What does my head in is that Geldof thinks African poverty is our fault. He thinks we are not giving Africa enough free financial aid, i.e. an extra £50 billion a year.
He also wants us to forgive all debt interest owed by African governments - I’ve seen numerous conflicting estimates, but we’re in the billions-a-year category. And he is anxious that the G8 countries open their economies to African imports without expecting the same in return. This is called "fair trade".
What has happened to the half a trillion dollars lent to the independent African countries since the Sixties? We are talking our taxes here. The whole point about borrowing is that you invest and end up richer than you started, even after paying back the loan. How come most of Africa is now poorer than when the loans began?
If the people who performed on the original Band Aid, the latest single and these Live8 concerts all donated just one months wages then the debt in Africa would be gone altogether.
His buddy Bono (who has been successful unlike Geldoff) makes hundreds of millions from music and guess what - he is not liable to income tax on his earnings from royalties as "an artist".
Yip, yet he tells the taxpayers that we should forgive debts. Why doesn't that egomaniac pricck (who thinks he helped bring peace to northern Ireland) give his few hundred million quid to Africa- it'd be a good start.
Geldoff, despite his scruff appearance, is actually a posh lad and went to a very posh school in Ireland. His band, the Boomtown Rats, were a group of rich kids.
He was a artist but a brilliant entertainment businessman. He has made millions through reality tv shows.....I think he owns the company that does Big Brother.
I too have a thing about celebrities and charity. Its like the Fast Show with the two DJs going on about "charra dee". In my opinion, its a guilt reaction where they do some charity to ease their conscience and feelings of guilt for all the money they have. I also think that in the case of Bono, who is stupendously rich, it is a complete ego trip and is in his mind a means of becoming even bigger and more powerful and "important" than a mere rockstar.
However, its not all bad and despite Bono's ego, he does help draw attention to these things.
However, he's estimated to be worth at least £175million sterling. Anybody could easily live on £75million so if he really, really, really cared, he could write the Red Cross a cheque for £100million tomorrow.
For obvious reasons eh jonny, not too fond of them are you God ... what id do to have a ticket for that, I have always wanted to see oasis but never quite got round to it
Hate to be the first nay-sayer, but here it goes. Big whoop. A concert. How is this going to change anything? Did Woodstock change anything? Did Live-Aid? No. Its a concert. Plain and simple.
For them to sell it as anything else is wrong. Someone is making gob-money off of this and I dont think its Africa. And Floyd reuniting is nothing more than a pre-curser to a tour. What better publicity. Remember who the star of "The Wall" was. It probably wasnt that hard. Besides, they all gotta be close to broke now, anyways. Couple of years on the road, and their set.
Besides. Why should Africa get relief? Can't countries delcare bankruptcy in international court somewhere? Anyrate, its their mess, why do we gotta clean it up. I say we repo the continent. Lots of good real estate there.
Anyways. Just wanted to say that Bob Geldoff is a pompous , who is pretty much responsible to the death of Michael Hutchens, and is loaded ($$) with reasons to promote this show.
And besides who is he anyways....."The Boomtown Rats"?? Please.
I guarantee that Africa will still be broke- after this show, and nothing will change. I highly doubt the worlds governments are swayed by concert. They probably have no idea who any of the bands are, and woudlnt give two shits if they did.
That being said, its an awesome lineup, Bob Geldoff is a piece of , and Africa needs a lot more than a concert.
The Magician wrote:Turned Live8 on when Richard Ascroft was performing Bitter Sweet Symphony with Coldplay
that was a great duet, to a great song.
RIP - Drummerphil - YNWA
" Whats a holly kipper CRA? Is that a scene from batman and Robin " - CGGY
This is soo true - Daniel - sweetest guy in the world,soft and gentle but good in bed! hes a keeper!!!!!!