Live8 is noble but a sham.

[lancelot]

As many of you have probably not noticed, I have been away for a month, touring but Im back now and thought I might share some facts from the road, regarding the selfless proponents of charity, especially U2, coldplay, Sir Bob and such like.

The thing that gets me with many of these acts is how they preach anti-poverty and assisting nations, whilst being some of the wealthiest people around, knowing nothing but extreme afluence... (and especially on tour, these people want for NOTHING)

Some Facts for your consideration-
-Sir Bob Geldof owns 4 hotels...(I dont see him selling these for cash)

-Coldplay were flown to live 8 specially to perform for 'free' They took a private jet, which lands at military bases, to the tune of 20k...

-Elton john regularly wastes 30k+ on Flowers!!! (I think it got to 80 once!)

-After many performances on their UK tour, U2 were flown by private jet to the south of france to hang out, returning the next day...

-Any concert (L8, no exception is filled with lavish hospitality suites for the band and their guests, costing a fortune...All of which is funds that could have gone to charity)

These facts really annoy me, because they are the complete antithesis of what L8 is about.

-Thousands of tickets were given away to celebrities.

-Much of the area towards the front row was for 'VIP' guests.

And this, is probably the worst and littlest know fact about L8..

-Even though the artist performed for 'free' they all recieved 'goody bags' for taking the time out of their busy schedules. These bags included, clothes, ipods and HOLIDAYS!!!...and thats for starters. Each bag was valued at about £7k.

Now, dont get me wrong boys and girls, L8 was a noble gesture but the fact remains that for these people to stand on a stage and preach lofty morals and equality of wealth is the hight of hypocrisy IMHO, yet they act as the spokespersons of many charities that aim to take money from the average citizen...to me, thats kinda sick.

Anyway.... glad to be back ~D

[Sjakihata]

you are correct - popular support is always better than a few stars preaching. However, it is not really for charity, as I see it, it is more a PR stunt to put some focus on it.

But you are completely right, the height of hypocrisy.

Welcome back :D

[Mithrandir]

U2 donated several millions out of their own pocket.

They use their fame to get attention for a situation they feel is unjust.
If you don´t like the fact seals get clubbed to death, does that mean you also can´t wear leather shoes?

Live8 was not about raising money anyway, it was about getting attention.

[Steppe Merc]

I agree with Mithrandir. Yes they are rich. But they could have been spending that time getting even richer, without a thought about others. Of course it could have been better, more noble, less corrupt. But seeing how corrupt and money driven the music buisness has become, it's a step foward, IMO.

Just out of curosity, who have you been touring with?

[PanzerJaeger]

Its all about ego and self importance for those people.

[Aurelian]

They're not that bad. Most of the rockstar types came from middle or working class households, so you can't say they know 'nothing but extreme affluence'. Their wealth and lifestyles maybe extreme, but at least they made their money by making people happy. That's got to count for something. Of course, they're at least using their celebrity to promote the cause... although self-promotion is another reason they show up at these events.

I do think the 'gift basket' concept for stars is creepy. The companies line up at major celebrity events with thousands of dollars worth of free merchandise for some of the wealthiest people in society. The concept is that stars using those products is going to promote sales. Not sure if it does in reality.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I watched some of the scottish event a minute ago and i had to turn away. All these celebs coming out with utter shite and then when old Bob came out I lost the will to live..... ~D

[Mithrandir]

Its all about ego and self importance for those people.


Right ~:rolleyes:

Whatever their purposes are, it suits the same goal... a good one.

[PanzerJaeger]

Whatever their purposes are, it suits the same goal... a good one.

Really? How much money made its way down to Africa anyway?

[Steppe Merc]

It wasn't about money! It was about awareness! Garg! :furious3:

[PanzerJaeger]

Hehe, I cant think of one person I know who wasnt aware of African poverty before the Live8 event.

In any event, awareness buys how much food for a starving village again? ~;)

[Steppe Merc]

Hey, don't ask me, I don't know. ~;)
I'm just saying it wasn't about money. Besides, it would have been critized however they did it...

[Sjakihata]

In any event, awareness buys how much food for a starving village again? ~;)

Pretty freakin much!

How many people helped Dafur Region in Sudan before Amnesty International put all the intention to the situation? How many after?

