[Infidel_Kastro]

Let me ask everyone this? Did LiveAid feed all the people in Africa and end famine?
Nope.
Is this merely a soap box for Geldolf to stand on and tackle such a minute topic that no one really cares about?
Yep.
Will it solve anything at all?
No.
Will it raise awareness?
Yes, but people will get bored quickly with the message.D
Do I care the Spice Girls may be reuniting?
Nope.
Would I totally like to be in Berlin and see A-Ha sing "Take on Me" en vivo?
Oh yeah.

[alanmzifa]

Originally Posted by Infidel_Kastro

Let me ask everyone this? Did LiveAid feed all the people in Africa and end famine?
Nope.
Is this merely a soap box for Geldolf to stand on and tackle such a minute topic that no one really cares about?
Yep.
Will it solve anything at all?
No.
Will it raise awareness?
Yes, but people will get bored quickly with the message.D
Do I care the Spice Girls may be reuniting?
Nope.
Would I totally like to be in Berlin and see A-Ha sing "Take on Me" en vivo?
Oh yeah.

many posters don't understand what live 8's purpose is . ( i'm not picking on IK ) .
the purpose this time around is to have debt cancelled . here's a link to the website .

http://www.live8live.com/


and a quote from the home page ....


That’s what LIVE 8 – The Long Walk To Justice is all about, and that’s why we want your voice, not your money.


here's some other related links


http://www.unicef.org.uk/c8/
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/

[alanmzifa]

oh , and as for the spice girls re-uniting , i suppose we'll just have to swallow that one and take a hit for the team .

there had to be a downside !

[lighthouse]

I did a 200 mile walk against poverty in 1999 - and got completely slagged off and slaughtered for it. There is a somewhat irksome paradox in there that the whole thing is becoming trendy and they're all falling over each other to get involved. I helped organise a Live Aid event at our local youth club in 1985 - which is probably wrong too because it wasn't the usual patronaged clique doing it!

The idea is brilliant but some (not all) people are obviously suffering convenient amnesia.

[harlestone]

Well the fact that pop stars are trying to orchestrate something positive for this situation speaks for itself.
If I had the earning potential of some of these guys it would make me think in a certain way.
On the whole celebrities tend to be talented individuals not ruthless money men who only consider the bottom line.
African states may not appreciate a firm hand but if this poverty cannot be manged domestically then the U.N or some other authority should take the charge. I am not concerned with how grand or great any leader feels if they are if they cannot look after their people.

[lighthouse]

And this is how society has changed over the last - what - 50 or so years in that once we assumed that the leaders of the world sorted everything out and that was that. Unfortunately this has proved not to be as effective as it could be so the NGOs (hence the name) get involved and we have the occasional multi media showbiz beano like this to highlight the point and/or raise money.

[Infidel_Kastro]

Sometimes the big guy upstairs hands you an easy one.....

Originally Posted by harlestone

Well the fact that pop stars are trying to orchestrate something positive for this situation speaks for itself.

Yes, because as we all know, rock stars tend to be incredibly brilliant toward global issues such as debt repayment. This is the exact reason that A-Ha has not been around for awhile, they have been too busy publishing scholastic papers on such wordly topics as debt forgiveness.
In fact, just last week, I heard the lead singer for the Pet Shop Boys give a magnificent talk on global warming and the effects on the polar ice caps.
Then I paid him the $12 for my pizza and he left.

If I had the earning potential of some of these guys it would make me think in a certain way.

OK, I'll play the Devil's advocate...How would you think?

On the whole celebrities tend to be talented individuals not ruthless money men who only consider the bottom line.

Oh God, let him be satirical, PLEASE. You're making it way too easy for me.

African states may not appreciate a firm hand but if this poverty cannot be manged domestically then the U.N or some other authority should take the charge.

Agreed, but instead of the UN, may I suggest a much more organized organization? An organization that trumps the UN and its abilities to "get the job done"? An organization willing to do what it takes!
I suggest the Boy Scouts.
BTW, how do you manage poverty? Afterall, wasn't it your management that got you there in the first place?

I am not concerned with how grand or great any leader feels if they are if they cannot look after their people.

