[Neurotica80]

Ok well i have to admit I'm not the biggest fan of Bob Geldof and Bono but I will be at Hyde Park on Saturday. I do think an event like this is a good thing it certainly wont do any harm. Live Aid will never be forgotton just like this wont either. It will keep this issue in the headlines for weeks and put pressure on the people that matter to make a difference.

[ponrauil]

Originally Posted by Martin

nope- soon everyone would see what a farce this all is and there'd be equally big campains against it....

No because there would always be bands ready to play and people ready to see them. Probably not the same than today but still.

and what do they expect? i think we all knew before that africa is damn poor- but after live8 many will think that the G8 are responsible for that

Which is partly true.
And no, we do not all know what is the situation in the 3rd world and how bad it is. You'd be surprised how ignorant some people are about the global context, wether it's geopolitics, science or religion... A lot of people have "an idea", but fewer than you think realise the meaning of the gap between 3rd world living standards and our own.
Most of all we do not all know how we can help, which people attending the concerts and watching the broadcasts will be informed on.
On top of that, somewhere in between those stupid real tv shoes, political sagas and brain damaging radio stations, we are getting a major solidarity event with quality music for FREE. I won't complain.

the reset of their debts can not really be linked to geldof/bono- they said it's their primary target- they're gonna march at edinbourgh (i guess...) and say that they want the debts reset. now the debts were reset in previous without putting up a pseudo-historical march.

I know the decision is already taken, but before it was Bono, for one, had been fighting for a debt reset for at least ten years. He may very well have played a part in making it happen know rather than later.

we all now it and we all know it since we were 4 years old. and AWARENESS doesn't save their lifes- it doesn't even make their situation any better. the politicians also know that africa is poor- and guess what: they don't know it cause there is a geldof or a bono!

Ok first, the more people aware, the more people wanting to do something. Awareness is not all but it is the necessary first step to action.
Of course politicians would be aware of poverty even without Bonos and Geldofs. But what shouldn't they use their celebrity to lobby politicians for good causes. It might be of little efficiency but it's still better than nothing.

so in the end of that thing the politicians will give in a bit, bono and geldof are gonna say "this is not enough" in the first sentence and "look, the politicians have made some decisions cause we're so good" while they sit on their pot of gold they made out of selling tv-rights, dvd-rights and so on... and they can just hope that the chaos they cause in 9 cities around the globe doesn't take lives... and the situation in africa? stays the same... (but at least everyone knows now that african ppl are poor)

Again, I can assure you that Bono, for one, puts in a lot of his own money into charity institutions. I have concrete examples a few blocks away from where I live. People like him are not into this for their careers. They're using their careers and money to help fight poverty. What is your problem with that? What would you do in their shoes?

And chaos? Explain that please.

Live8 is organised to put some pressure on the G8 so that they know people are expecting them to deliver what has been promissed recently about the debt, and even more if possible.
No one is expecting Africa to come out of poverty the day after the concerts.

Ponrauil

[StoneDeaf]

Bono vs Geldof.

Bono has successful career as musician, and he appears to be genuine about charity. Most of all, he doesn't need to take part in any charity event to be noticed. Sure he can afford to put his own money into charity. And that's very respectable thing.

Geldof on the other hand is has-been whos musical career failed big time. Live Aid brought him back into limelight, and only thing he's remembered about is charity. So, time to shine a halo and arrange another huge event.
I guess he has nothing more to offer than his name.

Event itself. Excellent opprtunity for lots artists to breath life into their careers. And of course, shine their halos. what comes to outcome, I do agree with Ice.

Artists then. It's gonna be a huge audience, tv and all, and there is a good chance for any artist to sell more after participating in event like this. So who wins? Record companies.

Charity. Ok let's take a look at Tsunami and the massive amount of aid that was collected after. Tsunami victims that need the help the most, meaning them poor ordinary people who lost everything, for example in Aceh, are the last to recieve any concrete aid. Same thing with issues in Africa. U can throw thousand concerts, and still the ones in worst situation will remain in worst situation.

