Comments on: Live 8 not the way to save Africa

By: Lizard expert calls for 90% of people to die of Ebola - Homeland Security or Homeland Stupidity

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 12:27:11 +0000

[...] Anyway, the point is, there is no overpopulation problem. Sure, we have a lot of people. But the world is quite up to the task of feeding them all, and then some. Just ask Norman Borlaug. His research into wheat genetics won him a Nobel Prize and saved a billion people. That’s right, one guy’s work feeds one-sixth of the world’s population. And we have plenty more people like him working on the food supply. The situation certainly bears watching, but the real food supply problem right now is corrupt governments who keep food from their people. [...]

By: Why hasn’t poverty been eradicated? - Homeland Security or Homeland Stupidity

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 23:51:13 +0000

[...] I touched on this before, during the Live 8 concert series. [...]

By: Nonsense Nation

Nonsense Nation — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 14:13:22 +0000

Live 8 Helps What, How?

Am I missing something? I am trying to figure out how Live 8 helps Africa? I don’t think any of the G8 thinks that Africa is not having a problem with poverty. The problem the G8 has is trying to figure out how to deal with it.

I didn’…

By: Carrie

Carrie — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 00:54:24 +0000

I liked your post and agree with it. I am glad for Live8 however I’m not sure that it will have any influence on the G8. Let’s hope though, in terms of trade. But then they still have the government issues to deal with and that can only be helped by Africans living there.

By: Michael Hampton

Michael Hampton — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 23:20:10 +0000

Ove, it does no good for an African peasant to sell his crops if he can only sell them to the state at 1/10 of what they are worth. If the G8 is going to do something meaningful for the long-term, it should put pressure on these countries to allow these people to be paid fair value for their crops and other produce so that they can make a decent living.

And you have no idea what I have or have not done to help out the poor.

By: Ove Serritslev

Ove Serritslev — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 23:10:13 +0000

“If you really want to help out in Africa, those are the problems you must solve.”

Wrong; If you really want to help out in Africa, those are the problems WE must solve.
Why distance you self from the real fact that you haven’t don anything your self to help the out poor

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 23:03:02 +0000

I agree with Kyle.. it wont save Africa but every little bit helps. If the United States was exposed to poverty, wouldn’t we want help too?

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 22:56:59 +0000

it will still help, of course it isn’t going to “SAVE” Africa, it takes much more. The most important thing is that people are aware and the Africa will get aid with the money earned from Live8.

By: Nogbad

Nogbad — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 22:15:11 +0000

“In 1980 Africa had a 6% share of world trade. By 2002 this had dropped to just 2% despite the fact that Africa has 12% of the world’s population. If Africa could regain just an additional 1% share of the global trade, it would earn $70 billion more in exports each year – more than three times what the region currently receives in international assistance.” From http://www.data.org/whyafrica/whatworks/

Right now the wealthy west is giving aid so that developing countries can service debt and at the same time the donor countries are using protectionist trade agreements to stop the developing world from trading out of poverty.

“Ghana can export raw cocoa duty free to Europe, but a 25% tariff is imposed if they process that cocoa before exporting it to Europe. It is this processing (tinning, roasting, labeling) which helps a country earn more money and develop its manufacturing base – and which allows its economy to grow. While fair trade could be Africa’s ticket out of the vicious cycles of poverty, unfair trade rules like these trap Africa at the gates.” from http://www.one.org/c/international/content/1597/

Would we even be having these conversations without MPH? It matters not that someone starving in Dafur might not have heard of live8, if it saves their life they might have time to find out but right now they are too busy trying to stay alive.

By: Oli Young

Oli Young — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 22:05:32 +0000

Yes, Live8 by itself is not the answer, but no-one is saying that. Live8 is one part of a larger campaign to “Make Poverty History” just as The Long Walk to Justice is another. MPH’s three major tenents are Debt Relief, More & Better Relief and Fair Trade, Live8 was simply a vehicle to get the populous tuned into this task, and it’s worked 3.5 BILLION people now know about the G8, Gleneagles, and the opportunities that must be taken. Fair Trade will not turn the situation around tomorrow, Better Aid will, Dropping the Debt will, but in the longer term Fair Trade is the only answer.