THIS IS WHAT LIVE8 WAS ALL ABOUT.
http://www.thisislondon....803?source=Daily%20Mail

Why don't Sir Paul, Sir Elton, Sir Bob, Sir Bono, Dame Madonna, Braddeth Pitt, and all the other pompous, arrogant stars put their money where there mouths are? They could end poverty in Africa with their OWN MONEY.

talk about arrogance, where are you putting your money? Why is it a man's worth is based upon the size of his wallet.

If you even think that just putting money into Africa will solve its problems. . . well...

It sickens me to hear people like yourself complain about people that are rich and how they are supposed to run to the aid of everyone else and bail them out. Or that it is OK to take from them, because they have too much. People need to help themselves, solve their own problems. Instead of giving money, give time and ideas to help them solve their problems. This is what is wrong with America. We give billions/trillions of dollars each year to bailout or help other countries, even our lives, yet their problems are not solved. They have to help themselves. It is not the money or lives, but the ability to solve their own problems and ask for help(not money/lives) when they need it. Let Sir Paul, Sir Elton, Sir Bob, Sir Bono, Dame Madonna, Braddeth Pitt keep their own money or give it as they wish. I can sure bet they are doing much more than you and you should just keep quiet knowing that. Be thankful for what they do, not hate them for what you want them to do.

Well said - at least the the celebs are trying to help and yes, they may do what they wish with their money (they just have an awful lot of it compared to everyone else.. then again very few people control most of the wealth in the US and that trend has risen alarmingly during the past several years).

The difference with this Live 8 is that money is going to aid groups that do exactly what you said rather than give to corrupt governments.

However, the lingering affects of colonialism and Western/Soviet interference in their internal affairs during the Cold war era are also to blame. The so-called "green revolution" didn't help either.

Even worse, dictators typically don't invest much in infrastruture and social services.

The rights of women and family planning also factor in. When there are too many offspring and too few resources that's a problem. When women have economic power there are fewer babies.

Look at Bangladesh as an example of what empowering women can acheive. Pakistan stuck with its "traditional ways" and also didn't encourage condom use and other forms of birth control. It was against tribal and religious "values".

Lending money to women to start businesses also helped so it's not just about family planning.

Bangladesh did these things and it now has a higher standard of living and a lower rate of population growth; meaning, less suffering and more progress. At one time they both had the same growth rate.

I am not on a stage in front of millions of people telling governments to raise taxes on it's citizens to boost a celebritys' ego. The first Live Aid raised millions. Live8 didn't make 1 dime for the people of Africa. But the celebrities got free publicity and lots of perks.

It sickens me to see personal attacks like the one by athome, just because they don't agree with something posted. Their ignorance of facts shows a lack of thought or reason.

I told the stars to put there money where there mouth is and not to preach to others before doing so. If you don't like it THEN IT'S YOU WHO SHOULD KEEP QUIET.

HOW MUCH MONEY DID LIVE8 MAKE? NONE!

Well said. These millionaires and billionaires prance around and try to force our country to raise taxes so that they can pat each other on the back and say well done.

Wrong, it made money indirectly. Artists including Pink Floyd have donated their earnings from Live 8 and who knows who else was inspired to donate.

Also keep in mind that Live 8 itself was NOT a fundraiser. It was meant to arraise awareness and place politcal pressure on G8 delgates to make decisions that fight massive poverty.

Visit the Live 8 Web site. It says: "We don't want your money, we want your face!"

Nobody told anybody else to raise taxes. If you want to be negligent and allow disease and poverty to persist your taxes WILL rise.

Disease and political instability cost more in the long run. Think about the scenario of new strains of Malaria coming to the US that are resistant to existing first line drugs.

The ocean does not seperate the US from problems overseas and neither does indifference.

For example, Sudan is a terrorist hotbed because of a lack of stability. How much is the US dishing out to fight the war on terror in countries that are impoverished like Sudan?

Cause and effect my friend. It's better to stamp out poverty than it is to deal with its consequences. Anything that raises awareness helps.

Should they put their money where their mouth is? Perhaps. I stated in an earlier post, they have much more of it than most people do.

It is you that is ranting and raving like a two-month-old that has lost his pacifier.

You do not have your facts right. You are only expecting others to put up rather than you shutting up. You are using this forum to sound intelligent, by ridiculing others for what they are doing. You are doing nothing. Live8's goal was to raise awareness, not solve the problems of Africa. I stand by my opinion in that money will not solve its problems.

Now, you are aware of the problem. What are YOU going to do. Stop bashing those that have chosen to do what they are doing. If you feel that money is what you should be giving, then do so. But no one has to do it because you feel as if they should. You only see the surface, not the whole. Even, as you say, if celebrities are giving of their time and nothing more, they are doing more than you and should be applauded for that and that alone. You bashing them shows your level of understanding. We all know this is about Africa, not Bono, Elton, Madonna, as you again have tried to illustrate to us.

Put up or shut up! When you match what they have done, can you then begin to talk intelligently about them. You are portraying yourself as some globally conscious doogooder, but in the end you are a mindless, media-driven whinner that needs to think before he speaks. Bono and Elton have done more good with their money, name, and appearance(charities and the like) than you will ever do in your lifetime. You don't even come close. For you to complain about how they should spend their money and when is just plain ludicrous.

So when is China going to "forgive" the United States debt? We're the largest debtor nation on the planet.

The United States does not need to have its debt forgiven; it needs to stop overspending, under taxing the mega rich and return to fiscal responsibility/sanity.