[spunkywho]

Originally Posted by Iceman

So, no, no money is being sent anywhere. It doesn't directly help anyone.

Ice

I don't think money would 'help' the people in Africa. Money is a short-term solution.


The only way this event will 'do anything' is if WE let it have an impact. Unfortunately, most of the pessimists, won't be taking part in the 'making a change' process. So, in the end, Bono and the likes can raise awareness all they want, if people in the real world sit in their armchairs and make fun of their celebrity status, the armchair people are the ones turning this event into a failure. Not Bono, not Geldof, not AOL, ....

[ponrauil]

Originally Posted by StoneDeaf

Event itself. Excellent opprtunity for lots artists to breath life into their careers. And of course, shine their halos. what comes to outcome, I do agree with Ice.

Artists then. It's gonna be a huge audience, tv and all, and there is a good chance for any artist to sell more after participating in event like this. So who wins? Record companies.

So what? If the artists and record companies interests do not interfere with the event's goals and I can still choose who to give my money to if any, where is the problem?

Originally Posted by StoneDeaf

Charity. Ok let's take a look at Tsunami and the massive amount of aid that was collected after. Tsunami victims that need the help the most, meaning them poor ordinary people who lost everything, for example in Aceh, are the last to recieve any concrete aid. Same thing with issues in Africa. U can throw thousand concerts, and still the ones in worst situation will remain in worst situation.

My father just came back from 3 weeks in Indonesia. He's a retired teacher and went there to help re-organise education in small villages.
He did testify that the billions raised have yet to arrive and that small charity organisations like his are more efficient then big ones like the Red Cross because they have to go through long and tough administrative formalities and deal with the Indonesian government that doesn't always cooperate in it's own people's interest. Organisations such as the Red Cross do things slowly but surely and make sure the money gets there in the end, rather then rush the cash flow and see money wasted (My father saw an American "charity" organisation that arrived with a dozen of imported SUVs with air-conditionning and all, when half the cost of only one could be enough to rebuild a school...) or used for corruption.
Small organisations however, manage to get in the country as tourists and spend their money directly to rebuilt houses, roads etc... in a much more efficient way.
The problem is that most of the billions went to big and known organisations. So most of the money is on stand-by for now.

Anyway all this to say that there are issues downstream of charity events that people like Live8 organisers can't afford to deal with before doing anything.

Ponrauil

[ponrauil]

Originally Posted by spunkywho

The only way this event will 'do anything' is if WE let it have an impact. Unfortunately, most of the pessimists, won't be taking part in the 'making a change' process. So, in the end, Bono and the likes can raise awareness all they want, if people in the real world sit in their armchairs and make fun of their celebrity status, the armchair people are the ones turning this event into a failure. Not Bono, not Geldof, not AOL, ....

Exactly.
And then the beer and armchair companies make profits.

Ponrauil

[Martin]

Originally Posted by ponrauil

Exactly.
And then the beer and armchair companies make profits.

Ponrauil

*lmfao*- gonna respond later- gotta get something to eat now

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by spunkywho

I don't think money would 'help' the people in Africa. Money is a short-term solution.

Then why would resetting the debts do anything?

The cause is good, the way they do it is wrong. Money will help, awareness doesn't. Going there and helping people is doing something, playing for 20 minutes doesn't do a thing.

Ice

[Neurotica80]

Originally Posted by StoneDeaf

Geldof on the other hand is has-been whos musical career failed big time. Live Aid brought him back into limelight, and only thing he's remembered about is charity. So, time to shine a halo and arrange another huge event.
I guess he has nothing more to offer than his name.
.

Geldof isnt playing live, hes said thats not what he's there for and doesnt deserve to be on the bill.

[StoneDeaf]

Originally Posted by Neurotica80

Geldof isnt playing live, hes said thats not what he's there for and doesnt deserve to be on the bill.

Well he has nothing to offer musically like I said. Only things he has is his name and his charity-related fame. In fact, event like this doesn't need any contribution from him to succeed. So he's there to polish his halo.