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ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » Charitable fund raising activity has been high on the public agenda this weekend, as thousands of people have been raising money for Sports Relief. Having seen some of the videos, it is clearly a deserving cause.
However, events like this draw attention to the plight of many UK charities that are closing due to lack of grant funding. A lot of this is blamed on funds being directed towards the Olympic Games in 2012. If this is so, then things are surely going to get worse in the years ahead.
I was delighted to hear Sir Michael Parkinson suggest that the ã12 billion pounds that the Government is spending on the Games would be better spent providing sporting facilities and coaching for the youth of today instead. He was being interviewed by Jonathon Ross in the Sports Relief show last Friday.
Well done, Parky! I was beginning to think I was the only person who held this view, which IâÂÂve done since well before London was awarded the Games.
To me, the 2012 Olympic Games in London is like âÂÂThe EmperorâÂÂs New ClothesâÂ?! No one seemed willing to question the validity of the decision to host the Games.
I donâÂÂt know if itâÂÂs too late to give up now, but I say let Paris host them. LetâÂÂs invest the money now nationally and perhaps we can have more Sporting Victories instead of Sporting Venues in London when it comes to 2012.
This would also help solve the growing problem of obesity and give the youth of today something useful to do outside school hours.
I suppose the likelihood of my suggestion happening is very small, but if public opinion, particularly in the North, was such that a Labour victory at the next election was in doubt, perhaps our politicians may have second thoughts.
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