Pity Lebanon

[Martin.A]

Economy already on life support, health system on its knees with Covid-19, millions from Syria in the country in refugee camps and now half of Beirut in ruins and 300,000 people homeless.

We don't really have anything to complain about here, do we?

Martin

 

[Amity Island]

We don't really have anything to complain about here, do we?

Where do you want me to start?.....

 

[Amity Island]

Fire away, then. I'm sure most of it will be pretty insignificant in comparison

Country is bankrupt with £1.85 trillion of debt
4 million children living in poverty in UK
320,000 homeless in UK
88,000 people in prison in UK
6,500 suicides each year in UK
90,000 divorces each year
4.7 million diabetics in UK
3.2 million thefts each year in UK
350,000 house burglaries each year
435,000 vehicle offences each year
83,000 robberies each year
4,629 organised crime gangs in UK
46,000 deaths so far from covid19 this year
1,700 road deaths each year
367,000 new cases of cancer each year
2 million alcohol related hospital admission every year in UK
600,000 people addicted to alcohol in England
3,000 drug missuse deaths each year in England
3.7 million on housing benefit
2.2 million on personal independence allowance
2 million on employment and support allowance
1.7 million on disability living allowance
1.6 million on pension credits
1.6 million on attendance allowance
1.3 million on carers attendance allowance
450,000 on income support
251,000 on job seekers allowance

But more importantly, why compare? Tragic events elsewhere, don't reduce the burden or significance of the problems we face.

 

[ColinUK]

If folks want to donate in response to the explosion yesterday then please donate to Lebanese Red Cross directly.

 

[Amity Island]

If folks want to donate in response to the explosion yesterday then please donate to Lebanese Red Cross directly.

Thanks Colin, very thoughtful. I've just made an offline donation. I'm sure others will too!

 

[KARNAK]

On its way Colin.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Country is bankrupt with £1.85 trillion of debt

By coincidence, on of The Guardian's podcasts covered Lebanon on Monday: https://www.theguardian.com/news/series/todayinfocus

 

[Amity Island]

Economy already on life support, health system on its knees with Covid-19, millions from Syria in the country in refugee camps and now half of Beirut in ruins and 300,000 people homeless.

We don't really have anything to complain about here, do we?

Martin

Hi Anitram,

When I saw the video, I was totally shocked, never ever seen an explosion of that magnitude with a cloud wave like that ever! Unimaginable, immense power, lethal and awful for anyone nearby.

Also, Trump said his military experts said it was clearly a bomb, an attack, not an accidental fire or the like.

Donald Trump claims Beirut explosion 'looks like a terrible attack' – video

The Beirut government says the explosion was caused by a warehouse full of ammonium nitrate igniting, though the initial cause of the fire is still unclear.

www.theguardian.com

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Also, Trump said his military experts said it was clearly a bomb, an attack, not an accidental fire or the like.

On the other hand we have the plausible story that it was an accident. Lots of ammonium nitrate from a known source, stored in the docks. There's some mystery about why it hadn't been sold off. But it looks much more like catastrophic screwup than an attack. (Doesn't seem to be much reason for anyone to attack it, after all.)

Beirut explosion: anger at officials grows after missed warnings

Released paper trail reveals ignored warnings over stash that has killed at least 135 people

www.theguardian.com

 

[ColinUK]

The British Red Cross now have a Beirut Appeal running with funds raised going to the Lebanese Red Cross.

https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/beirut-emergency-appeal

 

[HenryBennett]

But more importantly, why compare? Tragic events elsewhere, don't reduce the burden or significance of the problems we face.

Wow! I didn’t realise we live in one of Trump’s “sh*thole countries”.
It’s certainly stopped me donating to the Lebanese Red Cross as our problems are so immense that I envy the Lebanese people.

 

[HenryBennett]

Yet migrants continue to risk their lives everyday to get here.

90% of the world’s population would change places with any one us in the blink of an eye.

 

[HenryBennett]

The British Red Cross now have a Beirut Appeal running with funds raised going to the Lebanese Red Cross.

https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/beirut-emergency-appeal

Thx Colin. Donation made.

 

[HenryBennett]

I subscribe to what's known as Occam's Razor

Martin, thanks for that. I’d not heard of Occam’s Razor but having looked it up it chimes very loudly with me.

 

[Amity Island]

Wow! I didn’t realise we live in one of Trump’s “shithole countries”.

But more importantly, why compare? Tragic events elsewhere, don't reduce the burden or significance of the problems we face.

What part of that statement is not correct? If you have anything which shows otherwise please do respond, but don't make up things that have not been said, discussed or implied.

It’s certainly stopped me donating to the Lebanese Red Cross as our problems are so immense that I envy the Lebanese people.

Again, please don't make up things that have not been said, discussed or implied. I never said that our problems should stop us having compassion for those affected by the tragic accident in Lebanon. Our own current circumstances certainly haven't stopped me from donating money to the Lebanese Redcross (which I have made). Our problems do not reduce the appalling problems they are now facing or put us into a position of envy.

I'm not sure why others also liked your post? There is nothing good about or anything to make flippant remarks about the current situation in our country or Lebanon.

 

[ColinUK]

If the explosion has happened in London then within the 2.5km zone most buildings would have been flattened and inhabitants killed.
Out to 7.5km extensive building damage and vast numbers of injuries.
The sound of the explosion would have been heard in France.

 

[Madeline]

View attachment 15010
If the explosion has happened in London then within the 2.5km zone most buildings would have been flattened and inhabitants killed.
Out to 7.5km extensive building damage and vast numbers of injuries.
The sound of the explosion would have been heard in France.

Wow that really puts it into perspective

 

[ColinUK]

Wow that really puts it into perspective

Not that it would ever have happened here. We’d never store ammonium nitrate in such poor conditions everywhere let alone in the centre of a major city.

 

[HenryBennett]

Who remembers the Buncefield depot explosion in 2005?

We lived a short distance away and I used to work on the industrial estate next door. The explosion was heard in Holland. We were woken by the windows rattling and what felt like a small earth quake. Only two serious injuries.

 

[Madeline]

Who remembers the Buncefield depot explosion in 2005?

We lived a short distance away and I used to work on the industrial estate next door. The explosion was heard in Holland. We were woken by the windows rattling and what felt like a small earth quake. Only two serious injuries.

Me!