Sir Bob's LIVE 8 agenda?

Victor · 07-06-2005, 05:40 AM

I heard an opinion from someone that has spent a good deal of time in West Africa on and off since '85. He’s convinced that cancelling outstanding loans these governments owe the US and other contributing nations is NOT going to put one single piece of bread into a hungry person's mouth nor will it open the doors for these governments to pave a single road or open one more clinic.

Further to this he thinks the only thing debt relief will do for African nations is allow their greedy corrupt leaders to have more disposable income for themselves.

Couldn’t help thinking he has a point. Is anyone else here asking themselves what Bob and Live 8 really trying to achieve?

Getting Pink Floyd back together was worth it though.

legion · 07-06-2005, 05:51 AM

That's a very valid point.

What would help would be overthrow the governments and help to establish democracies in Africa. That won't happen because for the most part, the African dictators are no threat to us. Also, real democracy needs to come from within, right? So if we help the corrupt dictators get more powerful, to the point that the average citizen can no longer tolerate it and decide to revolt, we are really helping to establish democracy in Africa? But then the people of Africa hate us for helping them by making them hate their corrupt leaders by helping them.

We can't win no matter what we do.

Hugh R · 07-06-2005, 02:03 PM

Before I'd forgive a loan, I'd want to know exactly where the loaned money went in the first place. Swiss bank accounts I'll bet.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

argh, he just got nominated for the peace prize in '06. The nobel peace prize officially means nothing.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

They need to rename Live 8 to Raise Your Taxes so that the goal is clearer.

legion · 07-07-2005, 05:15 AM

This is a finely-tuned approach, not blind idealism.

See, this article proves it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20050706/cm_usatoday/afterfailuresbackersofafricaaidchangetheirtune;_yl t=AiE3kt6OdoUk5XZhirdHnTqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3YWFzYn A2BHNlYwM3NDI-

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

I satnd to be corrected, but just what did the last project "BandAid" achieve? It doesn't appear anything has changed since the eighties. Arguably, things have gotten worse in places like Zimbabwe...

Victor · 07-08-2005, 02:58 AM

Well, Bob got a knighthood out of it Live Aid. Maybe the Queen will send him a bottle of shampoo this time?

gavinlit · 07-08-2005, 04:56 AM

Clippers would be a better pressie.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

There was an Op-Ed piece in the LA Times yesterday in which the author questioned the ability of a bunch of aging rockers to come up with a solution for famine in Africa that has evaded generations of policy makers. The concept that you can feed 2,000 Africans for the price of a Big Mac is way too far fetched. His solution was to take the G-8 jillions 2 hire mercenaries 4 the overthrow of the 6 most thuggish regimes( to include Pres.Bashir in Sudan and Mugabe in Zimbabwe ) These are the guys who have turned a once prosperous land into genocide and famine.

ckissick · 07-08-2005, 03:44 PM

The more aid you send to Africa, the worse the situation gets. A high level Kenyan (who is not corrupt), said of the latest concert, "For God's sake, don't send us any more money!" It just makes them lazy and dependent on the corrupt government. Just like welfare over here.

By far the best read on this topic is a book called "Dark Star Safari" by Paul Theroux. It's highly informative as well as entertaining.