Is it just me,or has this bloke gone completely off his head?At first I thought he was just trying to do his bit,now i'm not so sure.
He has been banging on about Africa for years now,and up to a certain point I agreed with what he was doing.But his latest outburst just makes him out to be a complete buffoon.
he has actively encouraged people to hack into e-bay and cripple their system.If i'm not mistaken,that is an illegal act.

But that is just the tip of the iceberg with this idiot.

For the last few weeks,he has been begging people to go to Scotland and protest at the G8 summit.So he thinks it is fine to cause maximum disruption to local people?

I know he is trying to raise awareness for African people,but how will this help?Why doesn't he expose the real reasons why most African countries are such a state.It's not up to Western taxpayers and charitable donators to provide more funds for despots who run these countries.

That is the reason I will never support Live 8.We can pour money into Africa untill the entire world runs out,and the problems will never end.

But for now,will Geldof please keep his mouth shut,and get off our screens.And he can take his mate Bonio with him.

I think his reaction to the eBay saga was completely over the top. People selling their tickets on eBay doesn't lose the charitable cause any funds whatsoever. Yes, the seller makes a tidy profit but it makes this from someone desperate to go to the concert and not from the charity funds. Furthermore, on the contrary to taking money away from the cause, eBay had promised to donate their commissions from the ticket sales to the cause so it would've meant raising MORE money. A short-sighted, knee jerk reaction by the sandal wearing Sir.

"They DISGUST me"

lol the man is an idiot. Funny to watch him carrying on though :D

Originally posted by uncleheed

But for now,will Geldof please keep his mouth shut,and get off our screens.And he can take his mate Bonio with him.

It's easy to sit there and knock him, and maybe he's not doing things in the best possible way but at least he's doing somthing.

What are you doing to try and improve the world?

Originally posted by Andy
It's easy to sit there and knock him, and maybe he's not doing things in the best possible way but at least he's doing somthing.

What are you doing to try and improve the world?

Not getting in everybodies faces and preaching constantly.

This is my first post on here, and it's a rant! :thumbsup:

But, I agree with what you're saying, Bob Geldoff ****** me off no end.

He also said that the Spice Girls aren't 'big enough' to perform at Live8 and yet it was THEM that everyone was talking about; not any of the other 'big' acts...

Originally posted by Andy
It's easy to sit there and knock him, and maybe he's not doing things in the best possible way but at least he's doing somthing.

What are you doing to try and improve the world?


It's a shame people aren't trying to improve the UK too, isn't it.

Why would Geldof care about this country? He has a big ego / marketing / PR exercise to arrange for the artists involved. Most of the "aid" that actually gets to Africa doesn't actually get to the people who need it after the incompetent and corrupt governments and leaders have taken most of it.

What am I doing? Not much really, since its not my fault.

uncleheed

Is it just me,or has this bloke gone completely off his head?


I think this is you, Bob Geldof has done so much for the plite of Africa. he has help raise awareness and probably saved hundreds of thousands if not millions of people from starvation, disease and poverty!


he has actively encouraged people to hack into e-bay and cripple their system.If i'm not mistaken,that is an illegal act.


He was reacting to people who where trying to profit from his hard work, which is not what this Live 8 is about. If someone didn't want to go to the concert, then why did they apply for tickets if it’s not to try and make a quick buck?


But that is just the tip of the iceberg with this idiot.

For the last few weeks,he has been begging people to go to Scotland and protest at the G8 summit.So he thinks it is fine to cause maximum disruption to local people?


Surely the idiot here is the person who puts the discomfort of a tiny minority above the lives of millions of people!


I know he is trying to raise awareness for African people,but how will this help?Why doesn't he expose the real reasons why most African countries are such a state.It's not up to Western taxpayers and charitable donators to provide more funds for despots who run these countries.


Bob has pointed this out and his pressure is getting results. No country is going to give aid to a country that flaunts human rights and ignores calls to combat corruption. The 18 countries that have now been given debt relief have all worked with the UN and abided by their requests. Subsequently they are reaping now the benefits!


That is the reason I will never support Live 8.We can pour money into Africa untill the entire world runs out,and the problems will never end.

But for now,will Geldof please keep his mouth shut,and get off our screens.And he can take his mate Bonio with him. [/B]

That is your choice, but I would rather hear what is said by a person who has been recognised the world over for his efforts to help the worlds poorest people than to read any more of these kind of selfish whitterings!

Originally posted by Hook
Not getting in everybodies faces and preaching constantly.
Wow. How many lives has that saved then? You know I'm really sick of this new trend of laying into Geldof, a man who does more for others in a morning than most people will manage in their whole lives. And this whole "I'm not giving money because it will just goes to African dictators" crap is in the most part just a smokescreen to make people feel better about the fact that they are doing nothing to help people that are starving to death. Geldof and his clan have been vocal about promoting political and social reform in Africa, this isn't intended as a band aid (no pun intended) to fix an immediate disaster like Live Aid was, it has long term goals to help a continent. The guy may have foot in mouth disease, but that is because the guy has passion. Passion for the poor, passion for the sick and starving, for people he has never met.
If you don't believe Live8 will help - get out your wallet and donate to MSF (http://www.msf.org). If you're not prepared to do even that, shut your noise.
Here endeth my rant.

