Problem

In the good old days the only beggars in the streets of Helsinki were drunkards, who were asking money for soup or bus ticket.

I didn´t give, because I knew, where they spent the money.

Now we have these gypsies from Romania. The men are playing some instrument (usually accordion) quite well. The women are in sitting or kneeling in praying position with bare hands in frost for hours.

This raises many questions. Two are now in my mind.
- Romania is a member or European Union. Is there anything EU can do to help them, in their own country. I think they are paying a lot to come to Finland to beg and freeze.
- The same people have been begging now for many months. Haven´t they got money enough to buy mittens (they are not so expensive).