Unfortunately in 20 years time nothing will have changed and probably another Live Aid concert will be planned. Until corrupt African governments are ousted then the poor will get poorer and countless thousands will die. Making larger aid payments and cancelling debt will only mean that the corrupt nations will spend more millions on arms to fight neighbouring countries, to build more palaces, buy more gold-plated Rolls Royce's and to top up numerous Swiss bank accounts whilst their people live in poverty and die.
America, the EU and Japan will not ease trade retrictions. At the end of the day their mandate is to look after OUR own interests first. To relax trade restrictions would cost millions of our own jobs - hands up anyone who will willingly lose their own job to help Africa - not many hands are there?... and who can blame anyone for not wanting to be jobless....how would we pay for our mortgages, car, shopping, entertainment and yes...... Florida holidays?
There is no easy solution...only hard ones but does anyone want to go down that route? To oust governments is not easy, look at Iraq. Surely a sensible idea would be to sterilise men/women after having one child - how can it be sensible to have six or more children when they can't support one?
I did not watch one single second on saturday out of principle...those artists were there for one thing...to increase their album sales... which according to reports have increased by over 1000% since saturday. I WOULD have gladly watched all those pop stars sit at a table with their cheque books open writing out millions of pounds for humanitarian aid but that of course was less likely than Posh Spice wearing a Primark cardigan. What was really revolting was the VIP area at the concert serving free champagne, lobster, smoked salmon and caviar to all those darlings who "gave" their time for Africa, surely just on this one occassion water and filled rolls would have been enough?
I hope the powers that be come up with a solution but unfortunately I don't think they will.
