WITH regard to the recent problems concerning aid agencies and sex abuse, one of the excuses regularly thrown up is that these organisations hire local labour that cannot easily be checked.
So hire women. I know that it is not unheard of for women to be involved in abuse, but the incidences are about a hundred times less. The women in crisis areas are the ones most in need of funds and they will soon organise child care among themselves as required. Many sectors of labour are dominated by men, so redress the balance – aid organisations could be heavily biased towards women on the simple basis that they would be better at it.
While on the subject of charities, if you are planning to donate why not check out the salaries of the top directors – if anyone earns more than a £100,000, rule that one out. For years we’ve been fed the drivel (perpetuated by overpaid bankers) that in order to get “the right people” you have to pay obscene amounts of money. If people care enough to donate, perhaps they might take a little time to mail the recipients with some constructive criticism – many of them desperately need it.
Marc A Head
Isle of Arran
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here