Amid 'Live 8' hullabaloo, what about Africa?

Jennifer Carlile Reporter • Profile • E-mail

LONDON — Thousands of Britons are keeping their ears open for a magical beep from their cell phones on Wednesday, as it could signify a text message from the organizers of Live 8, the must-see concert of the summer.

After hundreds of thousands applied for the free tickets, only 150,000 will be able to attend the event in Hyde Park, and a chance to hear U2, REM, Coldplay, Madonna, Sirs Paul McCartney and Elton John and, among others, a sight as rare as the Dark Side of the Moon — a reunited Pink Floyd.

The free concerts in London as well as shows in Edinburgh, Paris, Rome, and Philadelphia are intended to pressure leaders to tackle debt in Africa. Yet, with only two weeks to go, it's not apparent that everybody understands what the enterprise is all about, even as they covet a chance to attend the musical extravaganza.

In fact, in Britain, controversy has dogged the event ever since it was announced by Live Aid architect Bob Geldof.

For example, extensive publicity spurred more than 2 million text messages (at roughly $3.00 per try) for the chance to win tickets to the July 2 concert. The text competition earned more than $5 million, but none of it is slated for Africa.

About half of the money will go to the Prince’s Trust, a U.K. charity that helps young people, and the rest will cover the cost of staging the concerts. With just 75,000 pairs of tickets up for grabs, many will be left empty-handed when winning notifications stop at midnight Wednesday.

How will Live 8 help Africa?
"One of my friends spent 24 pounds (nearly $44) on text messages just to get the tickets," said 16-year-old student Christopher Pita.

"I think (my friends) agree with the cause and everything that it represents but it was mainly for the bands that were playing — it's music that teenagers are into," Pita said, adding that he didn't know anyone who was planning to follow Geldof's call for a protest march to Edinburgh, where world leaders will be meeting on July 6-8 for the Group of Eight summit.

When the former lead singer of the short-lived Irish band, The Boomtown Rats, orchestrated the 1985 Live Aid campaign to combat famine in Ethiopia the equation was simple: Ticket proceeds were donated to organizations working to stave off starvation.

AP file The closing song from Live Aid at Wembley Stadium on July 13, 1985, features from left, Georg Michael, Bob Geldof, Bono of U2, Freddie Mercury of Queen, Andrew Ridgley of Wham! and Howard Jones.

Memories of the London-Philadelphia concert invoke images of children holding hands, singing the anthems "Do They Know It's Christmas," and “We Are The World,” (written by Michael Jackson during his heyday) and the famous logo — the neck of a guitar with the outline of Africa at its base. The simultaneous concerts, broadcast live, shocked the world into donating money “until it hurt.”

Twenty years on, “it seemed to be that we could gather together again — this time not for charity but for political justice,” Geldof said at a news conference last month.

Geldof’s plea to “stand up and be counted” in a million-man march on Edinburgh is intended to put pressure on rich nations to cancel debt to poor African states, increase aid, and enact fairer trade laws.

‘Full of himself’
But, in contrast to the outpouring of support for Live Aid, this time around many have criticized the aging pop-star’s upcoming production as a prodigal plan.

"Bob Geldof is a man who's full of himself. Africa needs to be recognized not patronized," said 41-year-old teacher Simon, who asked that his last name not be used.

Meantime, others interviewed in London this week mistakenly believed that proceeds from the text competition and any money made at the concerts (presumably from concessions) would be sent to Africa.

"I don't know the facts actually, but I assume that some of it will be going to Africa unless they are lying to us, which I doubt," said 30-year-old teacher Amanda, who also asked that her last name not be used.

"The whole event is to help raise money for Africa — I don't know where it's channeled from, but that's what I think," said Amanda, who had sent 10 texts to the competition.

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