July 14, 2005
Live 8: Publicity, or an issue of Life and Death?? By Jordan Alexandra Gracey
It is no secret that there is an ever-increasing gap between the have's and have-nots in today's global marketplace. The dilemma over how to cope with this gap is not a new phenomenon; economists have studied this societal problem, posed hypothesis and possible anecdotes since the rise of the bourgeoisie over the proletariat. However, nothing was ever done to throw a wrench in the constantly turning wheels of industry thus, today we are faced with a serious threat; fix the problem or else.
The current issue on the to-do list is that of providing aid to Africa. 2005 marks the year that the G8 Summit has chosen to focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, the only region in the world that has gotten poorer in the last generation. This region makes up 13% of the world's population and 28% of the world's poverty. Africa is in need of aid for their economic standing as well as their health and standard of living. Sub-Saharan Africa is a breeding ground for the AIDS epidemic. According to information released by the G8 Summit, to date 13 million men, women and children have died of AIDS and 26 million are now living with the virus. Nigeria alone is home to 10% of the world's total number of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Maternal and child mortality rates have increased, African women have a 1 in 13 chance of dying during pregnancy or childbirth. These challenges represent a compelling call for international cooperation to support the continent's efforts to achieve lasting progress. The world's fortunate answered the call. Live Aid's Bob Geldof generated the most noteable response with the help and determination of previous Live Aid participants, musicians, organizers and promoters, which generated an audience of 3 billion people worldwide.
The most prominent speakers were celebrities/musicians such as Geldof, U2's Bono and Madonna (among others), who have once again galvanized public interest for their cause. Live 8 was promoted with relentless campaigning, reminding/forcing the public to think about how the richest nations in the world can tackle poverty in Africa. Concerts of this nature, according to Geldof, "are the start point for The Long Walk To Justice, the one way we can all make our voices heard in unison." The united voices for the most part mirrored Geldof's stance that the resolution of the G8 Summit should, "stand to double aid, fully cancel debt, and deliver trade justice for Africa... the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children." While the message was noble and appeared agreeable to attendees of Live 8, how many were there for the cause and how many were there for the music? Does it matter? At the end of the day there was money raised and messages heard, right?
While there is no doubt in my mind that voices were heard, one cannot help wonder if we are doomed to repeated history, condemning people to silent death, while believing there has been change. What many are unaware of is the aftermath of 1985's Live Aid. This concert raised millions of dollars to aid the starving and impoverished in Ethiopia. The Western world believed that the concert had succeeded and realized the goal to feed, nourish and aid Ethiopia. The truth is considerably darker. Many Ethiopians were fed and watered then forced by the Ethiopian government from the refugee camps to resettle in some of the most inhospitable areas of the country to die. Where were the voices of outrage then? Where were the united voices of concert go-ers?
The media blitz was over, people had gone back to daily routines, participating in the global market, working to widen the gap between the have's and have-nots. While Live 8 worked to inform many who may have been otherwise oblivious to the issues of the G8 Summit and severity of the African situation, they forgot one thing. That was to accept part of the blame, to inform the audience that individuals can make changes daily, especially since we contribute to the problem daily. Live 8 was a success, it worked to raise awareness and funds. However, it also served as a diversion from the underlying causes of poverty. People did not walk away educated or empowered with knowledge that could make a difference. They walked away with a false sense of accomplishment.
Author: Jonathan William Barr
Posted on July 14, 2005 01:35 AM