Live8 Webcast

[jayenram]

What I fail to understand is that when I was a lad all the best bands/artists looked the same age as me. Now, some 35 years later, they still look the same age as me.

[udon]

Let's face it the guys with the silver hair stole the show/s.

[jayenram]

Who was that guy in Germany doing a terrible impersonation of Freddie Mercury?

And who was Elton John's new boyfriend?

Maybe I'm just too old.

Anyway, nice to see that Brian Wilson's puppeteer is still alive and well!

[Boon Mee]

Talking about the purpose of these Live8 Concerts I came across these comments on the One.org site as a more depressing mixture of naivete and ignorance would be hard to find. I know there are many reasons why it’s important to "do something" about Africa, but I really wonder whether this kind of effort does more harm than good. For example, it is clear from the website comments, the supporting ads, and the voices of everyone involved in [yesterday's] (by the way, atrocious) MTV/VH1 production, that the prevailing wisdom is as follows: (1) famine and hunger is caused by poverty; (2) poverty is caused by the G8’s lack of compassion, excess greed and affluence. The prescription is naturally to re-distribute wealth and money from the G8 countries to "Africa."

Time after time, the TV announcers reminded us that things are "even worse in Africa than they were before Live Aid 20 years ago!" Clearly, none of them considered this might tell us something about the efficacy of Live Aid and its use of cash to solve problems caused by massive political corruption.

Any thoughts?

[Totster]

06.00 SYD, nothing on tv here.

Totty,

thanks for the AOL link, but here, Aunty has the best feed, married to WMP.

Now 2200 London, have I missed Pink Floyd?

Again, thanks

PS any info of a DVD Product?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Pink Floyd were great... !

totster

[samran]

Talking about the purpose of these Live8 Concerts I came across these comments on the One.org site as a more depressing mixture of naivete and ignorance would be hard to find. I know there are many reasons why it’s important to "do something" about Africa, but I really wonder whether this kind of effort does more harm than good. For example, it is clear from the website comments, the supporting ads, and the voices of everyone involved in [yesterday's] (by the way, atrocious) MTV/VH1 production, that the prevailing wisdom is as follows: (1) famine and hunger is caused by poverty; (2) poverty is caused by the G8’s lack of compassion, excess greed and affluence. The prescription is naturally to re-distribute wealth and money from the G8 countries to "Africa."

Time after time, the TV announcers reminded us that things are "even worse in Africa than they were before Live Aid 20 years ago!" Clearly, none of them considered this might tell us something about the efficacy of Live Aid and its use of cash to solve problems caused by massive political corruption.

Any thoughts?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Africa is poor because the US, EU and Japan love to play silly buggers with the general tariff rates on imports, as well as handing out welfare so their farmers can either over produce a good, or produce something which Africans may be better at selling to them for a cheaper price.

Mix that up the the major cold war players flooding the more instable parts of the continent with weapons, and you have a pretty good recipe for disaster.

[The_Moog]

Africa is poor because the US, EU and Japan love to play silly buggers with the general tariff rates on imports,

One can send them ten dollars, a million or a trillion, it doesn't matter, as unless the aid is direct, it'll be stolen.

I've sat in front of 3rd World kleptocrats, heard them cooking up their deals, participated in the discussion. Local Government Officials coming straight out and saying 'whats my cut?'

In the West, people go into politics because they like the Power-kick. In Asia you go into Government to make money.

[samran]

Good reply Moog, though my point wasn't about sending them money which in many ways can be easily wasted.

You made a good reference to Asia, which should be expanded on. Asia is still full of Kelptocrats which I have also sat in front of too. Yet, economically, Asia does better. Why?

Relatively more sensible and open economic policies for a start. Smart enough to make something that is needed in the west, hence will get under their tarriff and trade barriers.

Best leg up the west can give Africa is to get rid of trade barriers and subsidies by ending the subsidsing of French cows and Japanese rice farmers.

[HarryHacker]

Who was that guy in Germany doing a terrible impersonation of Freddie Mercury?

And who was Elton John's new boyfriend?

Maybe I'm just too old.

Anyway, nice to see that Brian Wilson's puppeteer is still alive and well!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I must have had a p1ss break when the German was on but for sure, Elton John, once again picks up the Gold Award for ‘Embarrassment Moment’ when introducing his BF and for sure, Marc Bolan would have turned in his grave!

Brian Wilson came a very close second, did he know who he was, where he was and what he was doing?

Waiting until 6am to see The Who & Pink Floyd was well worth it for me, albeit drinking 2 bottles of Red Ozzy juice meant that I slept most of Sunday, thus missing a lunch with Ms Harry’s family………bliss.

[chownah]

I think a big component of African poverty is political instability. The European nations colonized Africa and demolished the emerging culturally associated political boundaries of the time. This disrupted the natural evolution of societies in the area. It takes along time for these social units to reestablish when they are completely dismantled during colonialism. The segregation of people into social units which eventually coalesce into political power units is often a violent process as the pecking order is established.

In short, I belive that most of the problems in Africa are a result of the colonialization by European nations and to solve the problems nations must find a way to give Africa aid without interfering with or influencing the 'natural' process of national emergence.

Edited July 4, 2005 by chownah

[bartender100]

Most of the performances have been seeded on Torrent's,just downloaded Floyd in very fast time.

[The_Moog]

You made a good reference to Asia, which should be expanded on. Asia is still full of Kelptocrats which I have also sat in front of too. Yet, economically, Asia does better. Why?

Because they somehow restrain themselves and don't steal all of it. They usually settle for 10%-20%.

Also there is economic activity in Asia and some development. African economies are still at early stages (unless you're South Africa and got loads of gold and diamonds)

Best leg up the west can give Africa is to get rid of trade barriers and subsidies by ending the subsidsing of French cows and Japanese rice farmers.

Yes, tariffs need reforming on the west's part, but ultimately a cheque for all those extra Euros and Dollars will arrive via the Foreign Exchange system on the desk of the Head of the Central Bank of Um Bongo, and he will simply pinch the whole lot, whether a big or small cheque.

Edited July 4, 2005 by The_Moog

[liontamer]

Why were thais not allowed to watch it on oridanary tv,was it a measure to save power?

This must have been on of the very countries not givingaccess for its people for raising awareness about poverty

[Boon Mee]

It may come as a surprise to Live 8 fans, but the top three reasons why most African countries are economic basket cases are not lack of aid, excessive debt service payments and protectionism by developed countries. They are in fact chronic misgovernment, recurrent civil war and the high incidence of diseases such as malaria and Aids. It is just possible that more aid, debt relief and freer trade could mitigate these problems. But experience is not encouraging.

[Backpack_thailand]

Let's face it the guys with the silver hair stole the show/s.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Couldn't agree more! All these new "superstars", Keane, Coldplay etc. etc. - The two best performances of the whole event were Pink Floyd and The Who!

Did you notice all the teeny boppers at the front even rocking out to "Won't Get Fooled Again"...? Priceless...

Leave it to the "real" superstars!