I dont question the mans good intentions but is his live aid concerts just engraving a more grave future for Africa? With all the negative publicity it cant be helping trade for Africa, tell me who will want to go and invest their money in African companies? Who would want to visit these countries? Trade and investment is what will one day lift africa out of poverty but signaling the negative sides of Africa every damn time is just harming the continent. What do peeps think is Bob Geldof an expert in dealing with African affairs or should he just stick to rock music?

I agree completely.

I hated band aid and Live aid - they perpetuated the stereotype.

Live 8 is irritating. Gives credence to the adage the "road to hell is full of good intentions"

I like Sir Bob - was a big BTR fan in my youth - and I am glad that Africa has give his life meaning; but whenever he speaks of Africa he speaks of poverty. I would like him to give equal time adn publicity to the successes.....to the towns and cities that are not impoverished.

Equal Time. That not too much to ask for....

Some people help with a pure heart and no one else notices or knows what that person has done or achieved to help and all the sweat, blood and tears they have put into a movement....

Some people help and crave attention and wants to let everyone know that they are doing a good thing and wants to help...and have a look at me...look at what I'm doing for you...You owe me big...I can and will be your saviour type...


For some irrational reason to me Bod Geldof falls into the latter category for me...call it instincts...

i think his heart is in the right place but his mind is not!!!

To be fair, (rare 4 me to stick up 4 a whiteman but ... ),Bob talks about poverty because it's only the poor who need help.

There is no real need to talk aboutthe 'richness' of Africa just to get a balanced view.

BUT -we should besuspicious of ALLUK whitesinvolved in this apparent suddencrusade for Africa.

They seem to do all the talking for Africa. Remember it was only an afterthought to attempt to include Africans. Doesn't that speak volumes?

Basicallywe need to see a programme made with intelligent people, (meaningAfricans who are really aware of the UK and thier politics); who would be full control in the making of the programme andthat it is filmed in Africa, forus to get a real understanding of what is really happening there.

Also, as long as the G8 only include white faces - anything they decide, should be met with severe caution.

@Athaba...you think Geldof is talking about the poor?? Well i guess you haven't seen his appaling BBC 1 documentary about his travel through Africa then....this is what the new Messiah of the poor did: He went to the Congo where more than 3 million have died in the war....instead of talking about the *poor* afected by the war, the Messiah went on to talk about *witchcraft*....the man is a dickhead!

Some blacks can celebrate, this African woman is not fooled....we will get Africa out of this mess.....not because of Gandalf, err sorry Geldof...lol

Respect to all your views, I'll throw in a little food for thought....

@Empheror1:

When he started, he never claimed to be an expert, while he may still not be an expert on Africa, as an intelligent man, he will have learned a LOT about the political injuries being inflicting on Africa by western countries purely due to the fact he has been dealing with it for such a long time. I don't see any 'experts' self proclaimed or otherwise cleaning things up the ongoing parastic actions of the west.... The man is working with what he knows, why condem him for what he may not know? In the dessert tainted water is good enough tosave your life.

Yes the man was in a failing band and yes following the whole thing of band aid, he achieved monetory success that would not have come his way otherwise.... that was 20 years ago, his current financial interests means he has been independantly wealthy for a long time now...... and yet here he still is still pushing for the hungry in Africa.....

@Happiness & Emperor1:

If Geldof spent time advertising the successfull cities in Africa, how would this help those who have fallen by the wayside? The theory that wealth has a 'trickle down' impact is a myth that benifits those who are trying to persuade the rest of us to work for peanuts while they get rich from the sweat of our brows. I've yet to see an African leader who looks malnurished. The money exists, but not enough of it and not in the right places.

@mythoughs

The man was a 'rock musician' of course it is in his nature to crave attention. But think.... is a basic charactoristic bad in itself or is it the use to which it is put that makes it good or bad? I don't understand why only a saintlike perfection is acceptable when someone tries to help their fellow humans....confused3. personally I think he put his attention seeking nature to good use.

Athaba said: Also, as long as the G8 only include white faces - anything they decide, should be met with severe caution.

I'm right with you on that..... caution not total hostility.... same as all black people are not the same, all white people are not the same. Geldof, an intelligent man, has used a western mindset to tackle a western atrocity, fighting fire with fire, he has learned the western,policial methodology to tackle western politicians.

I don't believe for one cold minute that the politicians are doing this for any reason good reason what so ever, other than someone (Geldof amoungst others) was brave enough, rebelious enough and unsofisticated enough to shout out that the emperorwasn't wearing any clothes. Western hipocrisy depends on everyone in the room pretending not to see what is in their face. Geldof, like a child, shouted out their business in public.

I have no doubt that Africa is fully capable of recovering itself once the parasitictapeworm of the west is passed out of it's bowels. It will take time and work, but while the patient is regathering her stength, why curse one of the few who is working to remove the worm?

My thoughts? Africa and Africans, sit back and gather your strength, because if we push back too soon, before the parasite is dislodged, it has time and warning to get its teeth back into Africa.

Personally I take my hat of to Geldof, this is just the begining!

Noir UK

I caught a little of Geldof's program yesterday and he showed the affluent city life."A couple courting,drinking coffee watching MTV,Super Markets with bulging shelves".......

But then he said this is not the Africa the west wants to see,and then went on about how this could be how Africa might be without the debt repayment,corruption,etc.

I have wondered long and hard about his motives,but dont think it matters,if he can influence things for the better. I think he is genuine enough.

As a final piece of information heard today on the radio...... Pink Floyd CD sales have exploded along with other big names in the concert........but does that matter either ? if the event makes even the smallest change for the better.