Bob and many others just want World Peace and an end to Poverty....what do we do...start ranting...be happy (http://www.barry.fireflyinternet.co.uk/fun/files/be_happy.swf)

:D

Another thing that annoys me is the fact that these celebs roll up to press conferences in their chauffeur driven Bentleys and plead to the general population, who probably earn in a year what they do in a few days, to give more and more to charity.

Mr Bloody Africa - Jan 05

Bob Geldof is sick of his African connections. Political activist Bob Geldof has told press that he is "sick of being Mr bloody Africa." He went on to complain that "Africa bores me profoundly," and that he and U2 frontman Bono get more press for their work with Africa than for their music. The full rant can be read in the Radio Times. :o

Originally posted by Jon
Mr Bloody Africa - Jan 05

Bob Geldof is sick of his African connections. Political activist Bob Geldof has told press that he is "sick of being Mr bloody Africa." He went on to complain that "Africa bores me profoundly," and that he and U2 frontman Bono get more press for their work with Africa than for their music. The full rant can be read in the Radio Times. :o

Beware of libel - you never know who's reading.

I'm sorry, I haven't read all this thread, but....

I can't understand why all the tickets weren't ebayed in the first place :confused:

I cannot comprehend why the whole chabang is free

I don't need to hear for the squillionth time 'It's to raise awareness' coz the whole situation was entirely predictable :rant:

And given the security available for Glastonbury tickets - this shoud have been the case here. Or could that not happen because you can't charge £0 to a credit card :roll:

I think the reasoning was that by texting to enter a draw for tickets, everyone could have a chance of winning the tickets rather than just those who could afford the hundreds that they could've charged for them. The sheer volume of text entries was predicted to raise just as much but give a more "fair" distribution. They obviously didn't think of the eBay factor though, which as I have outlined above, I can't see the problem with.

They could make them 'collection on the door' - just to make it more awkward :D

I think an event where you could throw wet sponges at Geldof would work much better. I'd pay hundreds for the chance.

I'll buy those off you! :clap:

Originally posted by chill
If you don't believe Live8 will help - get out your wallet and donate to MSF (http://www.msf.org). If you're not prepared to do even that, shut your noise.
Here endeth my rant.

I donate to MSF on a fairly frequent basis. I donate large amounts of money but I don't shout about it. I don't shout about the money I donate to anything, and I don't shout about the work I do.

For four years of my secondary education I volunteered for a twinning association, taking kids on youth camps and exchanges around Europe, I set up a national twinning website to help raise awareness (which has since met it's demise after I left). We hosted a Youth Camp up in the area which I live and raised £10 000. After the Tsuami at Christmas we pursuaded the owner of the company who I work for at home to donate the entire tips the company collected during Christmas week to be matched by the company and donated to the help in recovery effort. It raised about £15 000.

I personally do a lot of work, I don't shout about it, I don't want publicity for it, and I don't want people to know how much money I donate.

I object to sending money that doesn't end up in the right hands, and doesn't do a lot to solving the end problems. I don't want to give money to be distributed to countries to see fit how they want to. I'll donate to MSF because they actually do good with the money, they're on the ground doing something. Geldof does little other than to raise his own self-profile. At the moment The Boomtown Rats are taking legal action against him because they believe he's been withholding royalities. If it's proven correct he's obviously been so busy with his charity work he must have forgotten to pay his co-stars.

Don't lecture me because I disagree with his methods, his reasoning and the fact it's constantly drummed into our heads, and that if we disagree we're doing the world an injustice.

The white wristbands and the TV adverts are plenty enough. We don't need Geldof getting on his highhorse constantly. There's no way in hell he couldn't have predicted tickets going on ebay, it happens all the time and it's known around the music world, yet did we hear any warnings beforehand? No. He's spent all day complaining about it so much ebay have finally removed all the auctions, and now he's demanding ebay apologise to the poor people in Africa.

He proper winds me up, ALL THE TIME! Just as much as you did. UGH.

Originally posted by Strix
I'm sorry, I haven't read all this thread, but....

I can't understand why all the tickets weren't ebayed in the first place :confused:

I cannot comprehend why the whole chabang is free

I don't need to hear for the squillionth time 'It's to raise awareness' coz the whole situation was entirely predictable :rant:

Good points!

Don't forget the man is very media savvy.

He is doing this anti e-bay thing to raise awareness again. (Do you not remember his rantings about i-tunes selling 'Band Aid '04)?

In this case all news is good news. Look at how the subject is still at the top of the agenda (despite MJ being found innocent).

The man is only doing his job.

Do tell me if I'm missing the point of cancelling the African debts.

If most of the countries are not paying it off how can the cancellation benefit the African people.

It may help a few dictators to fund wars or line their own pockets but surely the aid programmes that directly help starvation or build new infrastructures and assist farming methods are a better way of helping.

