Bob Geldof Puts Africa on Front Page

crittables

these issues really can't be talked about enough. it's great to see some people are so commited (and have been for years) to the problems in africa. geldof isn't just jumping on the bandwagon with other celebs, he really cares. thumbs up bob!

now lets just hope something productive, not just promises and pledges comes out the G8 summit.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PEOPLE_GELDOF?SITE=WCMHTV&SECTION=ENTERTAINMENT

BERLIN (AP) -- Bob Geldof took over for a day as the editor of Germany's biggest-selling newspaper, which appeared Friday with an impassioned front-page plea for the country's leaders to "end the misery" in Africa.

Geldof's turn in the chair at the mass-circulation Bild daily came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to host next week's Group of Eight summit in Heiligendamm, where she has pledged to make Africa a major issue.

Bild's front page carried a large picture of an emaciated child inside the outline of Africa. "End this! Now!" read the headline.

A front-page Geldof commentary told German leaders that "you can change things and people want you to. ... Do your job! End the misery, finally!"

Among other contributions: President Bush underlined his commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere, U2 singer Bono echoed Geldof's call for the West to help Africa and "Ocean's Thirteen" star George Clooney highlighted the violence in Sudan's Darfur region.

Geldof, 52, organized the Live Aid concerts in 1985 to benefit victims of famine in Ethiopia and the Live 8 concerts in 2005 for African debt relief. The former frontman of The Boomtown Rats has dedicated much of his career to advocating on behalf of humanitarian causes.

The paper also published a Geldof interview with Merkel, who pledged that "we will make progress in Heiligendamm that will move Africa forward."

In comments released before the paper's publication, Merkel said Germany's development aid for poorer countries would be increased by some $1 billion next year.

London Calling

There are countries outside Africa that are shit poor, why doesnt he sing for their cause. Because we are condititoned to seeing African people starving and poor, yes if we were to see an Afghani or Pakistani or Nicaraguan we just wouldnt give a shit.

godpt3

what Africa needs, more than anything else, is population control. Yes, that means condoms. The stark fact of the matter is that it is impossible for Africa to have any sort of sustainable agriculture until their population has been reduced to a more stable level. Until Africa is able to feed itself without continual international aid, nothing else will change. No amount of debt reduction or food aid will solve this.

breakmarysfall

... nice to see this post around, cause I was astonished today about Bobs letter of the editor in the BILD paper.
I read all the 8 pages of this huge article broadcast by BILD (sorry to say, but shitty paper).
And he had success: Africa was on all television news in Germany tonight, it got discussed by the "Stammtisch"- folks all day long and this is a fact that made me smile...

but coming back to the shitty paper:
A lot of German VIPs spoke out for Africa, also international celebreties did,
and they said good, wise and weird stuff.
But at the end of the special, there was Mr. George W. Bush calling out for the Germans. He told us about his big achievements for Africa... so well, so much, so all against Aids ( but to me it was a "sad joke" - why is the urgent needed medicine still so extremeley expensive down there? - bush did not answer this as he was speaking only of numbers aka moneytransfers)... so, yes, I am still twisted about Bild.

but I applaude Bob.
thanks alot for putting the awareness to Africa, at least here in Germany,
for one day. I guess, he is really for real in his concern about Africa and that is just great and makes me happy

breakmarysfall

icarus wrote:

i'm sorry but whatever bob geldof does, ten years from now i doubt things are going to be much different, if not worse.

ironically, that has truth in... made me even smile.

but I came to a point where I think it is already astonishing that someone does something for the poor, and if it is just something...
...just that one has another concern and focus compared to the daily private and media silly distructions we are facing every day.
He stays focused and true to himself... even without cleary seen success.
that is different already to me.

so thanks again, bob.

crittables

icarus wrote:

i think one of the biggest problems is that people (western governments, international organizations, policy-makers, political economic theorists, etc) can't seem to come to an agreement of whats fundamentally causing africa's problems.

oh no shit. it changes constantly. today it's all about microfinance and "sustainable development." well no shit it's gotta be sustainable. or else it isn't development. it's just a blip that happened to be positive for a little bit.

i should be more positive about this considering i'm studying international development, but sometimes it's hard to be

crittables

icarus wrote:

yes thats the thing about studying political economy, you realize no one actually knows what they're doing and its just everyones best guess. every theory and every policy can be refuted and shot down.

yes and it makes my head spin. cause one day i think i support one idea and then it changes a few days later. and i think i want to work in one field then that changes too. one of these days i'll figure it out...i hope