Simply could NOT miss the irony of this.

[Ram]

Here are two simultaneous news items that are featured on the BBC website right now. Bill for Buffett lunch hits $2m A Chinese businessman has won the right to have lunch with Warren Buffett after bidding $2.1m (£1m) for the privilege of dining with the legendary investor. The proceeds of the lunch at the Smith and Wollensky steakhouse in New York will go to a non-profit foundation which fights poverty and homelessness.Zhao Danyang topped the bids after an auction on the eBay website. Mr Buffett has raised $4m in charitable donations by selling annual dinner invitations since 2000. Mr Buffett's appeal shows no sign of waning since this year's successful bid is more than three times as high as the $650,100 sum paid by Mohnish Pabrai last year. Known as the Sage of Omaha for his shrewd business acumen and ability to spot winning investment opportunities, Mr Buffett is one of the world's richest men. Investors travel thousands of miles to attend the annual meeting of his Berkshire Hathaway company, where Mr Buffett holds forth on his investment philosophy and market trends. Mr Buffett recently emerged as a key figure in the planned merger of iconic US businesses Mars and Wrigley and will take a stake in the business after the deal is completed. He has agreed to leave the bulk of his fortune to the charitable foundation set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7480923.stm ------------------ Pakistan's poor hit as food prices soar Twilight in Karachi, and outside some of the main restaurants in Pakistan's economic and financial capital yo will find the city's poor waiting. They line up most days of the week, to get a chance to grab the free food that is doled out here. Hands outstretched, the clamour to get an extra helping of whatever is on offer. Hunger in the eyes of the young children, desperation in the eyes of their mothers. Many women hid their faces, ashamed and embarrassed that their misfortune is being witnessed by others. Everyone tells the same story. That they have no choice, that they are forced to rely on the charity of others, because of the crippling effect of rising food prices. Meagre earnings In Islamic scripture, it is part and parcel of a good human being's duty to provide food for the poor and the helpless. At Sabri restaurant you can feed an impoverished Karachi resident for 20 Pakistani rupees (33 US cents; 16 pence). But just a year ago the same charitable act would have cost you 15 cents - less than half what it costs today.The jump in the price of food in Pakistan has forced many into destitution. Ayesha Begum is among the hungry who are queuing for food in Karachi. Most weeks she visits this restaurant three or four times. Sometimes, when times are really bad, she comes twice a day. "What can I do?" she asks as she awaits her turn to get a dish of beef and chicken gravy. "I have no option. "My husband works in a factory, and I have seven children. His salary hasn't been increased in two years. "The meagre earnings he makes used to be just about enough to feed us all, but now the price of food is so high we can't afford anything." No wheat Prices in Karachi's markets have jumped to their highest level in 30 years. In Empress Market, one of the city's largest vegetable markets, Pervez Begum, 59, has come in the hope that she can fill her bags with food for that evening's dinner. But after having gone from stall to stall, from cart to cart, bargaining with the vegetable sellers in the markets over the price of their goods, she returns home empty handed. "I am a single woman, a widow, and I have no children to look after me," she says."The only money I make comes from selling coins to commuters who need small change for their public transport. "That doesn't make me very much. I thought today I could come and buy some wheat for my dinner, but I can't afford it."This is becoming a critical problem for Pakistan's people. The price of wheat, something that most Pakistanis eat in their daily diet, rose 26% in just one month. Financial assistance Pakistan's new government says it is doing all it can to ease the burden off the country's poor. In the recent budget, it announced the Benazir Income Support Programme. The plan is to hand out $15 (£7.50) a month to low income families, to help them with the higher cost of living. But many Pakistanis say that at the rate prices are rising, that is hardly going to help. Abbas Raza, one of millions of Pakistanis who qualifies for the extra money, is haggling in the market over the price of a few potatoes for his family's dinner. "My son is the only person in my family who is still earning," he says on the way back to his house. "We spend most of his earnings on rent. Whatever else we have left, we have to make do with. It was tough before, but it's almost impossible now." Questions, not answers Back at home, his wife Mudassar Raza complains bitterly about her husband's inability to bring back anything substantial from the vegetable market. She had planned to cook a beef and potato stew for dinner for the family, but had to make do with just a few potatoes. It was all her husband could afford. "What difference will $15 make?" she asks pointedly as she peels her paltry sum of potatoes. "Not much. $15 isn't worth five dollars these days. Why doesn't the government create more jobs in Pakistan so that older people like my husband can go out and get work? "Why doesn't the government sort out our electricity problems, so that when we do have food we can cook a full meal without the lights going off on us?" So many questions, yet the new government does not have many answers. Kaiser Bengali, an economic consultant for Pakistan's new government, helped the new administration work out its financial spending plans in the recent budget. He counters the criticism that this new administration has failed to fix Pakistan's problems quickly enough. "We inherited a damaged economy from the previous regime," he says, alluding to the rule of President Pervez Musharraf. "The headline numbers you saw, the growth that was talked about, that was all just perception. "There was a perception created by the regime that Pakistan was doing well, but it was all false growth - in the services sector, without any real foundation. It will take the new administration some time to sort out the economic issues here." But the new administration has political problems to sort out first. The criticism it faces is that so much time is spent on in-fighting and jostling for seats that not enough attention is paid to the economy. While their government figures out what steps to take next, Pakistanis have no choice, but to wait and enjoy life's simple pleasures. One of the few free recreational activities for poor and lower middle class Karachi residents is to head to the city's beaches on Sundays, with their families. Here they can indulge in fresh sea air, and for a few short hours, escape from the worries of soaring prices and unpaid bills back in the city. All they can do now, is hope that a brighter future for Pakistan is on the horizon. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7481882.stm --------------- At one end of the world, a guy pays $2 Million to have lunch with a celebrity. In that very same world, in that same day, a family of 10 doesnt have $15 a month to buy food. Long live humanity! Longer live capitalistic ideals!