In my Geldorf and his mates should be more involved in raising money to see this happen instead of fronting self centred activities.

Originally posted by PopT
Do tell me if I'm missing the point of cancelling the African debts.

If most of the countries are not paying it off how can the cancellation benefit the African people.
.

This is something i was a bit unsure of too. I know it's simplifying it but surely the monthly repayments are more of an issue for freeing up immediate money than the total debt? How much are they actually repaying at the moment? If the payments aren't being made anyway and intrest is just increasing, it doesn't actually have a direct effect on available cash flow.

I don't know the answers, but are African governments really looking at plans for providing villages with water and eletricity and then going "no, going to have to put that one on hold, we've this loan to repay."?

Still undecided on the whole africa/geldoph/aid/g8 muddle.

-PK-

Cannot help being shocked my some of the selfish and retarded comments on this thread.

I can go with Bono being anal but Geldof is doing more than we could probably achieve collectively.

The idea of trying to raise his own profile being his motivator is just ridiculous.

Originally posted by PopT
Do tell me if I'm missing the point of cancelling the African debts.

If most of the countries are not paying it off how can the cancellation benefit the African people.

It may help a few dictators to fund wars or line their own pockets but surely the aid programmes that directly help starvation or build new infrastructures and assist farming methods are a better way of helping.

In my Geldorf and his mates should be more involved in raising money to see this happen instead of fronting self centred activities.

I expect Mercedes and BMW will be receiving some lucrative orders pretty soon from those African heads of state now their debts have been cleared.

The S Class production line will be working overtime - especially the section fitting the bullet-proof body panels ;)

I have always disliked Geldof for his oafish, hectoring ways and arrogant, surly demeanour. I have never been able to see the slightest merit in any of his musical/theatrical offerings either. I have little time for his global exercises in self-promotion too. Perhaps beneath the grimy, uncouth exterior there beats a 'good heart', but his ideas are utopian and unrealistic. Until, as Mojo indicates, the corrupt governance of African countries changes to something resembling democracy, then giving money and cancelling debts seems utterly pointless.

Why should the situation re African governments change anyway? Who are we in the West to meddle in their affairs, and expect them to adopt our norms, values and political system? Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, has always been a brutal, squalid place, viewed through any lens, never mind through my 'white, middle class, European' one. Africans have always warred, oppressed and colonised each other without any help from Arab and European interventions. It is time we stopped patronising the diverse population of this Continent. We treat them like wayward children, instead of expecting them to take charge and responsibility for their own affairs. It is too late to blame colonialism now. As for the 'colonialism' of the multi-national companies like Shell- everyone in the global network of production and exchange is subject to that, not just 'poor Africans'.

Yes, Geldof is an example of what Graham Greene referred to in 'The Quiet American' [though Geldof is neither quiet nor American]; he is the kind of person who always has the 'best reasons' for all the trouble he causes, whether it be the ludicrous 'Dunkirk' quip or his latest fatuous comments re E Bay.

Originally posted by Hook
I do a lot of work for charity but don't like to talk about it, yadda yadda yadda
That rant wasn't aimed at you Hook, sorry if I made it look like it was.

Originally posted by timo
I have always disliked Geldof for his oafish, hectoring ways and arrogant, surly demeanour. I have never been able to see the slightest merit in any of his musical/theatrical offerings either. I have little time for his global exercises in self-promotion too. Perhaps beneath the grimy, uncouth exterior there beats a 'good heart', but his ideas are utopian and unrealistic. Until, as Mojo indicates, the corrupt governance of African countries changes to something resembling democracy, then giving money and cancelling debts seems utterly pointless.

Why should the situation re African governments change anyway? Who are we in the West to meddle in their affairs, and expect them to adopt our norms, values and political system? Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, has always been a brutal, squalid place, viewed through any lens, never mind through my 'white, middle class, European' one. Africans have always warred, oppressed and colonised each other without any help from Arab and European interventions. It is time we stopped patronising the diverse population of this Continent. We treat them like wayward children, instead of expecting them to take charge and responsibility for their own affairs. It is too late to blame colonialism now. As for the 'colonialism' of the multi-national companies like Shell- everyone in the global network of production and exchange is subject to that, not just 'poor Africans'.

Yes, Geldof is an example of what Graham Greene referred to in 'The Quiet American' [though Geldof is neither quiet nor American]; he is the kind of person who always has the 'best reasons' for all the trouble he causes, whether it be the ludicrous 'Dunkirk' quip or his latest fatuous comments re E Bay.

Well said Timo,

The reverential and respectful tone we are supposed to adopt in response to the outpourings and antics of this presumptuous clown is in my view severely misplaced. He may well have good intentions, but as we all know the road to hell is paved with these. He may be simply an ego on legs, finding a way of backing into the limelight. But regardless of his motives, he is peddling false nostrums. It is one thing to tap into the enormous fund of goodwill and guilt feelings in the West. It is quite another to put forward superficial, and in many cases counterproductive, 'solutions', however many headlines they grab, and regardless of whether or not they are on the agendas of the G8 and other global fora. Emotive slogans buttressed by highly dubious and misleading statistics won't solve Africa's problems - nor will the three nostrums currently being peddled by Geldof and swallowed hook line and sinker by his followers - i.e. debt relief, trade terms and aid. Without a fundamental change in the social infrastructures of African countries, any changes made to the above policies will have minimal effect. Geldof is more realistic and perhaps a little wiser than he was 20 years ago - but not by very much.

