Hands up those of you who were cynical about Live 8. Come on. Put ‘em up.
Hands up anyone who thought it was all less to do with Making Poverty History and more a coke-powered shitstorm of piss-ignorant sloganeering and abysmally shameful self-promotion? Anyone? You at the back? Make yourself known.
Because Bono is very cross with you.
Defending his tireless Messiah-posing, Bono (CDs) remarked:
"We started this seven years ago. A lot of people worked for this and now 36 of the poorest countries on the planet have had their debts entirely wiped out, not just by the United States but all the rich countries and the World Bank. That is an amazing thing. It’s the beginning of a new relationship between the haves and the have-nothings.
"We’ve got to start describing this as an adventure, not a burden… This is a generation, the first generation ever, to have the technology and the resources to actually turn around this extreme poverty trap and I just can’t think of a better thing to be doing with my time."
What the hair-weaved hobbit doesn’t seem to realise is that it isn’t the humanitarian side of things that antagonises people about celebrity crusading. It’s imbeciles like Madonna shouting "Let’s start a revolution" before returning home to their thousand-bed mansions, safe in the knowledge that they’ve reminded the Great British Public just how dreadfully overpriveleged they all are.
Fact – Mother Teresa didn’t need a record deal. Or a stylist. Or a career-deadened ‘director’ for a husband.
Oh, okay. We’ll stop now. Don’t mind us. We’re just being grumpy.
We’re obviously ignoring the true facts – that the minute Razorlight set foot on the Live 8 stage, angels began dancing in the skies above Africa, casting wonderful spells that made the crops turn a bumper harvest. And the split-second George Michael ran onto stage, every Ethiopian child awoke to find that – there, in the centre of their village – a special magical well had appeared, bubbling over with stardust and moonbeams.
Twats.
Read More:
Bono defends efforts to erase world debt – Breaking News
[story by C J Davies]
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Sure the attempts by old rock stars to jump on the band wagon and sell some greatest hits collection was pretty galling. However the fact is that Live8 did make a differance. It made people notice which they hadn’t been doing a whole lot of recently and the those at the top took notice of their electorate.
Musical relevance and taste was irrelevant (I didn’t watch Live8 I hated most of the bands playing) but they got what’s popular on stage which is why people watched.
Let me get this right. The haves – The performers: Bono, Madonna, et al – are pround that the have-not’s – Me, you – have used their tax money to make the leaders of the third world richer. How did this improve the citizens of the third world or anyone else’s lives? If you want to improve the third world’s lot, educate them and get them to pick good leaders who won’t squader their money. Wait, we haven’t even learned that one. There is no hope, Bono!
All frick’n sour grapes by a bunch of latte swilling mall rats with so much pent up jealousy they can’t even conceptualize the notion that
you don’t have to live like a popper to help millions. I applaud Bono for helping millions regardless of the size of his bank account. Did you ever think that this money and influence opened doors that would remain closed to you and me???? Someone change the name of this Web site to “F@cK’n.Winnie.Crybabies.com. If you don’t like his MO, make millions yourself and change the world your way. Wow it’s amazing to me what people will critisize these days……. JT Mitchell
Joelb, I see no response that you eluded to…. I suppose because you don’t use an I-pod because of the battery problem and/or polution that you walk to work, don’t fly, recycle all your trash, never use a portable calculator or digital camera or cordless phone and never use a laptop, all of which use batteries with a limited life span??? C’mon JoelB???? You can’t be “Selectively Green” like Gore.
You make no sense my friend…and twat? …..really….. C’mon JTM
Hi JT,
I’m having some trouble posting my incisive response to our earlier discussion. One day soon?
As for recycling yes I do, thanks for asking. We have free-range Guinea pigs and a Goose to “mow” our lawns. I ride a bike to work and have a super fuel-efficient Madass motor bike for longer or heavier trips.
As for portable calculators, digital camera, cordless phones I’ve got them all.
