LIVE 8

I agree with you about the corruption in Africa. However, if we don't do anything that won't help either. Even if a fraction of the donations go to the real needy, it is still worth it.

Peace,
x5D

I disagree with 5th dimension. Its just like giving £100 to a heroin junkie begging in the street. Then say its worth it because he might spend 50p on some food for himself! No, it will only harm him becuase the £99.50 will go on a smack binge. Similarly all the Live Aid money raised in the 80s and the same again as spin off from Live 8, went and will go into the pockets of the governments of the African countries to be used to boost their Swiss bank accounts and to buy weapons to defend themselves with. So civil wars break out and thousands more die. A trickle might get through, for the cameras.
Short of sending in international troops to rebuild and feed Africa Directly, there is little we can do to improve the situation, Africa is riddled with serious corruption.

The African leaders must be laughing and rubbing their hands in anticipation of all that new money coming in as token gesture from the G8 summit.

Geldof and co are merely using this to boost their own giant egos and flagging careers.

How come everyone is so niave about all this? I dont get it. Don't people have eyes to SEE what is really happening?

CATHEAD

Thanks a lot, both of you for sharing your views.
I just saw the protest march on TV, people are so much eager to help and even the chancellor has said its worth it. But I agree with Cathead that unless the UN intervenes to remove the corrupted heads of countries like Liberia and Zimbabwe, there is little hope.
Just have a look at what African elite think of all this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4634347.stm#mwenda

Africa is riddled with serious corruption. If only a mjior US oil pipeline was due to be built right through Zimbabwe Ethiopia etc. but as it is Africa's oil is on the north and west coasts and so there is no need to invade.