Thankyou Lord C, for your kind words there, and excellent comments re the 'presumptuous clown'. Actually, as vituperative invective, that phrase of yours scores very high marks indeed. I am only worried that posters might start to think that Timo and Lord Chaverly are the same person, or even clones!

You are correct in my view re the problems of infrastructure in Africa. Until they can be solved, and I am not optimistic, the situation will continue. Perhaps the answer lies partly in better education, but who is to pay for it? We in the West or 'North' as some call it, will be expected to pay the bills.

Whether you like him or not, Live8 is a great event of awareness. If every single one of the countries at G8 cut the third world debt, not only would the quality of living in these third world countries be substantially better, but, just as the people living in these nations would find a better quality of life, Bob Geldof MIGHT just find a bloody razor, for once... :hihi:

Originally posted by Apollo_C
Whether you like him or not, Live8 is a great event of awareness. If every single one of the countries at G8 cut the third world debt, not only would the quality of living in these third world countries be substantially better, but, just as the people living in these nations would find a better quality of life, Bob Geldof MIGHT just find a bloody razor, for once... :hihi:

I disagree. Most of the money will never see the people who it needs to help, Africa is a corrupt country and the money tends to find it's way towards the 'owners' of the countries who guzzle it for their own consumption.

Some countries it will help, and some African countries are desperatly working hide to rid themselves of corruption, but they are few and far between. Until the underlying problem is resolved, the money won't even affect those who really need it.

Well, Timo, when the subject of doppelgangers was discussed a while back, I did suggest that you were my doppelganger on this forum (or vice versa).

Yes, education would be one possible improvement, if pursued in conjunction with many other things. The productive capacity of most African countries is currently abysmal. Without social and political stability (meant in its broadest sense), and without a significant change in the mentality with regard to means of wealth creation, individual responsibility and work disciplines, the productive capacity of most African countries is likely to remain limited at best. The example of the development path pursued by Asian Tiger economies is probably not a good one, because these countries were to a large extent imbued with a Confucian ethic eminently suited to the operation of a market economy. The nostrums peddled by Geldof will probably inhibit, rather than be conducive to, the changes in social, economic and political infrastructures so desparately needed by African countries.

Just off topic slightly, but I wonder how much cash Sir Bob and Bono have actually shelled out of their collective wallets for this event + also donating in the past...

And they tell us to keep on doing it??

I want proof that sir bob and the rest of the celebs actually gets there cash out and puts into these events... they I will whole heartedly support everything they do.

But for now... No thanks.

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Just off topic slightly, but I wonder how much cash Sir Bob and Bono have actually shelled out of their collective wallets for this event + also donating in the past...

And they tell us to keep on doing it??

I want proof that sir bob and the rest of the celebs actually gets there cash out and puts into these events... they I will whole heartedly support everything they do.

But for now... No thanks.

Well, someones gotta pay for the tofu filled hospitality buffet backstage... :hihi:

That'd be the public and or the government then.

I just wanna see proof that these celebs are actually putting their money where their mouths are.. and actually donating.

Then I would be glad to donate quite freely.

Originally posted by ANGELUS
That'd be the public and or the government then.

I just wanna see proof that these celebs are actually putting their money where their mouths are.. and actually donating.

Then I would be glad to donate quite freely.

Especially since they stand to make money from performing whether they're paid or not. Everytime Bob Geldof opens his gob somebody goes out and buys one of his or the Boomtown Rats albums, and it appears he's not paying royalities to the rest of the Rats and keeping them for himself :rant:

All the other acts will be sure to see sales increase as a result of their participation, yet I don't see any promises of the earnings being donated to charity. It's been mentioned in various circles of the media and there's still been no response to it - yet as soon as Damon Albarn moaned about the lack of 'black' acts on the bill, they added Snoop Dogg and Miss Dynamite. C'mon on stars, put ya money where ya mouth is!

I mean... the celebs on the list are worth hundreds of millions of quid... especially Bono and Robbie Williams and coldplay arent short of a few bob either.

Surely robbie could dip into his wallet and say donate £1m to the charity?? He'll earn probably triple that next year.

And so will bono and so will coldplay.

Heck- most of them will, so say 20celebs paid in - thats £20m right there!!

Sorted.

Originally posted by ANGELUS
I mean... the celebs on the list are worth hundreds of millions of quid... especially Bono and Robbie Williams and coldplay arent short of a few bob either.

Surely robbie could dip into his wallet and say donate £1m to the charity?? He'll earn probably triple that next year.

And so will bono and so will coldplay.

Heck- most of them will, so say 20celebs paid in - thats £20m right there!!

Sorted.

