The real function of the mediocre LIVE 8 shite 'Pictures of starving children sell records'

by Darragh Sat Jul 02, 2005 23:21

Riiiiight.

by Black bloc nun riot squad in Edinburgh Sat Jul 02, 2005 23:22

As media and global attention focussed on the glittering stage of 'Patronise the poor/LIVE 8', where millionaire/nairess botoxed rock stars dared to touch the hands of token grateful looking African models.

Little african children were petted and paraded on the LIVE 8 stage, like the charity case neighbours that you bring round at christmas and present with token useless gifts, to show off to your rich neighbours, how kind/good you are.

by cath1146 Sat Jul 02, 2005 23:25

Get a grip...u're not the only crayon in the box.

We all do what we can...
who died and made you god?

No justice, no peace.

by i'm a black bloker disguised as a nun Sat Jul 02, 2005 23:34

There was an almost total blackout on coverage of the millions G8 marches/protests in Edinburgh, maybe the powers that be will get Bob to organise more crap LIVE 8/ patronise the poor concerts everytime they meet.

by i'm a black bloker disguised as a buisnessman Sat Jul 02, 2005 23:41

It's heartwarming to see, Bob and LIVE 8/patronise the poor have managed to coral a load of useless yuppies/80's throw back rock stars into hyde park, keeping them out of the way, and stop them fucking up the real protests in Edinburgh.

by redjade Sat Jul 02, 2005 23:42

The whole MPH project is being touted as the rich nations finally doing something about the blot on their collective conscience. That is, we all have to cleanse ourselves morally because of our opulent wealth. This is a charitable effort, we have to finally do something.

It's worth noting though, that the rich nations have been "doing something" for a few hundred years now and it has seldom been a good "something". At what point are we to suspend our disbelief and imagine that the wealthy nations have suddently become a source of benevolence? After 200 odd years of colonialism, economic domination, military and political manipulation I see no reason to be naive about the motives of the G8 countries.

[....]

Quite apart from his obscene wealth, it's worth noting Bill Gates' track record as lobbyist for the maintenance of Intellectual Property Rights and the abuse of IP laws with regard to generic drug production and agriculture in the third world.

more at
Practically Insurgent Blog...
http://www.jackray.co.uk/archives/000049.html

by james j whitehead - www.altheal.org aand www.aidsmythexposed.com Sun Jul 03, 2005 00:17 jamesjwhitehead at aol dot com

50% of african "aids" cases are TB cases. Poverty, malnutrition, protein defiency, selenium defiency, micro nutrient defiencies, mineral defiencies, poor housing, over crowding, dirty water, poor sanitation all predispose to a host of diseases including TB/"aids". If we treat the things that predispose to these diseases we can reduce the need for very toxic expensive "antiretrovirals". We can reduce disease occurance , increase life expectancy and quality for all. Instead all the money will be gobbled up and sent back to white western drug companies who sponsoree run governments, politicians, G*,WHO,WTO,EEC,FDA.NIH,MRC,medical journals,press ect ect

Pop stars are just drug company lackies for the aids mafia who are funded by "aids" inc.

Go to NON toxic treatments section at www.altheal.org for a sampling of the evidence. Note this paper is several years old and since then many new studies, papers, experiments have been published and found so this paper will be updated with loads of new evidence.Paper by John Kirkham and me.

by A in Honours Maths Sun Jul 03, 2005 00:48

" millions G8 marches/protests in Edinburgh,"

What millions? You're not even close.

Usual sour grapes all round from the usual suspects on Indymedia Ireland...

by JackJack - N/A Sun Jul 03, 2005 00:56

This isn't news, it's whining. While it is patronising (in a sense), etc. for Live 8 to be going on, put it this way, it's better than a kick in the nuts...

by redjade Sun Jul 03, 2005 17:02

The Live 8 concerts: Hold on Africa – here we come!
By Gerald Caplan
http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=28738

Getting it wrong about Africa is a venerable tradition in the rich world, and music has played its role. Remember the great famine concerts of 20 years ago and the giant hit "Do They Know It's Christmas?" It's just been re-recorded, with its inane lyrics of Africa as a land "underneath a burning sun…where nothing ever grows" and "no rain nor river flows". Get it? Natural causes---bad luck—are at the root of Africa's problems.

Television does its share. Who among us haven't seen inspiring stories about young Canadians who decide to raise pennies for a well or school in Africa? These efforts are invariably motivated by the best of intentions. But I'm concerned with their unintended message. I fear they reinforce wrong-headed stereotypes of both Africa and us. To my eye, they show Africans as helpless, dependent, passive victims, and we westerners as decent, selfless, compassionate, resourceful missionaries.

Now Paul Wolfowitz's has added his explanation for Africa's plight. Moving swiftly from being a maven about Iraq to becoming an authority on Africa's 53 countries, the new head of the World Bank has just completed a whirlwind learning tour of the continent—6 days, 4 countries. The problem in Africa, he announced at the end, is simple: "corruption". Right. If only Africa's leaders were more like our own.

