A sign of the times? Sesame street to unveil poor, hungry muppet

[scorza]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/44256333#44791599

The article is about the state of poverty in the USA, but here in Britain there is a booming industry (one of the few) in food banks - where food is donated and then handed out to poor people in this country. People say that relative poverty doesn't matter, but when the price of food is determined solely by the free market, the net result is the same as absolute poverty - children going to bed hungry.

 

[Edrof]

Food banks? Never heard of them.

 

[Cosimo]

Food banks? Never heard of them.

You have now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13914188

http://www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects

 

[Castiel]

Food banks? Never heard of them.

If true that is worrying. Even here in the affluent South of Wiltshire we have need of a food-bank. We have the Trussel Trust which helps those in need, and in recent years the need is getting ever larger. My wife and I have been volunteering with the Trussell Trust for several years and it came as a surprise to me the living conditions of some families in the UK despite the welfare state and all the Daily Fail nonsense about benefits.

 

[stockhausen]

Good on Sesame Street

... If true that is worrying. Even here in the affluent South of Wiltshire we have need of a food-bank. We have the Trussel Trust which helps those in need, and in recent years the need is getting ever larger. My wife and I have been volunteering with the Trussell Trust for several years and it came as a surprise to me the living conditions of some families in the UK despite the welfare state and all the Daily Fail nonsense about benefits.

I have no idea what life is like "in the affluent South of Wiltshire" but your post perfectly illustrates the level of ignorance that seems commonplace outside the major conurbations.

This situation is going to get worse and Dave's "Big Society" is not going to do anything to help alleviate the problem caused by the relentless attacks on, vilification of and cutbacks in Social Services.


Well done Sesame Street - fighting the Extremist, Fundamentalist Tea Party Muppets