LIVE 8

The original Live Aid project was an event which most who were alive at the time can remember. For those who tend to forget, there is the occasional re-release of a single at Christmas to remind people.

It came as a bolt out of the blue, and was organised and carried forward by, mainly, the British music industry, which had been dragooned into it by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. This is something for which they can be rightly proud.

The pending Live 8 project is, regrettably, unlikely to solve the problem of poverty in Africa, although it may make some progress in achieving the changes in political policy of western countries towards the continent. In particular, there is likely to be some writing off of African debt. Although the USA is taking a different view as to the best way forward.

The problems of Africa are not the responsibility of the west. The corruption and incompetence of African governments is the prime reason. That so many of the decolonised countries rapidly descended into communist dictatorships is a major obstacle. With independence comes responsibility.

Nevertheless, one cannot but admire the determination of those who are once again prepared to organise and stage major concerts as a means of achieving their objectives.

It is therefore a great pity that the Race War Industry has raised its ugly head and started carping about the number of black performers who are taking part. The concert line-up has even been described as ‘hideously white’. There are complaints that there are no African performers.

If these Race zealots are so clever, one wonders why they have not organised their own events before now. Since they have not, perhaps they ought to shut up.