These views reflect a common theme: they leave the rich world blameless for Africa's multitude of problems. I greatly fear that Live 8 is inadvertently strengthening the notion that we in the rich world must be missionaries to save Africans from themselves.

by redjade Sun Jul 03, 2005 19:37

Show me an environmentalist, and I will show you a hypocrite. In an interview with the Guardian recently, Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay and all-round good guy, spoke of his concerns about climate change. On his new album there’s “an intense, angry track encouraging people to make the right decisions about how they live their lives and how they treat the planet.” A few paragraphs on, he revealed that he was about to “fly by private jet to Palm Springs … The band can now afford to fly wherever possible”.(1) Neither Martin nor the interviewer appeared to recognise the contradiction.

At the beginning of his “Organic Bible”, Bob Flowerdew explains that organic gardening means minimising “any bad effects we may have on the environment.” He goes on to boast that “when most people are only planting their [new potatoes] on Good Friday … I am eating mine.” How? By growing them in a heated greenhouse.

[....]

In the absence of government action, environmentalism is, and always will be, for other people. At its best, it is a faltering and contradictory effort to do the right thing. At its worst, and especially when articulated by the elite, it is a means of securing ecological space for yourself against the competing claims of the hoipolloi. The environment movement in Britain and its colonies arose in part from anti-poaching efforts: game reserves were turned into nature reserves for the continued benefit of the hunting class. Will climate change campaigns now reserve airspace for pop stars?

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2005/06/30/save-us-from-ourselves/

by Cath Mon Jul 04, 2005 01:13

I AGREE. I understand, etc. BUT, we all know these negatives, so what's the positive?

200 plus years of shit....now what ?

What IS THE DIRECTION, according to you folks ?

by Where's this new f**king world order? Mon Jul 04, 2005 02:31

There's been so much negative whinining and shti, without any positive alternatives on this site over the last few days. What's your alternative IMC Ireland? Everyone's one waiting, we all want a new world order minus Ahern+Blair+Bush+Howard+The Italian Dickhead with the unpronounceable name.

by kev. Mon Jul 04, 2005 13:34

As the ego race continues
Who will get there first
Will it be St Bob,The Angel Gabriel
Or B.Liar and his mob?
Now Andy Kershaw's put his oar in
What's that all about?
I read these clips
Though ego trips
Are not what its about
So brother let's be clear on this
This point should now be made
As the game of fame and righteousness
Addle up your brain
We are lying here in squalor
Dropping deal like flies
We can't walk around the corner
For a mac to go with fries!
Dead is dead and blood is red
Be sure to make that clear
Whilst you use us for your own goals
We're fucking dieing here!

Rock stars in their mansions
Are rubbing hands with glee
As units sold will go up this year
When famine hits t.v
Get yerself a conscience
Order it by phone
American Express will sanction it
For one interest free loan
Wear a Live Aid tee-shirt
Make out your concerned
Don't worry why they live or die
Your fortune has been earned
But let me tell you brother
Oh ye of idle chat
We're fucking dropping dead like flies
Do a t.v ad for that?

Sing them all the old songs
The ones that they all know
Make them so emotional
As you part them from their dough
Your aim is gain to ease our pain
As we are dropping dead
We're burying our children
Clap yer hands above yer head!

So get yerself up on the stage
To say a holy prayer
Millions will be watching
As you're well aware
False tears will flood from the masses
Bought there for the day
As people who are the scum of the earth
Sell tickets on E.Bay
Eat yer hot dog, drink yer coke
Kneel down and say a prayer
As we die in our thousands
Do you really fucking care?

This concept of the whole thing
Is to be admired
But as this thing called ego starts
Its looking kinda tired
Why should there be an angle?
There should only be one goal
Hunger starvation and dieing
A hatrick for the souls
Who want to do the right thing
And help their fellow man
To eradicate the misery
As only money can
But all this other bollocks
Leave it all aside
Or else the truly caring folk out there
Will wish they had'nt tried!

peace.

This whole thing is getting more and more weird everyday! I'm really never too sure about anything that Peter The Angel Gabriel gets himself involved in, as Jim Kerr said in a magazine article after the Nelson Mandela concert at Wembley, 'as the show comes to an end there's us (Simple Minds) and Peter Gabriel very nearly coming to blows about who will go on last, he, Peter was my idol and it had come to this at a freedom concert on a great day in history, I was just amazed and blown away by his whole attitude'!!!

I have had a change of opinion, from my comments earlier on this month, as this poem suggests, after reading different stuff both here on this site and in the media but it all seems to be moving away from what its supposed to be about isn't it?

by invisible30 Tue Jul 05, 2005 13:51

i think ya all taking this a bit out of context the concert was to raise awareness of the g8 and the african people.

by kev Tue Jul 05, 2005 23:17

Roll out the England captain
His botoxed wife as well
Poverty is now in vogue
It helps c'd's to sell
Stick em on your i-pod
Be sure they make you cry
Clap yer hands above yer head
As in their thousands, children die!

We don't want yer money
No, thats not our game
David Beckham, who is he?
All part of the fame
Get out all the has beens
Resurrect careers
Make out you've a conscience
Get pissed on buckshee beer*
Clap yer hands above yer head
Condescend and patronise
Whilst you make out that your concerned
In their thousands, children die!

