[Becky]

Just going to pour some fuel on this one. This is causing some discussion on another site I visit. So what do JT'ers think?

LIVE 8-PHILLY WILL HAVE GOURMET CATERING BACKSTAGE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The celebrities who will be pushing for an
end to poverty in Africa at Live 8 in Philadelphia will be noshing
on sushi and ribs backstage. Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen
Starr is providing the backstage catering for the event. The
gourmet menu includes crispy calamari salad, char-grilled dry aged
beef, chicken and ginger dumplings, salmon sushi and tea-smoked
spare ribs. Starr says he doesn't see a contradiction that his
staff is giving high-end food to celebrities who will contribute to
awareness of world leaders. Starr himself is making no money off
this. He's donating his services and estimates he'll lose about
20-thousand dollars.



The cynic in me sees some irony in celebs eating like this while trying to benefit people who are starving in Africa.

The fair-minded part of me says, "Okay, it's a donation, so it's not like the celebs really have any say in the matter. And perhaps publicizing it is just a way to ward off any fodder for scandal later."

But how many of them wouldn't rather just pick up some food on the way to or from the gig and see that $20,000 go to relief funds?

Yes, they need to have plenty of water and liquids for people who are performing outdoors and it's probably a good idea to have some food. But this kind of food seems extreme.