Quatar World Cup - 1000 Workers Dead so Far

Thargor

The major report commissioned by Qatar into its treatment of migrant workers produced more than 60 suggested reforms – and one telling confirmation: that hundreds of migrants have died, many of them from unexplained sudden illness, over the past two years, at a rate of more than one a day.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/qatar-admits-deaths-in-migrant-workers

I thought RTE had got it wrong there but that seems to be the figure, data isnt exact but at a rate of more than one a day that could be more than 5000 dead by the time the World Cup starts. You'd think this would be a major scandal with people boycotting the matches, sponsors etc?

Its easy to ignore how corrupt FIFA is and enjoy the matches in a regular WC but this is major crime against humanity territory and most of the discussion seems to be about it being too hot for the players, could you really enjoy any form of entertainment if thousands of people were sacrificed to bring it to you?

Temptamperu

People are not important dude. GO SPORT!

Tail Docker

Pfft - The Great Wall of China claimed the lives of thousands and no-ones boycotting that. Next you'll be trying to get people to avoid North Korea for their holidays.

genericguy

I'd be more concerned that having such a large gathering of westerners in that neck of the woods will bring the you-know-who's and their school bags full of bombs when the tournament kicks off...

Adamantium

Thargor wrote: »

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/qatar-admits-deaths-in-migrant-workers

I thought RTE had got it wrong there but that seems to be the figure, data isnt exact but at a rate of more than one a day that could be more than 5000 dead by the time the World Cup starts. You'd think this would be a major scandal with people boycotting the matches, sponsors etc?

Its easy to ignore how corrupt FIFA is and enjoy the matches in a regular WC but this is major crime against humanity territory and most of the discussion seems to be about it being too hot for the players, could you really enjoy any form of entertainment if thousands of people were sacrificed to bring it to you?

I heard this, and my jaw dropped in front of my dad, and I have the lowest interest possible in soccer.

1000 people dead Are they building scaffolding over an active volcanic cone?

Birneybau

Temptamperu wrote: »

People are not important dude. GO SPORT!

GO MONEY!

Hotale.com

What a qatarstrophe.


Too soon?

Adamantium

Hotale.com wrote: »

What a qatarstrophe.


Too soon?

Too early, steady on.

Adamantium

Thargor wrote: »

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/qatar-admits-deaths-in-migrant-workers

data isnt exact but at a rate of more than one a day that could be more than 5000 dead by the time the World Cup starts

could you really enjoy any form of entertainment if thousands of people were sacrificed to bring it to you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsqJFIJ5lLs

Thargor

Adamantium wrote: »

I heard this, and my jaw dropped in front of my dad, and I have the lowest interest possible in soccer.

1000 people dead Are they building scaffolding over an active volcanic cone?

I was the exact same, my jaw dropped when they said it on the news. It must be a case of them being whipped out into that heat to work all day with threats over the withheld wages and confiscated passports etc, they're basically using them up like disposable slaves in the bad old days. I just cant believe its not a bigger scandal. Theres infinitely more interest in a few million worth of bribes to an organization that famous for how corrupt it is.

Hotale.com

No one cares because it's not a western world country.


That's the sad truth.

RobertKK

Qatar is a country I associate with slavery, terrorism, bribery and hot weather.

The slavery has led to men in their 20's dropping dead from heart failure.
Qatar is a major supporter of terrorism in Syria.
Bribery = world cup.

It is a disgusting country. that wants to portray a positive image, but one doesn't have to look far to see what a toxic blight it is.

Thargor

Thargor wrote: »

Its easy to ignore how corrupt FIFA is and enjoy the matches in a regular WC but this is major crime against humanity territory and most of the discussion seems to be about it being too hot for the players, could you really enjoy any form of entertainment if thousands of people were sacrificed to bring it to you?

People will boycott, but more will ignore it and rationalise going with trite reassurances to themselves about paying wages and getting jobs for those people to begin with. They'll totally overlook the near/actual slavery those people exist within. Because it's inconvenient.

Stadia and hotels are expensive but lives of migrant workers are very cheap in some places. Giving those governments your tourist cash is being tacitly complicit in the use, abuse, and disposal of poor workers who are paid exploitative wages to do the jobs that natives would never consider. The desperate need protection from the ruthless, but I suspect the ruthless won't be worried about people staying away in protest.

