Journey to raise poverty awareness

Posted to Waverley Leader (22/12/2012) on 19/3/2013 at 6:01 PM
Commenting on "Journey to raise poverty awareness"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/generic-journey-to-raise-poverty-awareness/

If the concerts of 2006, 2007 and 2010 Make Poverty History were successful, why is there a need for another one in 2013? Poverty is not history, and never will be, and such bold claim is not dissimilar to the one made by Bob Hawke on June 23, 1987 at an election campaign launch. He boldly said that "by 1990 no Australian child will be living in poverty".

People living below poverty line are not just a number. It represents a hidden scenario; the immeasurable pain and suffering of the people and their loved ones. Many do-gooders pledge or donate to campaigns to help the financial needy, but only to find their hard-earn money lined the pockets of the unscrupulous organisers, or gone to the administration costs.

Campaigns to raise awareness and funds by getting the public to go on hunger for hours, or sleep-out in stadiums with minimum comfort are no more than simplistic and naïve publicity stunts, and the long term impact is no bigger than a drop in the poverty ocean.

Students living in poverty

Posted to Waverley Leader on 5/3/2009 at 5:24 AM

Commenting on “Students living in poverty”

http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au//news/story/students-living-in-poverty/

University or higher education is a privilege and not a right. Anyone who can make it should have planned carefully before enrolling and taking on the challenge. We cannot choose whatever societal system just to please our needs. We cannot expect everyone in the society to pick up the bills to educate us, or to clothe, feed or shelter us. Neither should we expect the society to raise our children! If this is what we expect or demand from the society, then we must go for a socialistic or communistic society, not a democratic and capitalistic one. Far too often, when graduates start to earn money, some may earn lots and lots of it, (they will) ill change their mind about supporting students living below the poverty line.

There is no rule to say at what age a student shall be attending university. The student should take responsibility of his/her destiny If one cannot make it by 19 years old then join the education train later, but works towards it with his/her strength and might. He/she may have to work 2 jobs or 3, 60 hours or 90, to save the necessary monies for university fees and expenses.

I had been a university student for many times, but never expected handout. I worked hard for it!