Managing Compassion

Canada Free Press ^ | Canada Free Press | Garth Pritchard

[Alexander Rubin]

There’s one absolute: Star Power is the answer when you want to bring attention to a world issue.

Live 8 proved beyond a doubt that, if asked, the young people of the world would come together on an issue such as poverty in Africa.

As a journalist, I have lived through two of Sir Geldof’s promises to have the greatest concerts ever.

The first one, 25 years ago, Live Aid, realized $100 Million in aid to be spent in impoverished Africa. Countries delivered on their promises — some even cancelled debts owed to them by African countries.

Now, Sir Geldof’s quest is for the governments of the world to forgive debt in the $25-Billion U.S. category.

The money poured into Africa to stop poverty is staggering. The world has tried numerous times. But when you see the list of who gets what and how much, there is an enormous question that needs to be asked: Where does all the money go?

The brilliance of "We don’t want your money, we just want your support" is evident. The stars don’t want to answer that big question. They can’t. They’ve been down the road before — 25 years ago with Live Aid — the governments of Africa benefited, but very little of the money arrived for the people for whom it was intended.

[Alexander Rubin]

Another great summary of the whole Live 8 hypocrisy. Read it. Do it. Do it now. Stick it to Bob Geldof.

[RonF]

I'm not negative about these concerts. At least these guys don't just sit around and uselessly criticize; they actually got off their asses and did something and raised some money. And as far as who ended up with the money; that gives them just as good a record as the U.S. Government. Why should you expect them to have done any better?

[Alexander Rubin]

I don't expect them to have done any better, I just think they're hypocritical. I didn't write the article, but I personally believe that the stars could have done more good by donating several million dollars of their own money and giving it directly to those who needed it, instead of this elaborate pretense of saving the world on camera.