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Burnley gran in bid to help Zimbabwe people

3:30pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in


A BURNLEY grandmother is spearheading a campaign to help people in Zimbabwe after returning from a fact-finding mission to the poverty-stricken country.

Anne-Marie Coppock, 61, from Lower Manor Lane in Burnley, was sent to the struggling country by aid agency CAFOD as she manages its Salford office.

Her trip coincided with a visit by prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai to Europe and the US in a bid to persuade leaders that his country is improving.

But Anne-Marie said that people in the African country needed help and urged the people of East Lancashire to support an appeal by CAFOD. She said: “The reality in Zimbabwe is bleak.

“The time of empty supermarkets and wheelbarrows full of Zimbabwe dollars worth only a few pence is over for now but this doesn’t mean Zimbabwe can feed itself.

“It’s only an hour out of the capital Harare and people are barely surviving.

“Seven million people are struggling to feed themselves. Hospitals and schools are barely functioning with few, if any, basic drugs such as aspirin and antibiotics, equipment or school books.

“However, I do believe people’s lives can be changed and that we, as ordinary people in the UK, can make a difference and now is the time.”

Anne-Marie said she was hopeful that her reports will stir people across Burnley and neighbouring towns to dig deep.

She added: “The people’s talk of hope for change is catching.

“The resilience of the people against all the odds is overwhelming.

“Having sensed this hope and seen for myself the hardship, but also how a little support goes a long way, I do believe people’s lives can be changed and that we, as ordinary people in the UK, can make a difference and now is the time.”

To support CAFOD's Zimbabwe appeal, visit the website below or call 0500 858885.

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Comments(24)

holsten pils says...
4:24pm Thu 2 Jul 09

I think this woman should realise that charity begins at home and that there have already been billions wasted on these countries when we should be looking after our own.

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bgrs says...
4:37pm Thu 2 Jul 09

Gordon Brown is sending £60 million to Zimbabwe. As holsten said, charity begins at home.

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RAyzer says...
8:50pm Thu 2 Jul 09

we gave millions to ethiopia and then they went and bought 8 mig fighters to fight a civil war...bono and geldoff dont tell you that,so they can sell more records and gain more cash for THERE needs..NOT africas

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Antonio Garcia says...
9:33pm Thu 2 Jul 09

It's funny that with all the funding and governments involved that hunger is still a problem with there country, I wonder why they don't over agriculture there country, i wonder why they don't over agriculture there governments.

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Antonio Garcia says...
9:41pm Thu 2 Jul 09

These third world country's need to do one thing, They need to take there UN money and they need to Over Agriculture there government, And i mean Corn, wheat, flour, etc. They need to seriously invest there UN money in to Aqueducts and pipe lines for Agriculture.

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retired one says...
11:42pm Thu 2 Jul 09

All of the millions of pounds that this government sends hardly ever gets to the needy. It is squandered by the big chiefs on numerous wives and luxury vehicles etc.etc.
Charity does begin at home, so this is where you should start.

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midas says...
9:39am Fri 3 Jul 09

You think your life is hard, sitting at a computer pontificating and sermonising about Charity begins at home when the poorest person in this country is a millon times better off.

Starving? You show me one starving person in this country. Access to clean water? Know anyone that doesn't have it?
Infant mortality? Do you know why they have lots of kids RAyzer?

So long as you are white and English eh Holsten?



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RAyzer says...
11:26am Fri 3 Jul 09

retired one wrote:
All of the millions of pounds that this government sends hardly ever gets to the needy. It is squandered by the big chiefs on numerous wives and luxury vehicles etc.etc. Charity does begin at home, so this is where you should start.
spot on..africa has oil,ivory,diamonds,c
opper..theyve everything and yet dictators take all the cream AND OUR CASH..TIME TO WISE UP FOLKS!!

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RAyzer says...
11:28am Fri 3 Jul 09

midas wrote:
You think your life is hard, sitting at a computer pontificating and sermonising about Charity begins at home when the poorest person in this country is a millon times better off. Starving? You show me one starving person in this country. Access to clean water? Know anyone that doesn't have it? Infant mortality? Do you know why they have lots of kids RAyzer? So long as you are white and English eh Holsten?
typical...my lifes hard,why they starving??BECAUSE THERE GOVERNMENT ARE CORRUPT,NOT MINE..PROBLEM??PEOPL
E LIKE YOU FUNDING ARMS TO KILL THESE STARVING FOLK,,,ALL OUR MONEY GOES ON ARMS,PROVEN..GROW A BRAIN---il guarentee your a student?!??Q?A=

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RAyzer says...
11:32am Fri 3 Jul 09

midas wrote:
You think your life is hard, sitting at a computer pontificating and sermonising about Charity begins at home when the poorest person in this country is a millon times better off. Starving? You show me one starving person in this country. Access to clean water? Know anyone that doesn't have it? Infant mortality? Do you know why they have lots of kids RAyzer? So long as you are white and English eh Holsten?
do you seriously think money we send goes to starving kids??come on,wake up,its a shame these kids starve,go and help over there..dont send cash so they can buy the latest weapons..think on,20 year ago mugabe was given millions and an M.B.E by clowns like yourself..