Awareness is actually what helps, since there are so many starving regions, and so little money donated - the govs, orgs, ngos etc donate to the project currently in the media, to seem noble.

So attention=money, big time!

[Al Khalifah]

Its another example of popular charities. Rather than Make Poverty History, the event should've been called Make Charity Cool.

Well mission accomplished.

Unfortunately for the people of Africa, it's only a matter of time before they lose the media spotlight again and people stop to care about them. Anyone remember a certain tsunami that happened about 8 months ago? The one where the media said it would take a decade for the affected regions to recover?

Why have the media and celebrities not been all over this constantly? After all it's going to take a decade to put right?

Simple, because it's no longer the 'cool' charity. We need a quick dose of feel good factor for each region before we move on to the next and so it goes.

In 8 months, no one will still be talking about making poverty history in Africa. We will all have moved on.

[Mithrandir]

Amen,Sjakihata.

[econ21]

I've never understood bashing radicals for being rich. It's like they have to give away all worldly goods before they have any credibility. They don't have to live like Jesus to have something to say that's worth listening to.

So Bob Geldof owns four hotels. Shock horror. Doesn't alter the fact that he helped save thousands of lives twenty years ago. Nor does it undermine the good work he's doing in raising the profile of poverty in Africa right now. From what I can tell, he's had a sustained commitment to the place and also a rather good understanding of it - listen to what he says, it's moved on a lot from far from the simple "give them the [expletive] money NOW!" of yesterday.

Personally, I suspect Africa is going to have to sort its own problems out. It's not going to be "rescued" by the West, any more than it is being harmed by the West now. But there are things the West can do to help - cutting agricultural subsidies and increasing aid to African governments that are making a good start in fighting poverty. These things are politically hard to do, much harder than airlifting food aid to Ethiopia in a famine. Live8 and other work by NGOs are slowly building up the popular support in the West that will make them possible.

And it's having results - in the UK, the government department with the fastest growing budget since Labour came to power in 1997 has been the Department for International Development, traditionally the lowest status department in the government. Blair and Brown are pushing for a doubling of aid from the EU. I gather Bush has promised to triple aid to Africa. This stuff would not happen without lots of flawed radicals and campaigners pushing the issue up the polticians' agenda.

Trade is the next battleground and will be much harder to crack - just listening to the debates recently on the EU budget makes you realise how far there is to go. But that fight may be even more important than aid.

Live8 was a rock concert. Personally, I listened to some of it mainly for the music - there seemed to be precious little about Africa in it. I'm not sure anyone with maturity puts these egotistical performers up on a pedestal[1]. I had to laugh when the BBC interviewed an oh-so sincere Madonna - whose energetic haranguing the audience to dance to the "Music" was memorably described as resembling a "PE teacher from hell" - and she said she'd never been to Africa. But who cares if the performers are doing it to boost their egos or sales? If they have done a little to push poverty in Africa up the agenda, good on them.

My argument only falls down when it comes to Bill Gates, giving his fortune away to save kids in developing countries. Man, that takes my breath away. :bow:

[Navaros]

Yes they are rich. But they could have been spending that time getting even richer, without a thought about others.


ah, but Live 8 was and IS making them richer

the album sales of the artists on Live 8 have soared tremendously as a direct result of Live 8. i read on article about that just yesterday

performing at Live 8 publicity = much more money straight into the pockets of the celebrities

to think anything else is lying to yourself

[bmolsson]

Live 8 is a clever franchise.... We have to give them that... ~;)

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I agree with what Al Khalifah said: this could do more harm then good. People may watch the concert and think that just by watching Live8 they are helping Africans, as opposed to doing anything. And if you think that's dumb, remember how stupid people can be and how short their attention span is. In a couple months, Africa will be old news, especially since "we helped them a few months ago with that rock concert thing. What was it called, oh yeah. Live8. Glad we did our part."

[IrishMike]

ah, but Live 8 was and IS making them richer

the album sales of the artists on Live 8 have soared tremendously as a direct result of Live 8. i read on article about that just yesterday

performing at Live 8 publicity = much more money straight into the pockets of the celebrities

to think anything else is lying to yourself


Not so fast there. Bands Give Earnings (http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,16883,00.html)


Pink Floyd said it would give its album earnings to charity, and so have a few other bands followed, such as The Who and Paul McCartney. So its not making all richer.