Billy Bragg, the voice of the Socialist Left in music for so long has had a few words about live8 at the rally in Edinburgh. Check out his comments and think about the section on outcomes. I'm sitting here watching this with my nine year old son - in a different world where might we all be now?
And for all those who say it won't do any good - if this doesn't work what will? How can we change the world?
And for all those who say it won't do any good - if this doesn't work what will? How can we change the world?
6 careful considerations:
Good call, Nigel. We can change the world, actually, and quite easily too. It needs the collective will of governments heeding the voice of the people they allegedly are there to represent.
Just looked at the German footage (thanks for the aol tip) to catch an old favourtite of mine, Bap. The scene there is tremendous as the gig is infront of the Siegessaule monument, which is situated on a broad boulevard, so the crowd is this huge column of humanity. Stirring stuff!
I couldn't see which way they were facing - are they on Unter Den Linden or on the avenue with a date in the name? I was in Berlin shortly before reunification and went through Checkpoint Charlie for a beer on Unter Den Linden after walking up to see the Brandenburg Gate from the East. That was 15 years ago and that part of the world has changed.......
It has certainly changed. I think that they are all on the Str des 17 Juni stretching back to the Brandenburger Tor.
Fantastic - I remember walking up there from the hotel on the Ku Damm. The Russian memorial on the left and the Brandenburger Tor allowing those with German passports to pass through to the East. And walking round the Reichstag seeing the memorials to those who had died trying to cross the wall.
Improving African Trade and Governments is the thing at this point. Or it seems to be. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Without doubt! Protectionist trade agreements support the wealthy producers to the detriment of producers in the developing world. And it has to be looked at on an item by item basis. Recent talks of reducing the subsidy on sugar produced in Europe would actually benefit producers in Australia rather than Africa. Maybe the west should start positively discriminating in favour of products from the developing world?
As for governments - well the rich countries would never dream of regime change in soveriegn states would they???
Religion also has a part to play - if the Catholic church lifted the ban on condoms the threat of Aids might start to recede but that's unlikely when the biggest super power has a government supported by evangelical Christians.
None of it simple, none of it is straightforward but the alternative is to sit back and say it's all too difficult! If 30,000 people died, every day, of curable illnesses in any developed country that country would stop and take action.
BTW - Very much liked your blog :-)
Post a Comment