Thanks a lot for coming
Its really touched our heart
This poverty gig has revived me
I'm glad that I took part
As I fly off to me mansion
In a private plane
Me manager has just been on
I'm famous, such is fame
Cor that David Beckham
Whats he do again?
As me units fly off shelves so fast
I cannot tell a lie
This poverty gig's been good to me
What's that?
Some children died!

peace.

kev.

by Bill Posters Wed Jul 06, 2005 07:58

Memo? What Memo?
I've never told a lie, No.

by Matt Bonath Mon Sep 12, 2005 03:56 mlbona03 at smumn dot edu

There using the money from the concerts to give to the children you half wit. Of course they can donate some of their money but they can also generate vast amounts of money by putting on these concerts. You honestly think they are gloating by doing this. I wouldn't expect you to even read this because you know, you probably gave your computer away, quit your job, and devoted the rest of your life to saving the children, you know Mother Teresa style. We'll have to just realy this message to you then, you holier than thou, angry-at-the-world, mad cuz your too broke to be of any help, pessimist.

by mel - truth Tue Jan 31, 2006 19:20 vocal at aol dot com 31124 balmoral 734-591-5995

To say Live 8 is only a distraction to blind people from all the pain and suffering of capitalism is a statement made without much thought. Did you eat a chilli dog and fart this idea out? Live 8 raised so much money for the very people you say the concert was trying to hide, your words are contradicting. You want these rock stars to dish out their own money, joining in a concert to which they receive no money is not enough? What have you done that's so charitable lately? Many people worked their asses off to get that gig together, and it did help a lot of people. So what would have been better, not to have Live 8 at all? To only expose all of the starving children, but not raise any money for them? It is sad that more people will donate if they get something out of it, but that's the world we live in. These people are trying to help. I'd love to hear your idea and outcome of a charity event that's going to raise more money than Live 8.

by syg Tue Jan 31, 2006 19:48

And so another summit protest has been and gone. Assorted anarchists, Trotskyists and radical liberals circled the date in their diaries and lined up for a weekend of action. But the fire work of anti-capitalist summit protest, which once burned brightly enough to shock the world in Seattle and bring 300,000 to the streets of Genoa, is now plummeting forlornly to earth. The groups which spearheaded this movement have dwindled drastically, often now little more than grim self-parodies.

And then like a middle-aged, charmless knight in shining armour, along came Sir Bob Geldoff, bearing the standard of Make Poverty History. Suddenly there were thousands of liberal do-gooders jumping aboard the rickety bandwagon of summit protest. Their activist bedfellows regarded them with cold cynicism.

Of course, the idea that “Eight men sitting in a room can Make Poverty History”, is simply laughable. As if poverty is some kind of on/off switch, and the G8 leaders are sitting round a table saying things like “So, shall we end world poverty now or shall we make the bastards suffer a bit longer?” Geldoff and his celebrity pals may have boosted the numbers and bolstered media attention, but ultimately the demands of Make Poverty History were completely hollow.

But what about the thousands of anti-capitalist protesters who saw through the irrelevance of Make Poverty History and came to make a stand against the injustices of corporate tyranny? Many said they were going to raise public awareness of the real issues and demonstrate that there were alternatives to capital. Others believed this was a great opportunity to network with other activists and to bring all the diverse strands of anti-capitalist thought together. And of course we cannot forget the sterling work of the insurrectionist black block who did their bit to bring down capitalist hegemony by smashing a few windscreens and spraying graffiti on coaches.

Sadly, it does not look as if any of these apparently worthy goals have been achieved. The protest may indicate that a significant number of people are opposed to the policies of the G8, but in no way is it a demonstration of alternatives. Neither do the protesters help to put across an anti-capitalist message to the public. In fact, the further anarchists get from the rest of the public the more they leave themselves open to misrepresentation and isolation. The protest may have brought a wide variety of activists together, but what did this achieve? Did it help unite workers? Did it help develop our methods of organising and building? Did it engage with the rest of the class or did it only further reinforce the walls of the activist ghetto?

As for the tiny group of hopefuls whose aim was to shut down the G8, well of course they failed due to their insignificance in the face of police presence. But even if they had somehow succeeded this could hardly have been be counted a victory – the dominance of the ruling class runs much deeper than world leaders and summit meetings. The decisions and policies have already been made elsewhere, and capitalism can continue to run smoothly even without these symbolic meetings.

The G8 summit protests were little more than a walking, breathing and very expensive petition. Capitalism is not about powerful men sitting round tables running the world. Capitalism is not something we can gather together from all corners of the globe to protest against. Capitalism is a social relationship played out in our daily lives. It is in our workplaces and our communities. And that is where it must be fought.

And so, as the din of protest dies down in Edinburgh and Gleneagles, some of the demonstrators leave buoyed up with optimism, believing they have done their bit. Others leave deflated and cynical, wondering what their efforts have really achieved. A small number leave the place in the back of police vans. And meanwhile, a certain eight men leave knowing that everything has gone according to plan.