Marks and Spencer launches 'shwopping' to cut landfill

[naomi24]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17860793

Good idea? I think so.

[Zeuhl]

Oxfam do have projects in the uk too.

[mccfluff]

m&s work with Shelter as well as oxfam

[sp1814]

AOG

If someone doesn't want their cast offs going overseas, then all they need to do is take them down to their Cancer Research Campaign shop.

However, there are hundreds of thousands of people who DO support Oxfam, (it's Britain's ninth biggest charity by donations), it's not such a scandal that M&S should support them.

Furthermore - everyone loves Joanna Lumley.

[sp1814]

And if anyone wants to be surprised at the list of the top charities, have a look at:

http://www.guardian.c...ies-donations-britain

The GAVI Fund????

[naomi24]

I can’t see why sending clothing overseas is an issue at all. There are plenty of charities helping people in this country. Begrudging an item of otherwise unwanted clothing to anyone in need seems a bit mean-spirited to me.

[anotheoldgit]

//// Furthermore - everyone loves Joanna Lumley. ///

That is rather an overgeneralising statement to make.

I for one doesn't, so even if everyone else in the world apart from me loves her, then still not 'everyone' loves her.

[naomi24]

Oh goody! Let's have a row over who loves Joanna Lumley and who doesn't. ;o)

[Zeuhl]

GAVI is an interesting one sp

Gets a lot of money from WHO, Unicef, World Bank and Bill Gates

Focused on immunisation.

[shaneystar2]

I doubt anyone would AOG's cast offs anyway .
Can you imagine walking about in a Tshirt with ..Disgruntled of Tunbridge Wells emblazoned on the back :-)

[sp1814]

AOG

I am shocked - I thought Ms Lumley was globally adored - like the Queen Mum, or Easter eggs.

I stand corrected.

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24

/// I can’t see why sending clothing overseas is an issue at all. ///

No it is not an issue providing there is enough to go round for ever deserving cause both at home and abroad.

Where do you suggest they go, China, Russia, Korea, or just specially selected countries?

Tell me naomi, if you knew a family down the road that hadn't enough to eat, but you knew that by giving some of your family's food up to feed them, you knew that your family would also starve, would you still give that family your food?

[giveup]

I do a lot of voluntary work with a purely local charity staffed and run entirely by volunteers(we do over 2,000 hospital cars a year).I do hope people continue to support local charities with their donations otherwise they will be unable to continue with this vital work.

[naomi24]

AOG, if people are in need, I really don’t mind where my clothes go. In fact I once gave a parcel of clothes, including a brand new dress which still had the labels on it, to the Red Cross to help in the Bosnian conflict. My husband swears to this day that there was once a soldier marching around in a tight-fitting backless red dress and combat boots. :o)

I don’t see what you’re getting at with your question. I obviously wouldn’t let my family starve, but if others were starving, I would share what I had as best I could.

[friedgreentomato]

Would anyone want AOG's hair shirt?

[sp1814]

AOG

But this is the way that charity works. There are literally hundreds of British-based charities which focus their works on supporting the poor and needy in the UK, and then there are those who concentrate on redistributing to the poor and needy in other parts of the world.

If your particular interest is helping UK charities, then there are plenty to subscribe to.

There isn't enough to go around both home and abroad, but then there isn't enough money to support every animal charity - people give to what they want to give to...personally, I am not moved by the plight of donkeys in Greece, but I AM concerned by homelessness...everyone's different.

[naomi24]

I'm still wondering what the starving family down the road has to do with this.

[sp1814]

Also...charity doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. One may take one's old clothes to M&S, but might also donate to the NSPCC and RSPCA.

[emmie]

it is, but isn't it that you are buying clothes at M&S, then take old things to donate,
so it's not so much like just donating straight to Oxfam or other charities.

[emmie]

from the article

the idea is that people will bring in old clothes to donate, when buying new items, thus reducing landfill