janisj

"<i>There are no rules for buskers in the UK or US?</i>"

In the US, it is totally up to the local authorities. Some places are regulated, some are not, and in some - busking is illegal.

AlessandraZoe

Clauser--Good question.

Rules, habits vary by locale in the US, and I'm sure they do in Europe. I know Paris police routinely rout Les Musiciens de Lviv, but my study-abroad daughter said they "report" to their differing busking locations on a regular basis. Again, I always see them in the Marais on Sundays. So I am assuming there's some sort of either legal or merely "accepted" limitation going on.

The only way I know that there are "approved" street artists for the New York City subway is because my daughter wrote an article on them. I don't know the details. And I have not a clue as the rules in my own city, although we are not a very good busker city (hence the annoying saxophonist).

Here is an article on busking in the US. Seems that it is considered free speech:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busking...S._case_law%29
And I thought this website, though dated, was cute:
http://www.buskerworld.com

mariha2912

I support many charities and organizations concerning poverty on 3rd world, child issues, abused women, animals etc. But in my country,Greece there are not so many organizations, and when there are, they are mostly focused on Athens and large cities. Government was never very supportive on those people : (
Homeless population seems to increase more and more here nowadays and you see people in real need around. When I was living in Belfast in Northern Ireland, I was buying the Big Issue when possible. There is no such thing here as clausar said. I give some coins to people who have are obvious handicapped for example missing an arm or a leg or have some very obvious mental illness. I often give them some food. Whenever I see a beggar with a child, I never donate money, because here in Greece it's a very common scam of organized crime. Usually gangs use this people, yes, but if people keep donate, then this will never stop. I try to buy a bottle of milk or a pretzel for the kid but never give money. Sometimes I give some spare cloths to homeless too. People begging inside metro with all sorts of excuses never get money from me.
Busking is a different matter. On some areas you may find really talented skilled individuals or bands. If I have some spare coins I usually donate. I do not donate on children- who play usually the accordion- because I think this is not what kids should do, and anyway usually they are awful. We have a long tradition with busking Gypsy kids here, and although I do not wish them to change their culture completely, it is common for them to beg, their kids grow up on the streets and rarely go to school and they never get a decent job but survive through busking or begging....

DickieG

Clauser

It is very difficult to define poverty it changes over time and with geography. In a world which allowed free movement you could compare poverty. Clearly, Sudan and Norway are very different societies and the barriers to movement are huge. You just cannot compare an individual in Norway with one in Sudan.

However, you can draw up a list of conditions that, in view of the technological advances the human race had made, all humans should enjoy. Those basic conditions could include :

Enough food to be healthy
Warm shelter to remain safe and healthy
The provision of free basic health care to both prevent and cure health issues
The provision of some sort of education system

The absence of some of any of these conditions could indicate poverty.

No individual should, in the absence of choice, be subject to the removal of any of these basic conditions.

Some in the UK might add SKY TV and a daily six pack of Tennants Super to the list.

I think you could gather from the above that I have travelled a little and become a tad ******* off when some in the UK moan about being poor and yet still refuse to help themselves.

AlessandraZoe

mariha2912 -- You are a saint! And you are so wise. Friends of mine who lived in NYC always asked for a doggie bag at any restaurant where they did not finish their meal and gave it to one of their favorite street people. Their view: a) The food would have gone into a dumpster and b) their favorite street people would have been dumpster diving for food anyway. As they said, they cut out the middle man.

Not quite charitable but then again very very thoughtful.

When we visited Mexico, we saw lots of notices NOT to give money to begging or singing or playing children. We're talking PLEADING notices that said "ON BEHALF OF OUR CHILDREN". You have emphasized mariha2912 just how important that is.

And DickieG, I can't quite get why you are so miffed at talented buskers.

I just do not see the harm in it, especially if they DRAW to local businesses. And they ARE working!!!!!!

nytraveler

I give beggars nothing - since many (most) are either druggies, alcoholics or mentally ill (and giving them money is only contributing to their problems).

If performers do a good job I generally make a contribution - depending on how good the performance is (usually 5 whatevers). Except mimes. I can't stand mimes and won;t give them a penny.

mariha2912

I remember when my cousins were younger (we have 10+ years age gap,) me and my aunt were often taking them to local playground and often then to a McD or similar. As it usually happens with greek parents and bad behaved children, my aunt was ordering huge quantities of food and cousins never ate more than half. Every now or then, young Gypsy kids would enter the fast food shop and beg or try to sell various tat. A couple of times my aunt opened her wallet to give money, and I stopped her, and I asked the begging kids "Are you hungry? Would you like to have this?" and I was giving them a burger or two or something. Kids always seemed to be starving and going away thanking me and with a smile on their face. At first my cousins were getting agry for giving away food they wouldn't eat anyway... But then they got used to share and be more respectful, so this was a good lesson for them too. My aunt followed same procedure since then, and even now that her sons are adults, they follow similar approach too. They say to a kid begging in an eatery, "let me buy you some fries" and kid never refused. In every other corner of Greek streets there are the famous kiosks that sell all kind of snacks and beverages, so it is easy to buy some food and give it away whenever you see a begging kid in the street too.