Appeal-ing

One of the things I love about the U.K. is the habit of giving generously to any number of causes. Comic Relief has just wound up its events, raising over 78 million pounds this year--more than one billion pounds since its founding in 1985. It was founded by a group of comedians who were inspired by Live Aid, founded the same year by my hero Sir Bob Geldof. The Poppy Appeal raised over 40 million pounds earlier this year and the daffodil campaign is on now (Comic Relief and Live Aid target poverty in Africa, paper poppies are sold to benefit veterans, and paper daffodils to raise funds for hospice care). The interesting thing is no one gets a tax deduction for any contributions.

On my walk up Botanic Avenue to Queen's, I pass five charity shops (Oxfam, Save the Children, War on Want, Marie Curie Hospice, and NI Cancer Research). They are all bursting with attractive clothes donated by people who likewise receive no tax deduction.

The support of charity shops is one of many manifestations I see every day of how people care about each other here. When people get off the bus, to a person they turn and thank the bus driver. Even teenagers. People don't beep at each other when cars are slow to move off from a traffic light. And you never have to wait to merge into a line of traffic, drivers are always ready to let you in. I am still surprised by that.
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