Thats all right, they aren't concerned with you either.


My opinion on the other hand, they clamor for my approval.

[hotskates]

What ever happened to rock bands just putting on concerts to make money for themselves??

No, I don't think we need it.....Live8

[josdegr]

Anger at Live 8 fat cats
By Mark Prigg And Jason Beattie, Evening Standard
3 June 2005

Mobile phone giant O2 is set to rake in ?7 million from the text message lottery for Live8 tickets.

The company has refused to waive its administration cost of 10p per message for the lottery, which opens at 8am on Monday.

The news emerged as Gordon Brown today threw his weight behind the Live8 campaign by promising to write off its ?500,000 tax bill.

Organisers are expecting up to 70 million text messages to be sent as people clamour for tickets to the Hyde Park concert which will feature Coldplay, Sir Elton John, Madonna and Sir Paul McCartney.

But politicians today described O2's decision as "disgraceful" and urged the company to follow the Chancellor's example.

Phil Willis MP, the head of the all-party mobile communications group, called for the company to give all the money to Live8.

"It seems wherever there is a buck to be made there is always a mobile company willing to do it. They are trying to cream off an exorbitant fee for what is a very simple service. There is no reason they could not simply donate their systems for free," he said.


The rest of the story is here: http://www.thisislondon.com/news/art...0Standard&ct=5

[harlestone]

infidel castrol
I just pointed out that musicians are a different breed to business people, a point I shall stress just one more time.

[lighthouse]

O2 getting 7 million out of this! I s'pose it had to happen somewhere. It's wrong, and not in the spirit of the event at all - and the Politicians are telling them off for it! Definately a change in parliamentary mood this time as the powers that be aren't doing what Thatcher did when she taxed Live aid for £5Million - then gave the same £5Million to Ethiopia as an aid grant just to show how generous she was! Although, being 20 years older than I was in 85 and perhaps not so idealistic - I do realise that this is gonna be a huge - very popular - event and what Politician is going to question it anyway?


Originally posted by harlestoe and responded to by IK

Quote:
HS:"On the whole celebrities tend to be talented individuals not ruthless money men who only consider the bottom line."


IK:"Oh God, let him be satirical, PLEASE. You're making it way too easy for me."

There are some who are very aware that they are in a position to make some sort of difference - and do, there are others who probably don't. Showbiz people are business people like anyone else, although some have a different ethos to their record company or the corporate structure of the entertainment industry and have certain conflicts of interest with it. They also know that because they are playing this event the entire point of it has been highlighted - giving global publicity to the cause and likewise to themselves. Whatever your point of veiw the effect is that they will benefit from it too - such is showbusiness!

[jcroix2002]

someone pointed out to me that the lineup in Britain are all white performers. that's interesting,considering they are doing this for Africa.
jcroix2002

[lighthouse]

Yeah - they mentioned that on the radio the other day. The equal opportunities people have expressed some dismay about it too! There are a few artistes who could do it - Yousou N'dour for example - who's quite well known, or even Ziggy Marley who worked with the Fugees when he wasn't writing or doing his own stuff. It'd certainly give some credibility to it all. Pink Floyd playing would have been really good in production terms but some people actually a bit more representative of who it's all about might be prudent.

Status Quo, with "Rockin' all over the world" is the obvious choice for thematic purposes (it's a global event after all) and because they're an honest rock band with no pretentions who've given the UK over 40 years of music. And - yeah - you'll see that they do know a 4th, 5th, 6th - etc guitar chord too

[lighthouse]

Just seen the complete international line up at all the venues and I see that Youssou 'N Dour is playing in Paris.

Oh - have a look at the Africa wildlife volunteers link at the side of the page. Who says you don't get cool stuff at TSG?

[Rockn]

Originally Posted by alanmzifa

i think we do need live 8 .

most of the aid 20 / 30 years ago to africa went on arming despots . major western economies gained hugely from this . giving in one hand and getting back in the other through taxes of arms suppliers and manufacturing .

This is the reason for the concerts in general...to play on peoples feelings of guilt or to make them feel guilty about living well. Just like any charity event I have ever been to, it is just a bunch of rich snobs handing out fistfulls of money to make themselves look better.