FWIW: Robbie does a lot of charity work, especially in his home town of Stoke, he just doesn't shout about it because he doesn't want it to be seen as a publicity stunt!

most of you lot seem to be a bunch of cynical retards

Originally posted by venger
most of you lot seem to be a bunch of cynical retards

And the topic degenerates into personal insults. :loopy:

Originally posted by venger
most of you lot seem to be a bunch of cynical retards

A long and well argued point there... *Cough* :hihi:

Originally posted by venger
most of you lot seem to be a bunch of cynical retards

Are you my mummy??

Originally posted by Hook
And the topic degenerates into personal insults. :loopy:

A general opinion I think you will find.

Originally posted by Apollo_C
A long and well argued point there... *Cough* :hihi:

Don't want to waste my time.

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Are you my mummy??

No mate, meet your Dad ;)

Does bob geldof not relise that we also have poor people in the UK people living rough, children who are forced to leave their home because of violence etc. Also if one not so well off family sell tickets for live 8 and make a grand so they can buy there kids new clothes or take them to the cinima why should they have to be called "f'ing disgrace"

Just because bob geldof doesnt have to get up and go to work and can spend money on raising awareness for africa, amsure alot of people would love to do charity work but its a bit hard when your working 6 days a week he is in touch with africa but out of touch with his own country.

If you don't want to waste your time, why post at all? :hihi:

Originally posted by venger
No mate, meet your Dad ;)

Touche :)

Originally posted by venger
A general opinion I think you will find.


Just because I disagree with your opinion does not take away my right to have my own opinion, and it certainly gives you no right to label me as a 'retard' because I think there may be other, possibly better alternatives to Africa other than declaring that writing off their debt would solve all their problems.

I don't agree with Bob Geldof's simple solutions, and I don't agree with some of his methods and beliefs. That doesn't make me a retard, but if you wish to believe I am one feel free - except without differering beliefs and opinions we'd never get anywhere in this world.

Originally posted by Hook
Just because I disagree with your opinion does not take away my right to have my own opinion, and it certainly gives you no right to label me as a 'retard' because I think there may be other, possibly better alternatives to Africa other than declaring that writing off their debt would solve all their problems.

I don't agree with Bob Geldof's simple solutions, and I don't agree with some of his methods and beliefs. That doesn't make me a retard, but if you wish to believe I am one feel free - except without differering beliefs and opinions we'd never get anywhere in this world.

Word, Rog.... :D

Originally posted by f_g
Does bob geldof not relise that we also have poor people in the UK people living rough, children who are forced to leave their home because of violence etc.


Yes there are poor people in the UK, I am a firm believer in charity begins at home. But these people are not dying of starvation, being killed by easily curable diseases or conscripted into Armies at the age of 12. Every person in the UK has access to free education and healthcare!

In Africa over one million children die each year from measles?

Put it in contexts, Africa needs help, no matter what you say or how retarded :D you are!

Originally posted by serapis
Yes there are poor people in the UK, I am a firm believer in charity begins at home. But these people are not dying of starvation, being killed by easily curable diseases or conscripted into Armies at the age of 12. Every person in the UK has access to free education and healthcare!

In Africa over one million children die each year from measles?

Put it in contexts, Africa needs help, no matter what you say or how retarded :D you are!

Im not being nasty or owt but Africa has been needing aid for years now and how much have we raised collectively over the years for them.

Its gotta be over £100m easy.. and they are still in the ****??
How come.

Why havent they sorted themselves out?

So why should we really have to fork out for them again when it didnt work in the first place.

Originally posted by serapis
Yes there are poor people in the UK, I am a firm believer in charity begins at home. But these people are not dying of starvation, being killed by easily curable diseases or conscripted into Armies at the age of 12. Every person in the UK has access to free education and healthcare!

In Africa over one million children die each year from measles?

Put it in contexts, Africa needs help, no matter what you say or how retarded :D you are!

If I'm retarded, then I must need some help too. But do you see Geldof doing "Ap[ollo Aid"? Do you buggery!!! :hihi:

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Im not being nasty or owt but Africa has been needing aid for years now and how much have we raised collectively over the years for them.

Its gotta be over £100m easy.. and they are still in the ****??
How come.

Why havent they sorted themselves out?

So why should we really have to fork out for them again when it didnt work in the first place.

You have got to understand this is different to the Band Aid days. Bob is not asking for your money, he is asking for the worlds richest countries to cancel the debt. This debt has been with them for years and is crippling their economies. If we cancel it, they will in real terms have more money to spend on their own people and to invest in disease control etc.

This is about giving them the chance to sort it out them selves. Not a quick fix lump sum. The £100s of millions that has been given to these nations pales in comparison to the £1 Billion + they are paying in debt repayments!

Originally posted by Apollo_C
If I'm retarded, then I must need some help too. But do you see Geldof doing "Ap[ollo Aid"? Do you buggery!!! :hihi:

Notice the ":D", I was poking fun at a previous comment. It wasn't meant to offend!

Again no offence intended.

America does not give a crap about cancelling its debts.. I think George Bush makes that quite clear.. thats why its taken so long until now.

