laughable. Keep telling yourself you've had it tough, though

And nobody it saying the week spent by the stars is comparable to working full time for 12 week...

You've done your bit, but i'd be willing to bet you've always had access to a roof over your head and your wife hasn't had to resort to prostitution. The 'ghetto' in the west is entirely different, for a start the poverty level is far higher, abject poverty is under $1 per day.

You'll never win an argument by attacking the person and not the argument itself. As you are unaware of the facts about me your shots in the dark are very wide of the mark.

Feel free to attempt to have further attempts at demonstrating your ignorance about me. I will not dignify them with a response.

 

[darkstar]

I just can't take someone seriously when they claim that poverty in the west can be compared to poverty in the 3rd world. Sorry.

I saw no attacks in my post care to point them out?

 

[the snail]

how long has mankind had slums? and whys dose squalor go hand in hand with poverty?

If you didn't have running water, drains or a toilet, money for soap etc, how would you fare?

squalor, im thinking is due to lack of motivation and education, maybe? but excepting bad behavioure and not demanding more of ourselves also has something to do with it. thats what it made me think anyway

There was a programme a while back where a journalist went to live in a shanty town in Ghana I think, and what struck me was how much hard work was involved in just trying to exist in those conditions, and how well people cope.

 

[montage]

There was a programme a while back where a journalist went to live in a shanty town in Ghana I think, and what struck me was how much hard work was involved in just trying to exist in those conditions, and how well people cope.

What strikes me, is how much happier, despite the awful conditions and hardships, people seemed to be than your average 9-5 Brit