Shakespeare's Sister

Hotale.com wrote: »

No one cares because it's not a western world country.


That's the sad truth.

People do of course care, and the press is highlighting it, but ultimately it's up to the authorities in Qatar to end this system - not anyone else.

Magaggie

Magaggie wrote: »

People do of course care, and the press is highlighting it, but ultimately it's up to the authorities in Qatar to end this system - not anyone else.

People refusing to go and publicising why not will bring pressure to bear on the Qatari to improve their public image though.

If people vote with their feet, the PR fallout will be devastating and it'll compel change. Everyone has a role to play, and it's not coming from within Qatar itself.

emo72

i absolutely despise fifa. world cup in qatar is stupid. and the cheek of them wanting it moved to winter, no footy in december? could you imagine that? and now i find out that 1000 people have died SO FAR? i hope the stadiums are empty, this should be totally boycotted. never mind that, think about what might happen in brazil soon, i dont think thats going to pass off peacefully.

RobertKK

Qatar is a western ally, the US have a military base there.

It is allowed to support terrorism in Syria since the terrorists are fighting Assad.

The west will not do much when governments are complicit in the support of Qatar.

RobertKK

RobertKK wrote: »

Qatar is a western ally, the US have a military base there.

It is allowed to support terrorism in Syria since the terrorists are fighting Assad.

The west will not do much when governments are complicit in the support of Qatar.

That makes it all the more important that ordinary people boycott the WC and speak up publically about why.

The Qatari don't seem compelled to do anything to change the situation to make life better for the workers, but they might feel compelled to change the situation if they want to promote an image of being a progressive, modern state, and a good place to do business.

It's ALL about the money. If people have no conscience informing their actions, you have to make it cost them.

Alf. A. Male

Magaggie wrote: »

People do of course care, and the press is highlighting it, but ultimately it's up to the authorities in Qatar to end this system - not anyone else.

No it's not, this particular problem could and should be ended by Fifa and the sponsors. Bad decision to give them the tournament, but now that they have it they should be forced to deliver it without the current abuse and exploitation.

Jack Skellington

emo72 wrote: »

i absolutely despise fifa. world cup in qatar is stupid. and the cheek of them wanting it moved to winter, no footy in december? could you imagine that? and now i find out that 1000 people have died SO FAR? i hope the stadiums are empty, this should be totally boycotted. never mind that, think about what might happen in brazil soon, i dont think thats going to pass off peacefully.

I'd love to see fifa pull out of Qatar but I don't think that will happen, I won't be watching it anyway, what a sad waste of life. I wonder how the players could bring themselves to go over there knowing so many people have died needlessly for it.

Donkey Oaty

Jack Skellington wrote: »

I'd love to see fifa pull out of Qatar but I don't think that will happen

There's a real possibility of a re-vote, according to today's press reports, so who knows?

RobertKK

Candie wrote: »

That makes it all the more important that ordinary people boycott the WC and speak up publically about why.

The Qatari don't seem compelled to do anything to change the situation to make life better for the workers, but they might feel compelled to change the situation if they want to promote an image of being a progressive, modern state, and a good place to do business.

It's ALL about the money. If people have no conscience informing their actions, you have to make it cost them.

They don't care, they have the third largest reserves of oil and gas in the world.

RobertKK

RobertKK wrote: »

They don't care, they have the third largest reserves of oil and gas in the world.

The care about their public image, Qatar is trying to promote itself as a modern and progressive place to do business. It's the only leverage anyone has over them, since they're rolling in natural resources.

thelad95

The only way anything is going to be done about this world cup is if individual FA's withdraw their participation. I mean the big guns as well. FIFA wouldn't even care if fans boycotted, they would find ways to fill stadiums.

Thargor

Coca Cola and McDonalds and all the rest will care though, or that is to say they'll have to pretend to care. This will be the first WC in a place like this where social media will be so prevalent aswell, how will they run a social media campaign if people are constantly harassing them about this? Its not going to be bulldozing shanty towns or dumping sand to create beaches in Rio, its sacrificing thousands of peoples lives...

pablomakaveli

Hopefully this along with the allegations of bribery will be enough to have the World Cup taken off Qatar. Knowing how corrupt FIFA are though it's a slim hope.