[Guest dada_rocks]

This big corporate world charity is such a sham.......These guys will arm--twist weak in order to bring in legislation which will kill these poor souls small business and then will go ahead throw few crumbs as charity feeling all smug....... They rather give heavy subsidy to their farmers and put these small countries farmers out of business and then in yearly budget throw 5-10 million as foreign aid..

[THX_1138]

Here are two simultaneous news items that are featured on the BBC website right now. Bill for Buffett lunch hits $2m A Chinese businessman has won the right to have lunch with Warren Buffett after bidding $2.1m (£1m) for the privilege of dining with the legendary investor. The proceeds of the lunch at the Smith and Wollensky steakhouse in New York will go to a non-profit foundation which fights poverty and homelessness.Zhao Danyang topped the bids after an auction on the eBay website. Mr Buffett has raised $4m in charitable donations by selling annual dinner invitations since 2000. Mr Buffett's appeal shows no sign of waning since this year's successful bid is more than three times as high as the $650,100 sum paid by Mohnish Pabrai last year. Known as the Sage of Omaha for his shrewd business acumen and ability to spot winning investment opportunities, Mr Buffett is one of the world's richest men. Investors travel thousands of miles to attend the annual meeting of his Berkshire Hathaway company, where Mr Buffett holds forth on his investment philosophy and market trends. Mr Buffett recently emerged as a key figure in the planned merger of iconic US businesses Mars and Wrigley and will take a stake in the business after the deal is completed. He has agreed to leave the bulk of his fortune to the charitable foundation set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7480923.stm ------------------ Pakistan's poor hit as food prices soar Twilight in Karachi, and outside some of the main restaurants in Pakistan's economic and financial capital yo will find the city's poor waiting. They line up most days of the week, to get a chance to grab the free food that is doled out here. Hands outstretched, the clamour to get an extra helping of whatever is on offer. Hunger in the eyes of the young children, desperation in the eyes of their mothers. Many women hid their faces, ashamed and embarrassed that their misfortune is being witnessed by others. Everyone tells the same story. That they have no choice, that they are forced to rely on the charity of others, because of the crippling effect of rising food prices. Meagre earnings In Islamic scripture, it is part and parcel of a good human being's duty to provide food for the poor and the helpless. At Sabri restaurant you can feed an impoverished Karachi resident for 20 Pakistani rupees (33 US cents; 16 pence). But just a year ago the same charitable act would have cost you 15 cents - less than half what it costs today.The jump in the price of food in Pakistan has forced many into destitution. Ayesha Begum is among the hungry who are queuing for food in Karachi. Most weeks she visits this restaurant three or four times. Sometimes, when times are really bad, she comes twice a day. "What can I do?" she asks as she awaits her turn to get a dish of beef and chicken gravy. "I have no option. "My husband works in a factory, and I have seven children. His salary hasn't been increased in two years. "The meagre earnings he makes used to be just about enough to feed us all, but now the price of food is so high we can't afford anything." No wheat Prices in Karachi's markets have jumped to their highest level in 30 years. In Empress Market, one of the city's largest vegetable markets, Pervez Begum, 59, has come in the hope that she can fill her bags with food for that evening's dinner. But after having gone from stall to stall, from cart to cart, bargaining with the vegetable sellers in the