The point being, I use rechargable batteries that I can take out at home if I want to get a new device or the batteries die. I can then recycle the batteries in an ecological friendly fashion, actually I just give them to the local council.
Your average person at home can’t take out the Lithium-Ion batteries in an IPod. They end up in the landfill.
It’s called planned-obsolescence and it’s based on 1950′s production values and it’s fucking disgrace. And that’s only one reason why Bono is a fuckn’ twat!
Hi again JT,
Further to my previous post. You mention “You can’t be “Selectively Green—.
I don’t know where you live, but I live in Tasmania. We have real Greenies here, or “ferals” as they’re called by other less-enlightened folk.
To be totally green is pretty much impossible, you’ld have to live in the bush, with no modern equipment, no power and not much else either.
Even the ferals can’t manage this. So I reckon it really is a matter of “selecting” the best or most beneficial green practices.
Just don’t call me a Greenie.
JBollocks, Who hails from Van Diemens Land. Your going to hate this but U2 have a song by that name. How ironic. From Port Arthur are ya?
Hobart maybe? Beautiful country with a colorful past. Look, you can shout it from Mount Lyell but I just can’t accept your bullshit excuses. Bono could have been pitching a cell phone for all that matters or a digital camera. I’m sure you own both. These are all items that meet your “planned-absoloscence”. Everthing we build will be obsolete eventually. The walkman, boomboxes, picture tube T.V.s, record players etc. I agree we need to do a better job building items that are recyclable but c’mon mate?? “Planned-absoloscence” can describe everything humans build. Your argument is incredibly weak Greenie. I applaud you taking the most ritious path that fits your lifestyle but your argument is full of holes. By the way,…You mentioned you have real “Greenies” or “ferals” as they are called by “less-enlightened folk”…. and then 28 words later you refer to the “greenies” as “feral”. Sounds as if someone could use some enlightening…….and I am happy to oblige…I guess their is a reason why the word Parochialism is synonomous with your country. We all have our crosses to bare. Oye!
No insult intended Greenie. Get your dictionary out before you get too mad.
Actually I have a problem with ass wipe celebritys telling me to put my hands in my pockets for the third world when they have enough money to really make a difference. I also have a problem with somebody who flies regularly lives in a huge mansion (sorry has several mansions) telling me that I should live a greener lifestyle. I am not rich but I still mange to live a carbon neutral lifestyle, I recycle evrything I can, am a memeber of Amnesty International, so am aware of things like human rights, but I don’t go preaching to others in a hypocritical, oooh look at me kind of way, like these idiots Madonna and Bono, et al, do. Sorry but I am fed up with this cult of celebrity, it just makes me want to BARF !!!!
Wa, wa grassman, you simply sound jealous. Beacuse of Bono’s influence, money and success he’s managed to erase several billion dollars in debt and loans to third world countries. He’s help start companys in Africa that have provided jobs in countries that have unemployment rates of over 50%. He may not live as “carbon nuetral” as you simply because you can not offord to live as he does, but his positive impact on the poor and underdeveloped countries is a million times more impactfull than any efforts you have made recycling your “AA” batteries. If you were a billionaire and flew around the world in high profile preeching to the world about respecting our environment, setting up large companies that recycled consumables and edgucated people all over the world about “carbon nuetrality” with huge success….I would commend you, not chastize you for flying. I’m not saying we should just give up doing what we can to preserve the environment and reduce our carbon footprint…. what I am saying is that Bono has used his vast fortune to do a lot of good with his money all over the world. He has used his influence on anyone who will listen and was even recognized by the Pope for his humanitarian work. What’s the point in chastizing him for being successful, rich and influencial? Unlike most of the wealthy he has done a lot of good with his money. And no one has ever accused him of being a glory hound for himself, just his causes. He has quietely made millions and helped millions. I think your ire would be better directed at so many other people. If mother Teresa flew around the world preeching salvation and help for the poor would you be chastizing her for flying??? Get a clue dude. Your lame argument makes you look jealous and pathetic.
shut another blog down….