Lizzie, Charity will not change the fact that where profit comes first - be it 'independent', state or privately owned - people will come second. The things you suggest might help today, but tomorrow we will be faced with the same problem. The idea that one can somehow trade or work one's way out of poverty is a fallacy. Maybe somebody does work their way out poverty, but then the exploited becomes the exploiter and the majority of people are still in penury. Capitalism is like Death Monopoly.

I agree wholeheartedly that everybody should be doing something but following the myth that capitalism can somehow be made to work in the interests of everybody is merely prolonging the disease. Capitalism means minority control of resources, production for profit and allocation of goods and services according ability to pay. Unless we negate the system with one based on common ownership and democratic control of resources, production for use and free access to goods and services then be prepared to continue begging your 'benevolent' masters for a little grace forever, while poverty, war and environmental damage continue unabated.

There is no reason why we can't have a world of plenty for everyone, a world of co-operation amongst equals. But to do this we have to stop clinging to the decrepid ideas of leaders and followers, our nation and theirs, and then take power by ourselves for ourselves.