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bankhall says...
11:48am Fri 3 Jul 09

good ol granny they probably spent a few thousand on her flights and wages and then she bleats in the papers hahah unreal.

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midas says...
11:53am Fri 3 Jul 09

Whats your arguement RAyzer, the money shouldn't be spent helping people in Africa because it just all goes to line the pocket of corrupt officials?

A pretty basic and simple arguement, a bit like yourself!

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Mike Costa says...
12:29pm Fri 3 Jul 09

midas wrote:
You think your life is hard, sitting at a computer pontificating and sermonising about Charity begins at home when the poorest person in this country is a millon times better off. Starving? You show me one starving person in this country. Access to clean water? Know anyone that doesn't have it? Infant mortality? Do you know why they have lots of kids RAyzer? So long as you are white and English eh Holsten?
Mike Costa says:

We might disagree over football, but your comments on this are spot on. IMHO

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akon says...
12:40pm Fri 3 Jul 09

Midas
if you want to send your money to africa ,get on with it.If others don't that is totally up to them !
Whats your problem?
Also what is your excuse "why they have lots of kids" ?



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ChiRho says...
2:34pm Fri 3 Jul 09

The fact that their governments are corrupt should not preclude you from caring about them.

Most money spent by relief agencies goes on food and medicine - things we take for granted.

Caring for others less fortunate is a trait that this country is very much short of.

Ask yourself this - would you swap places ?

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midas says...
3:24pm Fri 3 Jul 09

I have no probloem with people choosing where to send their money, I have a problem however with the mantra "Charity begins at home" often spouted (and it seems to be confirmed by the posters on here)by the BNP supporting bigots who pevert it to their own means.

The reason for having lots of children is that many don't make it through to adulthood because they die.

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holsten pils says...
6:44pm Fri 3 Jul 09

No actual taxpayers money should go to any other country when our pensioners etc cannot afford to put their heating on but if people want to give out of their own pockets by voluntary donations then fair enough. But why have more children because others have died ? so the new ones can die to ? and they cant be that starving if they have all that strength for consistant copulating , maybe the answer is condoms ? bought with charity money only but not ours , we do have to look after our own and charity DOES begin at home and it doesnt have to be a BNP supporter to say that but i admit i am one but would say it regardless , to much of OUR money has gone to other countries.

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andyingreece says...
11:35pm Fri 3 Jul 09

It was a thriving economy until Mugabe kicked out the white farmers. They don't want any help from us. Let them get on with it.

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andyingreece says...
11:35pm Fri 3 Jul 09

It was a thriving economy until Mugabe kicked out the white farmers. They don't want any help from us. Let them get on with it.

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snitch says...
12:11pm Sat 4 Jul 09

Contraception is a major problem in this country, if money was spent in prevention of pregnancy e.g. sterilization after 2 children, there wouldn't be as many mouths to feed and there would be a higher survival rate. I stopped at 2 children as I knew I would struggle to afford more. It wasn't as eay to get benefits then like it is now. I feel for the children already born and they do need help but I think it has to be by individual voluntary help or the corrupt government will control any money in vast amounts. At the end of the day the lady does have a good heart.

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RAyzer says...
1:33pm Sat 4 Jul 09

midas wrote:
Whats your arguement RAyzer, the money shouldn't be spent helping people in Africa because it just all goes to line the pocket of corrupt officials? A pretty basic and simple arguement, a bit like yourself!
doh....thats how easy it is...a bit like your mum...our cash equals new tanks/weapons/ammo..
NOT FOOD...ITS CALLED PROPOGANDA YOU NUMPTY..how much did saudi arabia give to charitys last year???one of worlds richest countrys!!!LOOK INTO IT..theres only MUGS like us give to dictators

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RAyzer says...
1:36pm Sat 4 Jul 09

laughing...i knew race card would come in somewere..i feel bad that millions are dying but no chance im paying for some dictators new apache gunship/tank to kill innocent kids..or to train kids to fight by mercenaries..you that give are MUGS SIMPLE AS..IT DOESNT GET TO INTENDED CAUSES..

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RAyzer says...
1:39pm Sat 4 Jul 09

ethiopia..millions starving,we see little babys dying,bono and geldof raising millions---ethiopia then buys x amount of migs of russia to fight a civil war with eritria..MUGS GET A GRIP--like i said mugabe got a M.B.E 20 year ago,hes stinking rich,is countrys bankrupt,due to mugs lining his pocket

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Burnley & Beyond says...
11:09pm Sun 5 Jul 09

Money donated to CAFOD does not go anywhere near the Zimbabwe government or Mugabe. It goes straight to those most in most need. These countries in Africa are poor because the rich western countries have exploited them since colonial times. The present trade rules keep them poor. The EU and the USA subsidise their farmers and have restrictions on imports, whilst the African nations have to open up their markets. At the moment there is no level playing field, no justice!

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