Any of you choosing to be a part of this? Granted some of the bands this time around aren't as good as the first one, but then again that isn't the point of this, is it?
The idea, obviously, is to put pressure on the leader of the richest nations for next weeks g8 in Scotland (in the hope of getting a fairer trade situation sorted out for the continent, which has been raped and taken advantage of by richer powers for several hundred years.
Surely no one can fail to feel something today for their fellow man. Granted I feel it every day but there is something about watching over a million people screaming at each other in happiness and oneness that just makes you feel fucking cool.
I'm away out to watch it again in belfast, toodlepip everyone
I was in Edinburgh on vacation at the same time of the "Make Poverty History" March. It was very well orchestrated, and a big props to the Edinburgh police force for keeping everything under control. The marchers didn't cause any problems, except for a few eggthrowers (no doubt crazy Scots looking to stir up trouble). I think there was a concert up here as well, but I wasn't present. I don't know how much effect this will have on the G8 leaders; our President has proven he doesn't actually listen to his constituents, but I'm not an expert on any other national leader, although Tony Blair is quite the public speaker. Anyway, I hope a positive result comes about from G8, although more aid money isn't exactly what Africa needs (as Kyo was stating in another thread). For Africa to be fixed, Africans have to lead the way, not the European nations who "colonized" and raped her of land and resource.
Yeah I don't think any of this whole drive is actually about providing more aid.
I don't actually think many Africans even want that.
It seems the trade practices of the developed countries are the real enemy here, that keep the people of Africa poor, whilst people in the 'west' reap the rewards.
An example of such skullduggery is easy to find, tin ore for example being an obvious one.
Of course this is where the leaders will fail, which will mean the real problem just gets swept under the rug so that the people profiting (us) will be protected.
Wiping out debt is long overdue, and that's about all that will happen, if we are lucky, it still ignores the main issue as to why Africa is in such a state of poverty.
There really is no justifiable reason except for greed on this issue.
the reason africa is in the state it is in right now is mostly because of africans. any economist will tell you this. blaming wealthy countries for the way they conduct trade is farcical beyond belief. africa has been handed enough money and resources over the last four decades, and have access to enough natural resources to become the most economically successful region on the planet.
combined altogether africa has the largest deposits of diamonds in the world, the 3rd largest oil reserves, the most gold, copper, tin and iron, coal and uranium. the first, second and fourth largest sources of fresh water, the largest irrigable (is that a word) areas for farming.
when my husband left university he went to zimbabwe for six months with SPW, digging trenches to irrigate something like 50,000 acres of potential farmland. six months digging ditches with picks and shovels while the locals sat on their asses and WATCHED. after five and a half months, Mugabe's army moved in and it was their turn to watch while bulldozers (that should have been used digging trenches in the first place) bulldozed all of their work in about two days while the locals cheered. why? mugabe doesn't want to look weak like he needs help from the UN. also as long as he controls the aid that the UN and other organizations send to the country and as long as nobody is truly self sufficient then he has control over the population. why did the locals cheer? now they don't have to work all day farming, I guess.
you can only blame western civilzation so much for the plight of africa. India was in a similar situation after the british empire fell, but they used their aid money and assisstance to build infrastructure and stability. they adapted their crops to cereal instead of rice to feed their enormous population. they put money into education and technology. now the situation in India isn't directly comparable because were talking one country and one government vs. dozens, but africa has other advantages like geographic and natural resources.
africans don't have only themselves to blame for their predicament, but until they acknowledge that it is mostly themselves that are keeping them in their predicament then nothing is ever going to change.
Perhaps we need GWB to roll in and remove the evil dictators and liberate their oil.
To be honest, your assessment of things sounds a lot like what I'd expect if the aboriginals here were handed over the whole country.
I guess Africa needs their own Gordon Gekko.
May 2003 - "Mission Accomplished"
June 2005 - "The mission isn't easy, and it will not be accomplished overnight"
-- G W Bush, freelance writer for The Daily Show.
kyoukan wrote:the reason africa is in the state it is in right now is mostly because of africans. any economist will tell you this. blaming wealthy countries for the way they conduct trade is farcical beyond belief. africa has been handed enough money and resources over the last four decades, and have access to enough natural resources to become the most economically successful region on the planet.
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This needs to stop...but, ummm, well said Kyo. Exactly the reason why this whole thing is a farce and why I think the music is nice but the cause is nothing more than something a bunch of celebrities can gather around and try to look so knowledgeable and selfless. Brad Pitt and Dave Mathews can suck my cock after not bathing for a month and playing strenuous 5 on 5 basketball everyday during that non bathing stretch.
I wasn't saying that the Europeans are the sole responsibility of Africa, nor is colonization the one sole factor behind this. What I was saying is that Africa needs to be in charge on this one, not some rock musicians from the West (or even G8).
but there is something about watching over a million people screaming at each other in happiness and oneness that just makes you feel fucking cool.
