RE: YOUR correspondent, Malcolm M Richards’ points on the scandalous use of prostitutes and sexual abuse by Oxfam and other charities. 

Indeed, with every scandal that is uncovered, it seems, unfortunately, that this kind of behaviour is endemic within our society. So no, we should not be surprised that such behaviour exists within these organisations.  

Whilst this is wrong and must be dealt with, it should not discourage us from donating to them because of a few bad pennies. Organisations such as Oxfam carry out fantastic work overseas and, aside from the basic humanitarian help they provide to starving and less fortunate people than ourselves, on a more selfish note, such aid helps prevent the promotion  of extreme ideas and thus the spread of terrorism throughout the world.

We should not allow politicians or the tabloid press to perpetuate the myth that we can just wipe our hands of the suffering going on in far away places - much of which has been and still is being caused by our own foreign policies.

Neither should we allow the myth that we are short of money and can’t afford it to go unchallenged.  The austerity we have had forced upon us in the UK is entirely an ideological choice made by the current government.  It’s been stated many times, - we are one of the wealthiest countries in the western world!  

The matters which have come to light and also the issues of executive pay and of the aid getting to the right people need to be addressed, and urgently. But there can be no excuse for not helping our fellow human beings anywhere.  

It is our moral duty, and to do otherwise would makes us inhuman.   

Nick Fisher
Prospect Street
Newport