Africa I reckon is going to keep the same way unfortunately, because of the people that govern the land.

Even if you got rid of all world debt, there is a tin-pot dictator lording it over the people using the aid cash to buy weapons or summat useless like that.

All the money will never go to the people that need it most and no amount of large charity fundraisers or events is going to change it for the time being- I hope it will some day- but also, and Im going off topic for a second- It never will change the aids situation as long as the pope is going round saying dont use condoms, so africa is probably going to stay in a mess for a long long time.

Back to topic:

Originally posted by serapis
You have got to understand this is different to the Band Aid days. Bob is not asking for your money, he is asking for the worlds richest countries to cancel the debt. This debt has been with them for years and is crippling their economies. If we cancel it, they will in real terms have more money to spend on their own people and to invest in disease control etc.

This is about giving them the chance to sort it out them selves. Not a quick fix lump sum. The £100s of millions that has been given to these nations pales in comparison to the £1 Billion + they are paying in debt repayments!

Another obvious example of a bogus statistic (the current Geldof campaign is full of them). The amount of aid given to Africa by the World Bank, IMF, the UN agencies, the Western nations and by the EU through its development programmes totals hundreds of billions (not millions) of dollars and far outweighs the sums for debt relief payments.

Originally posted by serapis
Notice the ":D", I was poking fun at a previous comment. It wasn't meant to offend!

None taken, but I still want "Apollo Aid"... :hihi:

Originally posted by Apollo_C
None taken, but I still want "Apollo Aid"... :hihi:

Only if I can have "Angelus Aid" as well.... methinks!
:hihi:

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Only if I can have "Angelus Aid" as well.... methinks!
:hihi:

My Hook would like some aid too :heyhey:

Tell you what I'll do to make this whole charity fundraising thing fair..

You all give me a couple of million/billion quid and I'll gladly swanny over to africa and sort them all out myself.. promise!

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Only if I can have "Angelus Aid" as well.... methinks!
:hihi:

You can see old Geldof the Grey Now... "Without money, these people can't afford the broadband bills to put slightly dodgy and humourous comments on Sheffield Forum... Give everything that you can..." :hihi:

Originally posted by Apollo_C
You can see old Geldof the Grey Now... "Without money, these people can't afford the broadband bills to put slightly dodgy and humourous comments on Sheffield Forum... Give everything that you can..." :hihi:

Loving it!! :hihi:

"Pay the bills... Do they know its BROADBAND time?" :P

The cancelling of the debts will send out a clear message to African tyrants, despots and demented bloody fools in government that they may do as they wish. The countries of the 'North', at the command of a self-righteous, third-rate musical entertainer will pick up the bill. How ludicrous!

In the case of the corruptly-governed, economic cripple that is Zimbabwe, we should be sending the Parachute Regiment to defend our terrorised British kith and kin there, never mind aid.

Originally posted by timo
In the case of the corruptly-governed, economic cripple that is Zimbabwe, we should be sending the Parachute Regiment to defend our terrorised British kith and kin there, never mind aid.

This would never have happened in the days of the Empire, etc, etczzzzzzzzzzz

Tony Parsons Daily Mirror 13th June 2005

I AM so sick of the pious certainties of self-righteous bores like Bono.

At the weekend the blessed saint of U2 was emoting all over the telly about how the sights he had seen in Africa stopped him sleeping at night, as though a starving child somehow disturbs him more than it does anyone else.
Then why don't you do some real good and give away your fortune, you hypocrite?

The entire Live Aid project raised £60million.

You must have at least twice that amount stashed away, mullet man.
Give it to the poor of Africa, Bono! It would be a far more noble gesture than getting in your pulpit.

If only we could make virtuous rock stars history!

We throw money at Africa and it goes into the pockets of the cynical few.
"We must trust the leaders of Africa," some sappy liberal said on TV yesterday.
But if the history of post-colonial Africa has taught us anything, it's that African leaders can be trusted about as far as you can throw their private jets.

Dandy,
Frankly, it would not happen in the days of the empire. Isn't it rather shameful that Blair has allowed ethnic Britons to be robbed, raped, beaten, and in some cases tortured and murdered in Zimbabwe? Surely foreign policy should be calculated in British interests. If we can meddle in the affairs of Iraq, we should be able to rescue our own people from tyrants like Mugabe. Maybe we are taking the thread away from Geldof here, but I don't see why you associate my suggestion with a Blimpish longing for the days of the British Empire.

By the way, is your surname Dinmont by any chance?

What i'm getting at really, is this: although there's no doubt in my mind that Mugabe is an evil and ruthless man, the rape and murder and land seizure and displacement is just one of the very many examples of a tragedy that is happening all over the world. But virtually all others go unreported in this country because they're happening to black people, not ethnic Britons.

The empire comment was due to my being reminded of some of the reporting on Zimbabwe in the Telegraph which has a misty-eyed nostalgia for the old ways where only the whites really know how to rule Africa about it.

Hope that makes sense.

And nope, i'm not a Dinmont!