markets over the price of their goods, she returns home empty handed. "I am a single woman, a widow, and I have no children to look after me," she says."The only money I make comes from selling coins to commuters who need small change for their public transport. "That doesn't make me very much. I thought today I could come and buy some wheat for my dinner, but I can't afford it."This is becoming a critical problem for Pakistan's people. The price of wheat, something that most Pakistanis eat in their daily diet, rose 26% in just one month. Financial assistance Pakistan's new government says it is doing all it can to ease the burden off the country's poor. In the recent budget, it announced the Benazir Income Support Programme. The plan is to hand out $15 (£7.50) a month to low income families, to help them with the higher cost of living. But many Pakistanis say that at the rate prices are rising, that is hardly going to help. Abbas Raza, one of millions of Pakistanis who qualifies for the extra money, is haggling in the market over the price of a few potatoes for his family's dinner. "My son is the only person in my family who is still earning," he says on the way back to his house. "We spend most of his earnings on rent. Whatever else we have left, we have to make do with. It was tough before, but it's almost impossible now." Questions, not answers Back at home, his wife Mudassar Raza complains bitterly about her husband's inability to bring back anything substantial from the vegetable market. She had planned to cook a beef and potato stew for dinner for the family, but had to make do with just a few potatoes. It was all her husband could afford. "What difference will $15 make?" she asks pointedly as she peels her paltry sum of potatoes. "Not much. $15 isn't worth five dollars these days. Why doesn't the government create more jobs in Pakistan so that older people like my husband can go out and get work? "Why doesn't the government sort out our electricity problems, so that when we do have food we can cook a full meal without the lights going off on us?" So many questions, yet the new government does not have many answers. Kaiser Bengali, an economic consultant for Pakistan's new government, helped the new administration work out its financial spending plans in the recent budget. He counters the criticism that this new administration has failed to fix Pakistan's problems quickly enough. "We inherited a damaged economy from the previous regime," he says, alluding to the rule of President Pervez Musharraf. "The headline numbers you saw, the growth that was talked about, that was all just perception. "There was a perception created by the regime that Pakistan was doing well, but it was all false growth - in the services sector, without any real foundation. It will take the new administration some time to sort out the economic issues here." But the new administration has political problems to sort out first. The criticism it faces is that so much time is spent on in-fighting and jostling for seats that not enough attention is paid to the economy. While their government figures out what steps to take next, Pakistanis have no choice, but to wait and enjoy life's simple pleasures. One of the few free recreational activities for poor and lower middle class Karachi residents is to head to the city's beaches on Sundays, with their families. Here they can indulge in fresh sea air, and for a few short hours, escape from the worries of soaring prices and unpaid bills back in the city. All they can do now, is hope that a brighter future for Pakistan is on the horizon. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7481882.stm --------------- At one end of the world, a guy pays $2 Million to have lunch with a celebrity. In that very same world, in that same day, a family of 10 doesnt have $15 a month to buy food. Long live humanity! Longer live capitalistic ideals!

