Boycott Sir Bob and saint Bono's gig

by confused Thu Jun 02, 2005 01:54

So perhaps africa is the second richest nation in the world, if the rest of the world is the other nation.

Don't really know what you were going on about, but the way I look at it. Bono and Geldof's concert is going to place an awful lot of attention on Gleneagles in Scotland than there otherwise would not be, it's going to get young people talking about the G8 who otherwise would never have heard of them, It's going to feature a lot of, probably meaningless, anti poverty rhetoric during the actiual event and hopefully (though I wouldn't bet on it) will put out messages of solidarity with the people actively protesting against the G8.

It is helping the cause without taking very much away from it and while we might sneer at the pretentiousness and seemingly self serving nature of this all, i'd prefer to have these people's rhetoric influencing people towards an end to world poverty rather than on the other side.

by men in the sahara dont throw snowballs Thu Jun 02, 2005 02:10

oh thats terrible if they dont know - lets go and convert them and then they will miss the snow at christmas like we do.

Will Bono and the rest of U2 ever pay some tax and perhaps our govt could get the aid levels up to .7%

Do Africans want to develop into all dreaming about the american dream - is that progress?

by % Thu Jun 02, 2005 02:29

but like proper democracy, the secret ballot thing,
no inked thumbs.
finish the fash.
you're so fashion Mr Geldof.
so unfashionably fash.

by PFJ Thu Jun 02, 2005 14:00

Boycott the gig yeah good idea……………. You might not like Bono and Geildof but at least they are trying to do something! I am sick of the inference that unless you fit in a very narrow extremist category you considered a sell out and nutters put up posts saying that people should boycott a free concert. A Concert that will raise the issues of poverty, debt and the unjust world we live in. Don’t get me wrong Bono has made bad calls in the past being photoed with Puthin is one! But the lads should be commended for their good work and the up and coming gig because weather you like to admit it or not Bono and Geildof have much more command over the media than we do and the general campaign will get a lot more public attention because of their efforts.

One last thing “Any artist(s) who spoke out against Bush's war was dropped from the playlists of clearchannels 14,000 fm.major hub stations in the USA.” Had nothing to do with your first two points keep focused on your argument.

by >?>? Thu Jun 02, 2005 15:58

The dropping of artists who spoke out about the war IS relevant to this discussion. The point is that Bono and Geldof may be afraid to speak out against the war because their lucrative careers would be at risk. That is a generous interpretion.
There are other ways to interpret their tendency to cosy-up to warmongers, imperialists and liars.

by toneore Thu Jun 02, 2005 17:24 toneore at eircom dot net

Bono and U2 do pay tax in Ireland. Sure, they have artists exceptions, but they pay VAT every time they buy something in Centra in Glasthule AND pay all the other corporate taxes from their other businesses...

by o n e t o r e Thu Jun 02, 2005 17:36

As do the people deemed tax exempt because of the paltry wages they get. What's your point?

by PFJ Thu Jun 02, 2005 18:08

Afraid to speak out? Are we talking about the same people especially in Bono’s case its trying to get him to shut up is the problem. What you are saying about the artist being banned off the air in the states is disgrace but it has nothing to do with your point.

This is why. The gig is to support the Make Poverty History Campaign www.makepovertyhistory.ie which stands for 1.Trade Justice, 2.Drop the Debt and 3. More and better aid. This is something the Bono and Geldof have been quite out spoken about so there not afraid to be out spoken.

You mentioned that they might be afraid to speak out against the war because they would lose their lucrative deals on US radio. Well poor old Bob doesn’t really have a music career any more so he doesn’t care about US radio and U2 are so big now and earn so much money for radio stations that to drop U2 would cost too much money. So that is not going to happen believe me I lived over in the states for a while.

Why have they not spoken out about the war? Well it’s another issue! I don’t think there is any major conspiracy.

by Manuva Thu Jun 02, 2005 18:20

Good question from Snowmail:

We'll also be looking at why the line up at the concert in London is what Greg Dyke might have described as so "hideously white". Fine if you like Dido and Coldplay. But what if you're a bit more black in your musical tastes? The best the organisers could come up with was Mariah Carey. Is Live 8 really doing anything to appeal to black Britons? Or is it all a bit middle class and white?

by mc cavity Thu Jun 02, 2005 19:18

reliable sources close the european union special security services have confirmed that al qeada may possibly and plausibly use the mass white block "only" mobilisations called by Geldof in the UK as cover to launch an attack on the US delegation to the G8.
Traditional black block activists, have so far refused to comment on rumours that Sir Elton John is planning a n investment of several million pounds sterling on flowers in a "right on guerilla gardening action".

Scotland yard remains baffled.

by jsr Thu Jun 02, 2005 21:51

"Fine if you like Dido and Coldplay. But what if you're a bit more black in your musical tastes?"

Bob was asked the same thing around the time of live aid. His response was the colour of artist was not important just their star power. Coldplay Dido and u2 are big names(god help us) and will attract more money/media attention than smaller bands with connections to Africa. Its not about good music its about good intentions.

by skeptomaniac Thu Jun 02, 2005 21:53

bono and boob geldoff are a waste of space. The point is valid that the likes of the dixey chicks got dumped by clearchannel is a clear indication of what would happen, if the two mouthpieces who provide all the prince charles pohto opps for for the facist elete in the new world order to boost their ratings, spoke out for real.

