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Take It Down · Jul 3, 2005, 11:26 pm

Bob Geldof has put together another of his benefit concerts. This time, it isn't really benefiting anyone.

Take it from the man himself.

If the millions of dollas put into Live 8 were actually put into the hospitals doing AIDS research and into the hands of the millions who are struggling every day to solve the issue of poverty, we would have a profit.

Geldof himself has claimed that the event will not be raising money, but rather "awareness". Hopefully, the 8 leaders at the G8 will care enough about Destiny Child's performance to have actually paid any attention to the concert.

You may argue that handing out money is not the issue. And maybe this concert will awaken these well dressed world leaders at their table meeting this month.

But I hope you all see how a wealthy Sir Bob Geldof could have approached this issue a different way, rather than putting in countless celebrity dollars just so that he could get his name on a few front pages.

And you know, I don't think those G8 boys read Rolling Stone magazine.

mr.perfecto · Jul 4, 2005, 12:08 am

I'm pretty sure President Bush does. Being good friends with Bono and all.

**Matt W** · Jul 4, 2005, 04:50 am

Quote:

But I hope you all see how a wealthy Sir Bob Geldof could have approached this issue a different way, rather than putting in countless celebrity dollars just so that he could get his name on a few front pages.

Yes, he could've. But as one of those millions who attended one of the concerts, all I can say is that you honestly have no idea of the strength of feeling amongst the crowds and the artists. Literally all the merchandise sold out, the various charities got tens of thousands of new donors, and you had an immense depth of feeling amongst the crowd.

And it's hardly about Geldorf getting his name in the celebrity pages - the man has been doing this for over 20 years. Getting something like this done, as Feed the World did 20 years ago, is perhaps the only way to make people and politicians take notice. This has been his cause for so long he's practically got it ingrained in his bones. To say otherwise is ridiculous.

carlessbiker · Jul 10, 2005, 03:53 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Take It Down

Bob Geldof has put together another of his benefit concerts. This time, it isn't really benefiting anyone.

You can't just hand a country a check and expect it to be spent on bettering it's people. Awareness should come first. Politicians need to know that the world cares, not just them. Are you one who can fault in all social efforts?

Wonderland · Jul 10, 2005, 05:03 pm

I think that the concerts did raise awareness - look, it's got people talking. Yes, maybe a free pop concert IS needed in this day and age to get people talking about a subject that has in the past been bought to the forefront of the popular conciouness only eventually fade away again - these concerts were a 'refresher' of sorts. If the concerts never drummed it into you then the BBC are instilling 'African Awareness' into the minds of anyone who turns on their channels. African themed childrens art shows, music programmes, Blue Peter, 'Strictly African Dancing' - the link is getting tenuous now...

But I think that Geldof had only good intentions - drumming up spirit to work people up to putting pressure on the G8 leaders. Carelessbiker is right, you need to instill awareness in people before action can take place, and if this helped people to think of fellow human beings that are not as lucky as themselves then he has done some good, even if he hasn't directly changed the world.

Whodoe! · Jul 10, 2005, 06:10 pm

Yeah - I read about the lobster sex parties backstage and all but really think that if they feed just one starving African, it's all worth it.

Wonderland · Jul 10, 2005, 06:17 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Whodoe!

Yeah - I read about the lobster sex parties backstage and all

What?

I'm sorry, I don't actually understand what the issue is here. Was what Geldof tried to organise the wrong thing, not enough... What? Does anyone think that different tactics or different aims would have produced better results, or would it have been better to have done nothing at all?

Whodoe! · Jul 10, 2005, 08:02 pm

I mean to say that it doesn't matter to me the conditions of the event or even the motivations of the organizers. The point is that the tiniest bit of good that comes from Live 8 outweighs issues surrounding the artists. AID for Africa is a hot potato and any help is good.

Jul 3, 2005, 11:26 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
Take It Down Sedimentary Rock Posts: 1	Live 8 is a scam. Bob Geldof has put together another of his benefit concerts. This time, it isn't really benefiting anyone. Take it from the man himself. If the millions of dollas put into Live 8 were actually put into the hospitals doing AIDS research and into the hands of the millions who are struggling every day to solve the issue of poverty, we would have a profit. Geldof himself has claimed that the event will not be raising money, but rather "awareness". Hopefully, the 8 leaders at the G8 will care enough about Destiny Child's performance to have actually paid any attention to the concert. You may argue that handing out money is not the issue. And maybe this concert will awaken these well dressed world leaders at their table meeting this month. But I hope you all see how a wealthy Sir Bob Geldof could have approached this issue a different way, rather than putting in countless celebrity dollars just so that he could get his name on a few front pages. And you know, I don't think those G8 boys read Rolling Stone magazine.

Jul 10, 2005, 05:03 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
Wonderland Molten Ash Posts: 37	I think that the concerts did raise awareness - look, it's got people talking. Yes, maybe a free pop concert IS needed in this day and age to get people talking about a subject that has in the past been bought to the forefront of the popular conciouness only eventually fade away again - these concerts were a 'refresher' of sorts. If the concerts never drummed it into you then the BBC are instilling 'African Awareness' into the minds of anyone who turns on their channels. African themed childrens art shows, music programmes, Blue Peter, 'Strictly African Dancing' - the link is getting tenuous now... But I think that Geldof had only good intentions - drumming up spirit to work people up to putting pressure on the G8 leaders. Carelessbiker is right, you need to instill awareness in people before action can take place, and if this helped people to think of fellow human beings that are not as lucky as themselves then he has done some good, even if he hasn't directly changed the world. Click here to visit World of Monkey!

Jul 4, 2005, 12:08 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
mr.perfecto Igneous Magma Posts: 632	I'm pretty sure President Bush does. Being good friends with Bono and all.

Jul 10, 2005, 06:10 pm	#6 (permalink) (top)
Whodoe! Igneous Magma Posts: 192	Yeah - I read about the lobster sex parties backstage and all but really think that if they feed just one starving African, it's all worth it.

Jul 10, 2005, 08:02 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
Whodoe! Igneous Magma Posts: 192	I mean to say that it doesn't matter to me the conditions of the event or even the motivations of the organizers. The point is that the tiniest bit of good that comes from Live 8 outweighs issues surrounding the artists. AID for Africa is a hot potato and any help is good.