I fail to see the irony that you seem to point at... Here is Waren Buffet who has just donated over 34Billion dollars in charity to the Melinda Gates Foundation; and continues to raise more money by marketing himself as a commodity. And quite expectedly, business men line up to gain a few moments with this maverick who has shephered Berkshire Hathaway from doldrums to the stratosphere through all sorts of economic turmoil. This is not mere capitalism, it is the incredible sincerety of the world's richest few: Gates and Buffet to leave behind a legacy and a geniune attempt to improve the state of affairs of this planet. That million dollar bid for the lunch does not go towards the purchase of particularly succulent steak or rare wines, but the emphasis during the lunch will be business... Here is one businessman who wants to benefit from the genius of another, and another businessman who wishes to benefit the world in every reasonable manner.

[THX_1138]

This big corporate world charity is such a sham.......These guys will arm--twist weak in order to bring in legislation which will kill these poor souls small business and then will go ahead throw few crumbs as charity feeling all smug....... They rather give heavy subsidy to their farmers and put these small countries farmers out of business and then in yearly budget throw 5-10 million as foreign aid..

indeed, first on your hit list ought to be the Reliance Family, followed close at hand by the numerous businessmen who benefited from the farcical ministry of Narendra Modi.

[The Outsider]

^ As I understand the irony Sriram is referring to is someone being able to pay millions of dollars to gain some business insights while nibbling on some steak and sipping on some wine while others can't afford a meal. Don't think he was questioning the charitable intentions of the likes of Gates and Buffett.

[goose]

and one of them business insights would no doubt be to bet on rocketing food prices.

[sandtest]

indeed' date=' first on your hit list ought to be the Reliance Family, followed close at hand by the numerous businessmen who benefited from the farcical ministry of Narendra Modi.[/quote'] How and who benefitted from NAMO? could you elaborate please.

[sandtest]

Sad story indeed! But then Karma is such a bad thing. Those enjoying in plush houses with all amenities, can we blame them for those hunting for days meal or begging on streets? This is the thinking which sows the seeds of Communist ideology. And yet we know the poorest of states are ruled by communists. The early lessons my father taught us was, he use to say a line to wake us up in morning during our childhood, which was -- "Uttishtha hey ka Purushah" roughly means - Wake up the MAN sleeping in you (to fulfill your dreams). Aren't those Gates, Trumps and Dhirubhai Ambanis were born with same 2 legs, two hands, as these poor folks spreading their hands for begging? One must be fool, if he thinks everyone can become a Tata-Birla, but, is it impossible in this evil capitalist world that the poor and deprived can't even get make their both ends meet? I am all in support for charity and philanthropy, but just a thought.

[Ram]

^ As I understand the irony Sriram is referring to is someone being able to pay millions of dollars to gain some business insights while nibbling on some steak and sipping on some wine while others can't afford a meal. Don't think he was questioning the charitable intentions of the likes of Gates and Buffett.

Exactly. I dont mean to trivialize anything, but if 3000 Americans die in a terror attack, the whole world changes. Countries are invaded, hundreds of billions of dollars spent on wars. But if millions of people in Asia and Africa die of starvation, quite frankly, no one gives a sh!t. who said every life is as precious as the other? What crime did that middle-aged women in Afghanistan do, to lose her family in a misplaced American bombing? What sin did that child in Palestine commit, to get his leg blown off, in a landmine blast? I used to believe in God, not anymore.

[Lurker]

and one of them business insights would no doubt be to bet on rocketing food prices.

lol Kinda sad, sarcastic and funny all rolled in one. Coming to the OP, yes it does show the pardoxes of the modern world where 1 man can spend millions for a token lunch while millions other queue up to merely pick the crumbs to survive. The irony is that the latter group will not even merit a read even by their own countrymen, let alone those in the West. It is considerd a part of life this side of the world. Now if the story was reversed, as to how thousands are lining up for food in USA(say Katrina), Indians might be falling over reading and discussing what is happening.