They are cowards who put their carreers first and their pseudo caring attitude is nothing short of nauseating. They should stick to singing and shut up unless they are going to tackle the real problem -which is in the hands of the people they court the most-bush,blair etc.

by Barry Thu Jun 02, 2005 23:13

really , the pair of them , puke inducing . Really sad to think theyre Irelands mostfamous exports . Jesus its sad .

by Spelling - Society for the Protection of the English Language Fri Jun 03, 2005 03:10

Might actually be a stimulating debate, were it not for the fact that it seems to be the latest trend among the libertarian left to misspell the simplest of words. Is this a new, radical statement or something?

Maybeee I shud jon in the foon an bee a anty-establishmant radikal two.

by Davros Fri Jun 03, 2005 17:28

As pointed out above, Geldof doesn't have to worry about his music being boycotted by Clear because he no longer has a credible music career of any sort. However, he is a media tycoon and that may be a factor in Paul O'Tooles suspicions.

Geldof and Bono have nothing but praise for Bush and Blair. They praise Bush's caveat ridden aid pledges (GM crop provisios and abstenance before marriage programmes etc.), like The Millenium Challenge, which have been renaged upon by almost half of the pledged amount. Bono's humanising tales of Bush in his new book are also a nice touch. African leaders however, are awarded little of this benefit of the doubt by the two pop singers, maybe rightly, but who funds these gangsters, who sells the weapons that facilitate African civil conflicts?

The very fact that Make Poverty History's white band is produced by sweatshop labour makes a joke of their efforts. They say they are talking to the manufacturers about this matter. HARDCORE! Lookout G8.

People branded thugs by Geldof have been protesting at G8 summits etc. well before this by the way and Paul O'Toole is right to advise that it is their efforts that should be supported, not media tycoon Geldof's.

The U.S. invested in Europe after WW2 because they needed a trading partner. The rest of the world is a cheap, exploitable source of raw materials. That's how it works. Asking the west to help the rest is like asking Dracula to give blood. It's not going to happen.

There will be more tokenistic pledges. There will be more photo ops of the stars with the Lennon and McCartney's of 'the development stage' and other such 'dignitaries' such as Putin. There will be big screen footage of starving Africans and orgiastic tears from the assembled well-fed thousands as Coldplay (or someone like that) perform a slow number. Madonna will do the song from the Gap ad and Fiddy Cent will be blingin' in his finest diamonds courtesy of African child labour.

Oh yeah, and Blair probably will show up and have a go on some fools guitar.

As for the jabroni who's worried about the spelling (which is not an actual point by the way), sorry for any mistakes here, usually me gud spel.

by Not sure Fri Jun 03, 2005 18:16

I can understand the cynicism in a way, but I do think that Geldof in particular is committed to Africa and has devoted a lot of time and energy to educating himself about issues like Trade and Debt. So maybe it's a big media event (Live 8) but it is also a chance to get these issues into a media machine that is more obsessed about popstar marriages than real peoples' crises. I welcome that chance.

Maybe the musicians are in it for themselves - although Coldplay are committed to Fair Trade and Oxfam's campaign on this. But maybe we are using them rather than the other way round, Same with Bob and Bono - are they the ones using the likes of Bush, Blair? Ok, it's risky and if nothing happens on debt cancellation or aid increases at the G8 it will be a humiliation for them

Last point: on the wristbands - this was awful, but very small in numbers - as soon as the UK NGOs realised the standards were not up to scratch, they moved supplier and are now using the one that Irish groups are also using -see http://www.trocaire.org/newsandinformation/makepovertyhistory/labourstandards.htm for info on this from one of the groups involved, In fairness, it was Oxfam themselves who announced this lapse. If it will do any good it will make people look twice at the good they purchase and encourage them to ask the question about labour conditions.

by village idiot Sat Jun 04, 2005 04:17

The idea of relating culture to skin-colour strkeds me as being a bit racist.

Eva CAssidy sounds gospel, Rick Astley sounded like Barry White.

What if you're a bit more 'African' in your musical tastes would be more apt. The continent is replete with talent of many shades of skin colour, that will remain largely ignored by the sad mass-culture that is pop.

by Davros - The Daleks Intergalactic Football Club. Sat Jun 04, 2005 18:05

Thank you for the information Not Sure. I hope you are right about who is using who but fear you are wrong, at the end of the day I think Geldof and Bono are peers of the establishment and flattered to be so. "Oooh! George made a jokey just for me".

There is also something obscenely arrogant and patronising about Marshall plans drawn up by celebrities between gigs. The celebrity need to dominate the whole protest against poverty causing policies is also arrogant, if you're not going to their party you can "fuck off".

Geldof says if this doesn't work then at least we tried and that's it. Pardon? "Sorry folks we did all we could for you what with the taking a couple of days off to go to a free concert and a trip to Scotland." I don't think that'll wash.

We'll see what happens but I think Oxfam should keep their distance from these mallable egos.

by Hilaal Tue Jun 07, 2005 21:43

"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition Brother Bono"

Bono Bush and "Sir" Bob the slob Geldoff - That's loike sooooo revolutionary.

Can we join the revolution you guys.... oh please , please can we join the revolution you guys. Loike !

On the Propaganda trail!

by skeptomaniac Wed Jun 08, 2005 02:51

Anglo Gold-a Duch UK company-is mining in africa and is being investigated for paying local warlords 6,000 dollars in bribes. In the amazon basin,an area half the size of Wales is being mined for gold- it is known as 'the richest place on earth'. The locals are starving. You think Bono will mention this at the gig;-you must be kidding.He and Geldof are part of the 'elete' who support companies involved in 'legally' asset-stripping 'poor' countries and whole continents. Sir Bob is successfully deflecting real dissent by organising a nice gig and like most protests people go home when it's over. If he and Bono were any good they would bring their audience to the g8summit instead of singing to them and sending them home.

Watch this space.