Just to clear up one misconception - Midge Ure is the co-organsier as such, not Bono. Midge has never got the recognition he deserves - if it wasn't for him, there would have been no Band Aid.

Originally posted by Richman
Just to clear up one misconception - Midge Ure is the co-organsier as such, not Bono. Midge has never got the recognition he deserves - if it wasn't for him, there would have been no Band Aid.

Midge is going about it in the right way.He devotes alot of his time to the cause,and doesn't feel the need to remind people what he is doing.Geldof is looking for any excuse to get his picture in the papers,or a soundbite on the news.Bonio is just an arse.I bet he isn't giving any of the gate money up from his latest tour.
Plus,off topic,did anyone know that you can buy 'retro' tour shirts at the current U2 gigs for a whopping £70?

Originally posted by timo

Frankly, it would not happen in the days of the empire.

No,it probably would have happened.It just would have been US nicking peoples lands,raping etc,etc...

Originally posted by timo
The cancelling of the debts will send out a clear message to African tyrants, despots and demented bloody fools in government that they may do as they wish. The countries of the 'North', at the command of a self-righteous, third-rate musical entertainer will pick up the bill. How ludicrous!

In the case of the corruptly-governed, economic cripple that is Zimbabwe, we should be sending the Parachute Regiment to defend our terrorised British kith and kin there, never mind aid. at last,a positive answer,once the dictators have been toppled we turn the whole country into a collective farm,thus feeding the hungry,we then invade the neighbours and do the same to them after ten years africa becomes self sufficient,end of problem,i can see it now,secure hospitals,schools universities, arms bans in return for a house and a job,utopia.........if only

Grrrrr. Sir Bob asks people to put in stupid bids for the tickets that were on sale on e-bay and what thanks do they get ? Their e-bay accounts suspended ! Oh, and of course the tickets were removed from sale from e-bay anyhow.

All this from a guy who said he wasnt gonna do another Live Aid concert just a month or two back and then does Live 8.... :loopy:

:hihi: Sail 8 only Bob would come up with that idea. You have to wonder if he gets most of his ideas while on drugs :gag:

Unfortunatly Bob Geldof wont go away. He is certainly raising the profile of issues in africa but he is also raising his own profile at the same time. He is using it to stay in the public eye and anoy us all.

If the afican debts were cancelled whats the first thing you would expect an afican dictator to do. Ask the IMF for another big loan it cant afford and spend it on a shiny new fleet of tanks and some AK47's. Geldof would be back for live aid 16 to raise more money to relieve the new Africa debts ... and so on.

Well the recent kerfuffle has raised my awareness to the extent of prompting me to get meself a copy of a book about post-colonial African history (I try not to have opinions about things I don't know much about), and I guess Bob Geldof has something to do with that.

But I don't think that having some old guys sing dull pop songs at me is going to raise my awareness any further. Though allying themselves to the cause might well sell them a few CDs, and after all consumerism is what makes the capitalist world go round ...

Depoix,
Your sarcastic posting caused me great merriment, so much so that I accidentally spilled my Earl Grey. You razor-tongued rascal!

You really do not understand what I am advocating here. When I suggest it is a good idea to send in the Parachute Regiment to protect British kith and kin in Mugabe's Zimbabwe, I am doing so because it is in British national interests to protect our own people. In ethnic terms, the farmers are our own people. My views are the expression of a paleo-conservative philosophy, which favours foreign policy calculated in British interests.

Not in a billion years, dear heart, would I ever suggest that we 'turn everything into a collective farm' thus 'feeding the hungry', and then go on to 'invade the neighbours'. You mistake me for some sort of neo-conservative. As a Burkean Tory, I am a very reluctant collectivist in the first place. Secondly, I am the last person on God's earth who would advocate utopian panaceas, international idealism. I am firmly against meddling in the affairs of foreign countries, which is why I am so opposed to the debacle that is Iraq [or, as I prefer to call it, the unpleasantness in Mesopotamia]. Sending in the Parachute Regiment would be in British interests because it involves British kith and kin. All I advocate is the rescue of our people. Let the Zimbabweans solve their own problems, now they have taken back 'their land'.

As I say earlier, I have no solution to African problems, of which greed and improvidence on behalf of those supposed to provide governance, and cultural/educational backwardness on behalf of the general populations are major causal variables. I do not advocate Western aid to Africa, and think that it is high time we stopped treating Africans like maladjusted, wayward children. They must stand on their own feet, and take charge of their own affairs. Hopefully, this makes my position clear.

Originally posted by uncleheed
Is it just me,or has this bloke gone completely off his head?At first I thought he was just trying to do his bit,now i'm not so sure.
He has been banging on about Africa for years now,and up to a certain point I agreed with what he was doing.But his latest outburst just makes him out to be a complete buffoon.
he has actively encouraged people to hack into e-bay and cripple their system.If i'm not mistaken,that is an illegal act.

But that is just the tip of the iceberg with this idiot.

For the last few weeks,he has been begging people to go to Scotland and protest at the G8 summit.So he thinks it is fine to cause maximum disruption to local people?