[THX_1138]

^ As I understand the irony Sriram is referring to is someone being able to pay millions of dollars to gain some business insights while nibbling on some steak and sipping on some wine while others can't afford a meal. Don't think he was questioning the charitable intentions of the likes of Gates and Buffett.

If you notice DR's post, he is specifically taunting corporate funded charities. Think about it this way: The Chinese businessman is doing 2 million dollars worth charity... if in that 2 million dollars he is obtaining a dinner with warren buffet, so be it. Its the world of the Have and Have Nots... those who Have Not are often victims of those who Have... or "Will Have"... however, one must find ways to help those downtrodden and assist them in pulling them up to a higher plane, leveling the playing field, if only just; rather than rebuking the few who Have, and have lots of it, but are willing to share.

[Ram]

If you notice DR's post, he is specifically taunting corporate funded charities. Think about it this way: The Chinese businessman is doing 2 million dollars worth charity... if in that 2 million dollars he is obtaining a dinner with warren buffet, so be it. Its the world of the Have and Have Nots... those who Have Not are often victims of those who Have... or "Will Have"... however, one must find ways to help those downtrodden and assist them in pulling them up to a higher plane, leveling the playing field, if only just; rather than rebuking the few who Have, and have lots of it, but are willing to share.

No one's actually questioning the intent of either Bufffet or the Chinese businessman. As Shwetabh pointed out, the OP is more about how unequal the distribution of wealth/spending power is. Only a system as senseless as Capitalism will allow such contradictions to continue unnoticed. Capitalism works fine in Western societies, where wealth distribution is already uniform and Per capitas are quite high. Honestly, they dont give a damn about what their country men are doing because, they dont have to. Almost all 'em are already well-off. But in other areas of the world, what you are seeing is the phenomenon of a few really rich individuals, surrounded by vast majority, thats finding it harder to survive, in this world of ever increasing prices. This is a totally unacceptable situation. In the name of capitalism, people have essentially sold their souls to the devil. The West's concept of 'One-idea-works-for-all' is nonsense. As much as their claim of Capitalism ultimately resulting in lifting people out of poverty maybe true, the pace at which that happens is untenable. The way forward is Socialist Democracies. And it is already happening, in places like Cuba and Venezuela.

[Guest dada_rocks]

indeed' date=' first on your hit list ought to be the Reliance Family, followed close at hand by the numerous businessmen who benefited from the farcical ministry of Narendra Modi.[/quote'] what the fuuck has modi got to do with it.. has cc passed baton to u or what

[Guest dada_rocks]

^ As I understand the irony Sriram is referring to is someone being able to pay millions of dollars to gain some business insights while nibbling on some steak and sipping on some wine while others can't afford a meal. Don't think he was questioning the charitable intentions of the likes of Gates and Buffett.

I went one step further actually that nibbling was supposed to fund some hungry mouth hence my outburst against this facade of charity.......... If these americans really care about feeding these hungy mouths they should stop subsidies and even the playing field.......... This facade of first I wll drive you to penury and then throw some crumbs at you is no charity in my view..

[Guest dada_rocks]

If you notice DR's post, he is specifically taunting corporate funded charities. Think about it this way: The Chinese businessman is doing 2 million dollars worth charity... if in that 2 million dollars he is obtaining a dinner with warren buffet, so be it. Its the world of the Have and Have Nots... those who Have Not are often victims of those who Have... or "Will Have"... however, one must find ways to help those downtrodden and assist them in pulling them up to a higher plane, leveling the playing field, if only just; rather than rebuking the few who Have, and have lots of it, but are willing to share.

Yes I am taunting those corproate funded charities too, particularly those corporates who send their lobbyist to capitol hill in order to make sure the legislation to the effect where agriculture industry of these small states gets wiped out and then turn around throw some crumbs at those starving millions.. if these people realy meant well they will not create the problme in first place.. Politicians do what they are told by these corporate honchos so in my view bulk of the blame lies with them....

