# Billy Connolly on compassion fatigue

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/1999/03/02/billy-connolly-compassion-fatigue/
- Published: 1999-03-02T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

“Don’t listen to talk about compassion fatigue”, argued comedian Billy Connolly 
in his 1995 film in Mozambique for Comic Relief. This year’s Wine Relief magazine
for Comic Relief republishes his stirring call to give and keep giving.
Wine Relief,
in support of this month’s Comic Relief campaign, has published a magazine which
includes the text of Billy Connolly’s criticism of the concept of “compassion fatigue”
which he explained in his 1995 film “Return to Nose and Beak”, filmed in Mozambique.

It is a stirring and compelling call to donors and indirectly to fundraisers.

“Like me”, he said, “you’ve probably read in the newspaper, or heard from some branch
of the media or other, about compassion fatigue and like me too you’ve probably 
believed that such a thing existed, like compassion was some kind of finite substance
and you could run out of it. If you use too much somehow you don’t have compassion
left any more. “Oh, I’ve been far too compassionate this month. I’ll be cold heart
next month”.

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“What nonsense! If you can just change compassion to love, you can see how ridiculous
it is. “I’ve got love fatigue. I’ve only got a wee bit of love to go round.”

“Crap! Let me tell you something. You have been impressive so far with the money
you’ve given, the time and the energy you’ve given to these amazing causes and it
isn’t easy – it’s a long-term commitment – whether it’s because of war or some political
disturbance or famine or natural disaster. It is a very long-term commitment.

“Even right here, for instance, in Mozambique the water’s very dirty and people 
wash their clothes and animals go in it and all sorts and they used to drink it.
But now there’s little wells being dug for fresh drinking water and this kind of
thing goes on and on and on. It’s a long-term project and it’s great to stand here
and say I’m very proud of you. Don’t listen to talk about compassion fatigue.”

Wine Relief’s “The Good Nose” magazine costs £1 of which 90p will be donated to 
Comic Relief.

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