Specialun

Some hot women there id say

fran17

maybe they could share the games between bahrain and saudi arabia instead.i cant find any negative stories about them in western media outlets.

EuropeanSon

This is the state whose national organisations "more than a club" Barcelona accepts on it's shirt. :rolleyes:

Bit of a step down from UNICEF.

wendell borton

This quote from après match eamon dunphy sums up the WC has become.

“No football team will win this tournament. This tournament will be won by the faceless empires of corporate greed. The Jules Rimet trophy has become hijacked by the world of big business bastards, sold to the TV networks of Satan. There will be a final on July 12th. It will have no soul. It will be Snickers versus Nike.”

Pumpkinseeds

I think this is only becoming an issue because Qatar as a host country has been a disaster. It was only a few months ago that mutterings were heard that it would have to be moved to Winter, otherwise it would be unworkable. Moving it to Winter would apparently bugger up the premier league in England.

So now there's a push to get it hosted somewhere else. Surprise surprise Fifa is corrupt and bribes abound. I know very little about football and have even less interest. I'm just sorry that it's a lack of interest in human life that's caused the swing against Qatar and more a vested interest in the money generated in the Premier League.

pablomakaveli

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

I think this is only becoming an issue because Qatar as a host country has been a disaster. It was only a few months ago that mutterings were heard that it would have to be moved to Winter, otherwise it would be unworkable. Moving it to Winter would apparently bugger up the premier league in England.

So now there's a push to get it hosted somewhere else. Surprise surprise Fifa is corrupt and bribes abound. I know very little about football and have even less interest. I'm just sorry that it's a lack of interest in human life that's caused the swing against Qatar and more a vested interest in the money generated in the Premier League.

It's not just the Premier League. Practically the whole of Europe as well as other parts of the world run their season through winter. So it will cause a lot of upheaval around the world in football terms.

DildoFaggins

Look at Brazil the government have spent all the money on hosting it with no education,public transport etc the country is debt the slums are being cleaned out.

Russia are at war who knows what the country will be like in 2018

FIFA is a joke "Soccer" is a joke.

dodderangler

Birneybau wrote: »

GO MONEY!

Go BANANA

kneemos

The lighter your skin the greater your social status in that part of the world so the migrant workers cover themselves completely,some even wear balaclavas which may have contributed ti some of the heart attacks.
A thousand is a lot but some details of the causes would be nice rather than a sensationalist headline.

wendell borton

DildoFaggins wrote: »

Look at Brazil the government have spent all the money on hosting it with no education,public transport etc the country is debt the slums are being cleaned out.

Russia are at war who knows what the country will be like in 2018

FIFA is a joke "Soccer" is a joke.

http://cdn.speld.nl/wp-content/uploads/Schermafbeelding-2014-05-12-om-14.42.46.png

Fr_Dougal

thelad95 wrote: »

FIFA wouldn't even care if fans boycotted, they would find ways to fill stadiums.

Go on...

K4t

This is crying out for a Ben Stiller movie ala the Zoolander model.

Reedsie

This is absolutely bonkers. I'm really not sure why it hasn't gained more traction in the media but I'm positive it will.

I really can't see how it can go ahead. Can they sacrifice a few thousand more lives? It's really difficult to believe this is even happening today.

Shakespeare's Sister

Alf. A. Male wrote: »

No it's not, this particular problem could and should be ended by Fifa and the sponsors. Bad decision to give them the tournament, but now that they have it they should be forced to deliver it without the current abuse and exploitation.

Sorry yeh, I meant in general - not specifically the world cup bid. But those from other nations pumping money into what keeps this system going are of course also to blame.

fran17 wrote: »

maybe they could share the games between bahrain and saudi arabia instead.i cant find any negative stories about them in western media outlets.

You can't?

foggy_lad

kneemos wrote: »

The lighter your skin the greater your social status in that part of the world so the migrant workers cover themselves completely,some even wear balaclavas which may have contributed ti some of the heart attacks.
A thousand is a lot but some details of the causes would be nice rather than a sensationalist headline.

Suggesting the workers are bring deaths upon themselves is terrible when it is more likely being forced to work long hours and double shifts with no rest days that greatly increases the risk of accidents.