[Guest dada_rocks]

No one's actually questioning the intent of either Bufffet or the Chinese businessman. As Shwetabh pointed out, the OP is more about how unequal the distribution of wealth/spending power is. Only a system as senseless as Capitalism will allow such contradictions to continue unnoticed. Capitalism works fine in Western societies, where wealth distribution is already uniform and Per capitas are quite high. Honestly, they dont give a damn about what their country men are doing because, they dont have to. Almost all 'em are already well-off. But in other areas of the world, what you are seeing is the phenomenon of a few really rich individuals, surrounded by vast majority, thats finding it harder to survive, in this world of ever increasing prices. This is a totally unacceptable situation. In the name of capitalism, people have essentially sold their souls to the devil. The West's concept of 'One-idea-works-for-all' is nonsense. As much as their claim of Capitalism ultimately resulting in lifting people out of poverty maybe true, the pace at which that happens is untenable. The way forward is Socialist Democracies. And it is already happening, in places like Cuba and Venezuela.

Cuba is certainly not a model state, same goes with veenzuela... an oil rich states as a principle should not be viewed as vindication of any style of governance.. In these states anything works, even wahabi islam....

[Guest dada_rocks]

Exactly. I dont mean to trivialize anything, but if 3000 Americans die in a terror attack, the whole world changes. Countries are invaded, hundreds of billions of dollars spent on wars. But if millions of people in Asia and Africa die of starvation, quite frankly, no one gives a sh!t. who said every life is as precious as the other? What crime did that middle-aged women in Afghanistan do, to lose her family in a misplaced American bombing? What sin did that child in Palestine commit, to get his leg blown off, in a landmine blast? I used to believe in God, not anymore.

debates are going all over the place and examples being thrown and examples carefully ignored seem will define the subsequent churning of ideas....

[Guest dada_rocks]

Sad story indeed! But then Karma is such a bad thing. Those enjoying in plush houses with all amenities, can we blame them for those hunting for days meal or begging on streets? This is the thinking which sows the seeds of Communist ideology. And yet we know the poorest of states are ruled by communists. The early lessons my father taught us was, he use to say a line to wake us up in morning during our childhood, which was -- "Uttishtha hey ka Purushah" roughly means - Wake up the MAN sleeping in you (to fulfill your dreams). Aren't those Gates, Trumps and Dhirubhai Ambanis were born with same 2 legs, two hands, as these poor folks spreading their hands for begging? One must be fool, if he thinks everyone can become a Tata-Birla, but, is it impossible in this evil capitalist world that the poor and deprived can't even get make their both ends meet? I am all in support for charity and philanthropy, but just a thought.

Charity is fine and rather welcome but when it comes from those people who created the problme in first place then you start to think..

[Guest dada_rocks]

Oke the outburst against this business of creating the problem and then facde of charity aside.. Modi' Gujarat makes sure noone starves or is roaming around with begging bowl as opposed to Buddh'a bengal where these thigns are norm. Just wanted to point out before anyone takes my outburst as blanket endorsement of leftists or a blanket criticism of capitalism.. Now if u delve little further into this particular case. You will find in Pakistan90% of land is distributed among couple of thousand wadhera chaudhari sardar etc families...On the one hand these guys exploit the indentured labouruere poor peasants and on the other hand also pay zakaat in order to keep these exploied folks suliminally humoured lest they snap... Basically same ***** at work even at local level... Once again I am no communist by any stretch of imagination but something just doesn't feel right.

[Ram]

Can you guys keep Modi off this thread please? We are discussing something totally unrelated. Yesterday, oil was at a freaking $143/barrel. That is insane. What is more insane is, an average consumer in the West, who's per capita income is excess of $45,000/year pays exactly the same amount for a litre of petrol as the person in Asia, whose PCI is $2500/year. You gotto have different pricing structures for different regions, surely. When every other commodity( like vegetables, meat) is priced higher in the West, compared to the say Asia, how is it remotely possible for gas alone to cost the same everywhere? Bear in mind, oil is still heavily subsidized in the third world. But for them subsidies, things would have been even worse. I dont understand why this issue hasnt gained worldwide prominence yet. High fuel prices are crippling the lives of hundreds of millions of people, its slowing down the GDP growth rate of many developing countries, thus indirectly affecting the number of people who come out of poverty each year.