Should Britain respond to Turkey’s call for aid after Sunday’s Earthquake?
Turkey has called for aid after an earthquake has left 570 dead, 2,500 people injured and hundreds still missing. But not all British attitudes support the aid.
Maureen Smith 68 Retred - Clerical Weymouth |
Maureen Smith 68, a retired cleric from Weymouth, mused, “It’s very difficult, it’s a balancing act. Look after your own first, then if there’s any spare give it away”
Turkey sits on volatile fault lines that caused Sunday’s earthquake, registering 7.2 on the Richter scale. Although 187 people have been rescued from the ruins, Turkey called for more help to find those still missing.
| Left: Daniel Leaver 20 Red Cross Volunteer Bournemouth Right: Linda Tramontini 55 Red Cross Manager Southbourne |
Daniel Leaver, a 20-year-old volunteer at the Red Cross in Bournemouth, said “Yes, that’s good, it’s very good to help other people.”
His manager, Linda Tramontini, 55, from Southbourne agreed, “Unfortunately it’s a pre-arrangement. In the case of a natural disaster, yes.”
Similarly, France, Ukraine and Israel have also provided support and sent helicopters with supplies.
| Dominick Saez 43 Commercial fisherman Swanage |
Former Royal Naval officer, now commercial fisherman, Dominick Saez, 43, from Swanage explained “It shows how generous we are and what a good nation we are.”
| Hannah Fisher 21 Asda shop assistant Bournemouth |
Hannah Fisher aged 21,a shop assistant from Bournemouth agreed, “I still think that no matter what, there’s still people worse than us. We’re not living in slums, we don’t drink dirty water. We still have our basic human rights covered”
| David James Pearson 54 TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language Boscombe |
David James Pearson, 54, an English teacher from Boscombe, said “Well I think it’s the right thing to do, it’s not like we’re a bad country. We should always do it as soon as possible”.
| Luis Salazar 30 Customer assistant Bournemouth |
A Venezuelan customer assistant, Luis Salazar, 30, from Bournemouth said “Yes I think we should still give some, it’s part of the state budget that is meant to go to charity.”
In 2005 the UK pledged to donate 0.7% of the Gross National Product to aid foreign countries.
| 29 Student/ Promoter Bournemouth |
Carlos Salazar Roman 29, currently a student and promoter in Bournemouth said “I think Britain already has elements to give away so why not? We don’t need to spend money to help out.”
| David Denyer 39 Florist Bournemouth |
Many people argue that the economic conditions in the UK are far too unstable to be in the position to give relief elsewhere.
| Sam James 23 Student 4th year – Business Winton |
David Denyer 39, a Florist from Bournemouth argued “No I’m getting peed off with it. I’m fed up with looking after other people. Yes for the earthquake but generally no.”
Sam James, 23, studying Business at Bournemouth University said “We can’t really afford it but I don’t think it’s wrong.”
