Live8 - What's the REAL deal here?
POSTED BY: AURaptor
UPDATED: Thursday, July 7, 2005 04:51
VIEWED: 3712
PAGE 1 of 2
Rock legends come together to solve the world's problems, at least poverty and hunger in Africa.
But this isn't a fund raiser. They don't want your $ this time. It's an 'awareness' raiser. Again, not for us. We supposidly know all about the problems in Africa. What Geldoff et al want to do is awaken those at the G-8 summit and somehow make THEM do something ( what, I'm not really sure ). Never mind the fact that Tony Blair has already put helping Africa the top issue for this G8 meeting. Never mind the fact that $40 BILLION in debt owed has been wiped clean from the books for the poorest countries in Africa already.
But wait. Does the root of the problem lie w/ those in the G8? I fail to see how. The bulk of the blame lies w/ the likes of Zimbabwe's President Mugabe. He's stolen land from profitable farmers, literlaly at gun point, and given it over to a vastly unskilled public. Zimbabwe's economy is crumbling, and a bunch of aged rockers want us to focus our attention on the G8 ????
I'll enjoy the music, for a while. But at some point the inevitable guilt trip being layed on us all will force me to tune out.
Happy INDEPENDENTS Day weekend, y'all 
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
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Here's what Noel Gallagher of Oasis had to say about Live 8:
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but are they hoping that one of these guys from the G8 is on a quick 15 minute break at Gleneagles (in Scotland) and sees ANNIE LENNOX singing SWEET DREAMS and thinks, 'Fuck me, she might have a point there, you know?'
"KEANE doing SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW and some Japanese businessman going, 'Aw, look at him... we should really fucking drop that debt, you know.'
"It's not going to happen, is it?"
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Quote:
Originally posted by CrevanReaver:
Here's what Noel Gallagher of Oasis had to say about Live 8:
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but are they hoping that one of these guys from the G8 is on a quick 15 minute break at Gleneagles (in Scotland) and sees ANNIE LENNOX singing SWEET DREAMS and thinks, 'Fuck me, she might have a point there, you know?'
"KEANE doing SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW and some Japanese businessman going, 'Aw, look at him... we should really fucking drop that debt, you know.'
"It's not going to happen, is it?"
40 BILLION dollars of debt have already been wiped clean from the poorest of African countries.
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
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No G8 aren't totally responsible for the situation in Africa but they are a major part of it. IMO forcing a country to privatise its water supply too qualify for aid, and then sell their own water back to them at prices they can't afford is profiteering. Oh the water company (a UK company)that bought it spent £400, 000 on advertising campaign to persuade the people of that country it was in their interests. Yeah right.
Zimbabwe is one country in Africa and not all African countries are the same as this one.
Also $40billion is a drop in the ocean. When a country is forced to repay a debt which amounts to more than it spends on Education or Health there is something vastly wrong.
Trade rules set by the wealthiest countries of which G8 are, are loaded in favour of the wealtier countries so it doesn't matter how hard people work in the developing world, or how much their countries produce, trade relationships benefit the rich world most.
They're forcing poor countries to open up their markets to foreign imports and businesses, and sell off public services like electricity - even when this isn't in their interest. They're also banning poor countries from supporting vulnerable farmers and industries, while wealthy nations continue to support their own.
That's what "awareness" is about. That's what Live 8 is about. Yes it may a guilt trip, but it's time people in the "1st World" woke up,and stopped being so selfish.
"This movie may be a beautiful butterfly, but I loved that damn caterpillar." Joss Whedon.
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Perfectly said borg, exactly what I was going to say. Thanks for saving me the typing. ;):)
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Quote:
Yes it may a guilt trip, but it's time people in the "1st World" woke up,and stopped being so selfish.
Selfish like when how many millions were raised for LiveAid and virtually nothing got done?
Selfish like when Bob Geldof frantically blurts out such demands as "Give me the money! Just GIVE IT TO ME!" ?
Selfish.. yeah, there's a easy word to toss around. They suffer because others are selfish. Mainly, it's their own leaders who are selfish, and deprive the people of freedoms, honest government and land ownership.
There might be ways of getting assistance to those who really need it, but laying the blame for all of Africa's troubles at the feet of others and then demanding we give ( more? Yes..MORE ) aid isn't exactly the way to start things out on a firm foundation.
I simply don't agree w/ the underlying tone that is being displayed here. The ' You'd better give us what we want or else..' mentality doesn't fly very well.
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
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Should trade be made equal, sure.
BUT, Africa is in a far worse place because of itself not the G8. If it would solve its massive corruption problems then that would solve a lot of problems.
One must admit that even if the G8 wiped all debt and even made trade equal, the common man would see little change because of all the corruption.
It's all fine and dandy to blame the G8 for the problems of the world. But, when it comes down to it, we all must take responsibility for our own actions. ie Countries of Africa, get your 
act together and actually rid yourself of corruption. As much as possible as least.
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"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show
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But it's not the Africans demanding money and change; it's us, the citizens of the UK, the US, Canada and other G8 countries demanding that our leaders (who so regularly profess themselves to be our humble servants) get the deals done to a) allow Africa to trade on a more balanced footing, b) wipe out the trade debt that is crippling so many countries in Africa and c) to do more in direct aid to countries that need it.
We're allowed to tell our leaders to act; in fact, it's probably our civil duty to do so. There's really only three things we can do with Africa: 1) strike deals with existing regimes. 2) remove existing regimes and replace them with democratic ones. 3) ignore it and let it die. Live 8 suggests the first option. Personally, I agree.
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Quote:
Originally posted by mrskborg:
Yes it may a guilt trip, but it's time people in the "1st World" woke up,and stopped being so selfish.
I think we should just roll in and take over. More money for the Republicans. Long Live Imperialism!
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http://tomeofgrey.blogspot.com
Real Fans Wait - 09/30/05
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Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
a) allow Africa to trade on a more balanced footing,
I agree with this one.
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
b) wipe out the trade debt that is crippling so many countries in Africa
In principle this is a good thing. See next.
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
c) to do more in direct aid to countries that need it.
More direct aid like sending food/supplies/money/etc to meet specific needs, right?
In principle this is a good idea. BUT, when these regimes are soooo corrupt that an extremely large percentage of what is sent never actually gets distributed, instead lining the pockets of those in charge, what's the point?
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
1) strike deals with existing regimes.
See corruption remarks above.
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
2) remove existing regimes and replace them with democratic ones.
This one never turns out well. *coughiraqcough*
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
3) ignore it and let it die.
Never an option.
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Live 8 suggests the first option. Personally, I agree.
No offense, but given the current conditions, I really don't think that this is practical nor realistic. There needs to be much changed before a time comes in which this is practical.
Personally, I think that the only think that can be done is support programs like doctors without borders and such; programs that everything pretty much goes directly to the people bypassing the corruption. That is the only thing that is going to do any good. Anything else is just going to make the rich bastards at the top more so.
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"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show
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