I don't feel sorry for the states. I feel more sorry for Canada. Last I heard our debt was around $3,000,000,000,000CND total, unbeknownst to most of us(and anyone). If you divide 3 trillion(American Trillion) by around 32,500,000 people, that's about $92,500 each, which is an incredibly huge $%@&$@ of money.(although a feasible amount, you'll notice, since many people put away about $500,000 before retirement)

Someone from the states I know said their debt was nearing 9 trillion a while ago. I said "get over it". Sorry, but it's true - 9 trillion divided among 325 million people is just $27,500 per person, for comparison.

So that said, just why are they so worried about their debt? Sure, I mean, the Canadian dollar dropped to about half its value, but come on, we're climbing again(or rather, the USD is falling :P ). And we have in-place plans that will elimate our debt before 2150.(ok, yes, that was a joke)

Personally, I think Americans just need to make smarter use of their money....2 cars per family max, no extra homes, no boats, no expensive toys, and road repairs every 3-6 years. Then their debt would be gone in no time. :)

I know what these entertainers can do that would help the cause. They could go into Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and mow down all the despotics with automatic rifles...

Otherwise, all this money that is being raised will go straight to their pockets and their opressive regimes...

Nice thought...but as usual, its symbolism.

Wearing a bracelet and holding hands will do nothing to solve the problem. And blaming the USA or the UK wont either. Blame those who are at fault...the morons "leading" these countries.

Unfortunately, in many cases, those morons were appointed by the USA to get rid of democracies in these countries. The US has done it in several countries to ensure "more friendly relations". I don't remember the exact numbers, but wouldn't be surprised if it was dozens of countries, and that has led to a lot of hate and terrorism. It's not their fault though that their appointed people turn into Saddam's, or hire Osama's...I guess. :P

But hey, I don't know anything about the UK, so I can't take them down or make any comments on their actions.(Other than to say I just saw Doctor Who and think it is a neat show)

Good post. I agree.

yes, you are exactly right! don't give them one cent, but help solve their problems.

Hei, Not only Africa need it.
there is other countries too. such as Indonesia which more suffering after the Tsunami.
if Indonesia can receive it too. it will be great.

Hey Bill if you pay off Africa's debt maybe unsufferable bores like Geldolf and Bono will stop poncing about in a sanctimonious manner, trying to save the Third World from all us greedy capitalist pigs.

As usual, an ignorant response by someone jumping to the conclusion that the folks behind Live 8 were "poncing about in a sanctimonious manner" when the truth of the matter is far different.

In an interview last week, Bono was more than appreciative of European AND U.S. efforts regarding aid to Africa. He also stated that the money will NOT be going to the despot leaders in these countries, since they've learned that lesson the hard way. Instead the money will go to aid groups already established in the areas.

It's not just the politicians they're trying to appeal to either... it's ignorant folks like imafurby and smith288 who don't have a clue what's going on or what the intent of Live 8 is and instead jump to their own misinformed opinions. Actually, uninformed is a better word, since to be misinformed suggests that they actually had an idea of what was going on to begin with, when that is obviously not the case.

Of course, why should anyone care about the demise of all those folks in Africa, when judging by the CNNs, MSNBCs and FOXs of the world we should all be so much more worried that there's a cute white blond girl missing in Aruba?

Ignorant?
Bono spoke directly to the opinion makers and government officials who can help influence the US Government in its G8 stance, and he spoke with the eloquence? of his best songs. "The rest of the world are very suspicious about the G-8 countries, about the industrialised world," he said." They're not sure we have any values....

Those third worlders with their necklacing, hacking off each others limbs, 419 email scams etc, obviously have a right to be suspicious of us, they're so much more superior morally. We'd better send them even more cash, so they'll think more highly of us.

Wake up Polly Anna.

Wow. Massive poverty does not matter to you? In Africa alone about 6000 children die each day. That's about two 9/11's per day.

If that was happening to Americans or Europeans people would be sh**ting kittens.

Err....6000? Your numbers are a little low man. It's much higher than that(although I don't know exactly how high).

I believe that may be from AIDs alone but the number is accurate and was cited by Live 8 organizers.

What amazes me is how so people in the States that claim to be "Christian" cared more about Terry Schiavo and presently, "Freedom in Iraq," than they do about this pandemic.

If you love it so much, why don't you go and live there. Quit preaching this stuff to the rest of us here, who obviously will never agree with you no matter how you try and convince us with all these "facts."

"Despite ongoing antitrust proceedings in Europe, Gates received an immense welcome from a crowd of 250,000. "

Duh, it's the Eurocrats that brought the anti-trust aginst Microsoft, not consumers. Nobody actually WANTS the Mediaplayerless version of XP... It was just a useless waste of Eurocrat time and money..

A media player-less version of XP is crap, they needed to force them to make it and other built in progams optional components instead of making them rip it completely out.

It was just a whine fom Realplayer, as people, for some reason, did not want to load their crappy spyware ridden, system tray hogging media player...

That is cool. Not everybody is a hater I guess.

Yeah, it's nice everybody can set aside their qualms for the doing of good.

I'm guessing that with a crowd of 250,000 people present, the number of obesssive, nerdy computer geeks at a rock concert who may have wanted to boo Bill Gates would have easily been drowned out.

I hope they get crushed in the pit too ;)

Hey! I resemble that remark!

Er...

The pit in Philly was kind of a disappointment.. Maybe the Londoners were more rowdy.