Band Aid Re-Forming But.........................

[10ClarionSt]

....................John Denver got there first and never received any credit for what he did. He was helping famine victims in Africa in the 1970's, well before Band Aid. But his music was C&W and was considered cheesy. The music press used to slate his music but they always ended up saying that for some reason his concerts were always a sell-out. The Band Aid Boys couldn't invite someone as corny and cheesy as him could they? Nor could the Americans on We Are The World.

[ChillDoubt]

Yet more money being tipped into the bottomless pit aka Africa Bob gets the begging bowl out on their behalf again and preys on the conscience of the UK public. Admittedly its for a different cause this time but it still feels like same old, same old.
As one charity worker said on Sky last night it won't address the real issue though and will hardly make a dent. Even the UN admitted 2 weeks ago that they don't have the funds and resources to tackle this so if a body specifically set up to deal with such crises can't cope why should we be expected to stump up?
No doubt his mate Bono will shortly join him in the crusade but even Kevin Maguire questioned the morals of 2 very rich gentlemen who have some tenuous(to say the least) tax arrangements. Apparently Bob bought a house abroad somewhere recently with money from a Cayman Island account or similar. Maybe they can swell the coffers with some substantial contributions of their own?
He slagged the UAE and China yesterday for their respective donations (UAE £5 million, China figure not revealed) but maybe these countries have decided too that enough is enough and they shouldn't be giving any more when the UN etc ought to be dealing with it, as is their remit.

[weecalf]

Why don't they call them selves Dads Harmony ,they are bringing it back too

[Deskdiary]

ChillDoubt - you must also be in the 'charity begins at home "brigade" that BOO despises!

[ChillDoubt]

Deskdiary,
I certainly am. We give enough to the UN for the privilege so let it and its departments who are tasked with dealing with such events go about their business, or ask for more from the larger countries/economies of the world instead of one fo the smallest expected to raise vast amounts via charity on an annual basis.
£100 million from China would be a drop in the ocean, ditto for so many others.

[Zeuhl]

/from the larger countries/economies of the world instead of one fo the smallest/

smallest!?

perleese...

The UK is the 6th largest economy in the world

[ChillDoubt]

I meant smallest country, the economy part is in no doubt, granted.

[Zeuhl]

I'm not sure about China 'giving up' on Africa either:

/China’s Export-Import Bank extended $62.7 billion in loans to African countries between 2001-2010, or $12.5 billion more than the World Bank. Other figures go even higher. What is clear, at any rate, is that Chinese people and money have flooded into Africa in the past decade, chiefly to buy raw materials to fuel China’s roaring economy.

Over a million Chinese are currently working in Africa on a range of projects/

Seems they are taking Africa over.

[janbee]

BandAid was all very boring in 1985, although I was stupid enough to watch it ALL. Midge Ure had all the ideas, did most of the work but Geldof pushed himself forward to be the face of it and got himself a knighthood. Ure got nowt.

[ChillDoubt]

So why did Bob use an expletive yesterday over China when reading out the figures of donations from various countries?

[Zeuhl]

Because like all good 'colonists' the chinese don't give anything for nothing

[ChillDoubt]

I guess this is what Kevin Maguire was alluding to:

http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2012/05/16/whys-bob-geldof-so-tetchy-about-his-tax-affairs/

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/309010/Rock-stars-among-1bn-dodgers

[Svejk]

didn't bob buy his London pad via the Caymans. Hence paying no rates(like the majority of rich people in London)

[ludwig]

// DO NOT re-record 'Its Christmas Time' - just about one of the worst songs ever to see the light of day; whenever I hear it I want to shove acid tipped carrots into my ears. //

Unfortunately, I think that's what's happening, but with changed lyrics.

[Zeuhl]

i must admit my prejudice to Sir Bob

in 1984 my agency was working with Save the Children fundraising

Bob made a big deal of how the mainstream charities wasted money on managers, admin etc

He raised a huge amount of money and swore he and a few volunteers would spend it wisely

within a few weeks his 'administration' collapsed with convoys of relief supplies strung out across europe; I was in Save the Children's HQ when they became (overnight) the biggest road transport operator in the country.

So as he had to hand over to the charities he had condemned but who actually had the experience, know how and infrastructure to do it properly I have been sceptical of his judgements ever since.

[smurfchops]

After all the money raised all those years ago there is still famine in Africa. And the charities still want more. Where exactly does all the money go? And will all the money raised this year by Sir Bob go to fight Ebola? Will we still have Ebola this time next year, and getting worse? Call me cynical .....