THIS IS NOT LIVE AID 2

On July 13, 1985, musical artists banded together to perform at Live Aid, a concert staged at multiple venues and organized to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. It was the largest scale satellite link-up and TV broadcast of all time, with an estimated 1.5 billion viewers in 100 countries watching the live broadcast.



Today, almost twenty years to the day later, Live 8 will be kicking off in a matter of hours. This time, the concert isn't asking for money.

On its website, the message is, "We don't want your money, we want your face!"

"LIVE 8 is calling for people across the world to unite in one call – in 2005 it is your voice we are after, not your money."

Bob Geldof, the man behind the event, writes:
"This is not Live Aid 2.

These concerts are the start point for The Long Walk To Justice, the one way we can all make our voices heard in unison.

This is without doubt a moment in history where ordinary people can grasp the chance to achieve something truly monumental and demand from the 8 world leaders at G8 an end to poverty.

The G8 leaders have it within their power to alter history. They will only have the will to do so if tens of thousands of people show them that enough is enough.

By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children."

Does a group of performers have the power to rid poverty from Africa?

They think so, declaring, "NOW IS THE TIME, THIS IS THE YEAR - OUR LEADERS HAVE THE POWER TO END POVERTY - BUT WE HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THEM USE IT."

The plan is to sway the G8 leaders to act to end poverty in Africa.

Although it's a noble effort and I do believe its organizers are sincere in their intentions, I don't think the concert will have much influence on the leaders.

It certainly will introduce the issues of African debt relief and poverty to a new generation. As a result, there could be a long term impact by influencing younger people to care about the suffering of others and teaching them that they have the power to organize and determine the makeup of their governments.

In the short term, however, I think the G8 leaders already know how much they are able to offer in terms of assistance to Africa.

Does anyone really believe that Paul McCartney and U2 merely getting on stage will magically free up billions of dollars for governments to provide additional aid to Africa?

Remember, this gathering is supposedly not about raising money. It's about raising awareness. Frankly, I don't know why they aren't attempting to gather some cash from its audience. Live Aid raised over $100 million. That would go a long way if Live 8 could match that.

Nonetheless, organizers insist, "LIVE 8 is about justice not charity."

I think that's a bit disingenuous. The event is definitely about getting governments to pledge money. I'd call that raising funds, even though the concert's viewers won't be asked to phone in contributions.

Where do the organizers think the governments get the billions of dollars to give? In the U.S., the government's money comes out of the people's pockets.

I do think providing aid is a worthy use of tax dollars; but why pretend it's not charity?

Charity isn't a bad thing. Being generous to alleviate human suffering is the right thing to do.

Live 8 is about charity AND justice.