I know he is trying to raise awareness for African people,but how will this help?Why doesn't he expose the real reasons why most African countries are such a state.It's not up to Western taxpayers and charitable donators to provide more funds for despots who run these countries.

That is the reason I will never support Live 8.We can pour money into Africa untill the entire world runs out,and the problems will never end.

But for now,will Geldof please keep his mouth shut,and get off our screens.And he can take his mate Bonio with him.

he aint been on the telly for 20 years he needs to feel famous again

I think i've worked him out.He's after the job of next pope.

Originally posted by timo
Depoix,
Your sarcastic posting caused me great merriment, so much so that I accidentally spilled my Earl Grey. You razor-tongued rascal!

You really do not understand what I am advocating here. When I suggest it is a good idea to send in the Parachute Regiment to protect British kith and kin in Mugabe's Zimbabwe, I am doing so because it is in British national interests to protect our own people. In ethnic terms, the farmers are our own people. My views are the expression of a paleo-conservative philosophy, which favours foreign policy calculated in British interests.

Not in a billion years, dear heart, would I ever suggest that we 'turn everything into a collective farm' thus 'feeding the hungry', and then go on to 'invade the neighbours'. You mistake me for some sort of neo-conservative. As a Burkean Tory, I am a very reluctant collectivist in the first place. Secondly, I am the last person on God's earth who would advocate utopian panaceas, international idealism. I am firmly against meddling in the affairs of foreign countries, which is why I am so opposed to the debacle that is Iraq [or, as I prefer to call it, the unpleasantness in Mesopotamia]. Sending in the Parachute Regiment would be in British interests because it involves British kith and kin. All I advocate is the rescue of our people. Let the Zimbabweans solve their own problems, now they have taken back 'their land'.

As I say earlier, I have no solution to African problems, of which greed and improvidence on behalf of those supposed to provide governance, and cultural/educational backwardness on behalf of the general populations are major causal variables. I do not advocate Western aid to Africa, and think that it is high time we stopped treating Africans like maladjusted, wayward children. They must stand on their own feet, and take charge of their own affairs. Hopefully, this makes my position clear. err, could you run that past me again please ?:banana:

Jeez he's announced another three gigs. How many do they need ?

whilst I think the man is a tit and has his own personal reasons for doinbg things he has at the very least put the problem in the tabloid infested public domain.

if one pesron realises the issues from his rants then the world is a slightly better place.

Depoix,
'Run it past you again'?! I'm exhausted after the first ruddy effort! LOL.

Originally posted by uncleheed
Is it just me,or has this bloke gone completely off his head?
For the last few weeks,he has been begging people to go to Scotland and protest at the G8 summit.So he thinks it is fine to cause maximum disruption to local people?
That is the reason I will never support Live 8.We can pour money into Africa untill the entire world runs out,and the problems will never end.
But for now,will Geldof please keep his mouth shut,and get off our screens.And he can take his mate Bonio with him.
Are you a complete and utter fool or what?? BOB GELDOF has done more for the pooriest human beings on this planet, than any other human, and you call him........ shame on you!! So whats so wrong with wanting a better planet for us to live on, and helping to feed the millions that are starving.......

PATHETIC!!

what type of low life sells his ticket on e-bay to proffit from the poor??:rant:

Madowl,
Please do not refer to your fellow poster, Uncleheed in such an offensive manner. Many, including myself, concur with his view of Geldof and the futility of 'throwing money' at the African problems. Rather than being 'a complete and utter fool', Uncleheed has proved himself to be a perceptive, insightful poster. Let us conduct the debate in a courteous manner.

Originally posted by timo
Madowl,
Please do not refer to your fellow poster, Uncleheed in such an offensive manner. Many, including myself, concur with his view of Geldof and the futility of 'throwing money' at the African problems. Rather than being 'a complete and utter fool', Uncleheed has proved himself to be a perceptive, insightful poster. Let us conduct the debate in a courteous manner.

I have changed my camp.

I am now with you guys on this one.

Mod. Note

Please chill out, folks.

Keep the discussion relevant and without mudslinging.

Joe

To lighten the mood....

http://www.ukdragon.com/b3ta/wonka8.jpg

:)

Originally posted by madowl
what type of low life sells his ticket on e-bay to proffit from the poor??:rant:

They wouldn't be profiting from the poor, they'd be profiting from the rich who could afford to buy the tickets off them. The charitable cause wouldn't have lost out on any money at all - the seller still had to make the premium rate text messages to enter the draw for tickets, and additionally eBay were going to donate all sales commission and listing fees from the tickets to the charity, so far from profiting from the poor, the poor would've profited from the rich.

Originally posted by t020
They wouldn't be profiting from the poor, they'd be profiting from the rich who could afford to buy the tickets off them. The charitable cause wouldn't have lost out on any money at all - the seller still had to make the premium rate text messages to enter the draw for tickets, and additionally eBay were going to donate all sales commission and listing fees from the tickets to the charity, so far from profiting from the poor, the poor would've profited from the rich.

Well said t020