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"Maybe that is the step forward on this record, to be able to have the freedom to have humour sitting alongside songs that are deadly earnest, and the two actually balance out each other." -- Edge, on All That You Can't Leave Behind |
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"Maybe that is the step forward on this record, to be able to have the freedom to have humour sitting alongside songs that are deadly earnest, and the two actually balance out each other." -- Edge, on All That You Can't Leave Behind |
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For Long Term Success, Live 8 Needs You, Too
@U2,
July 16, 2005
Most people would agree that music has the power to change a person's individual mood, to soothe the soul or to wake up the neighbors. But some folks don't believe that music can alter the landscape of our world. I beg to differ.
Music has been the clear catalyst for social change on two specific occasions. U2 was at the forefront of both. It all began in October of 1984. Irish singer Bob Geldof had seen a documentary about the famine in Ethiopia and was moved to respond. He paired up with musician Midge Ure and wrote a benefit song called "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which was recorded a month later with a host of big-name celebrities. The impromptu group was called Band Aid and featured members of Duran Duran, the Police, Culture Club, U2, and others. The collaboration was a success and the tune became an instant hit, raising over eight million dollars. But there was more work to be done. So, on July 13, 1985, Geldof led a melody brigade of over 50 acts who performed for 16 straight hours, on two separate continents, for African relief. It was called Live Aid. Prior to that event, the reality of the devastation in Africa had only been an abstract rumor overheard at the end of a dry news report or an exaggerated myth that couldn't possibly be true. However, that day, the message was broadcast loud and clear. Although our memories of Live Aid get clouded with talk of funny haircuts and rock star temper tantrums, there was a spirit present that can't be forgotten. Amidst the band reunions and landmark duets emerged a feeling of hope; a belief that this was a problem that could be solved. Bono's heartfelt dance with a 15-year old fan was a necessary display of emotion that won over even the most jaded of viewers. Donations poured in by the second and an estimated 200 million dollars were raised. Geldof and the Band Aid Trust personally ensured that the money went where it was intended. Those donations helped the citizens of Burkina Faso, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Niger and Sudan. It bought grain, milk, sugar, oil -- things that we in the Western world call "staples" or items we can't live without. It purchased a fleet of ships to carry the aid, hospital tents and medical supplies to help the sick and water drilling rigs to give communities clean water. The sad fact is that the help wasn't enough to revive their countries. Band Aid had become just that -- a Band-Aid stuck on an emergency of epic proportion. Enter Bono, who was so moved by his experience that he and his wife went on a World Vision journey to Africa shortly after the concert. They educated themselves first-hand about the effects of horrific poverty and vowed never to forget. As Bono spoke at the Closing Ceremony of the African Development Bank meetings in May of 2002, he remembered Live Aid: "We raised 200 million dollars, and we thought we'd cracked it. It was a great moment, it was a great feeling. Then I discovered that Africa pays 200 million dollars every five days repaying old debts. Can I repeat that? 200 million dollars every five days. Tears were obviously not enough." That same year, Bono co-founded Debt Aids Trade Africa (DATA), an organization aimed at sparking grassroots political action to drop the debts of poor countries, fight the AIDS epidemic and foster fair trade policies so that African nations can grow economically and ultimately help themselves. This group sparked a ripple of community action and two prominent coalitions emerged: Make Poverty History in the United Kingdom and The One Campaign in the United States. Through public service announcements, community action events and meetings with world leaders, word got out that Africa still needed our help. And once again, Bob Geldof rose to the challenge, organizing a second landmark event -- this time called Live 8 -- to coincide with the G8 Summit taking place in Scotland. In a grand gesture of history repeating itself, many of the original artists that participated in Live Aid signed on for the event, resulting in 10 separate concert sites. With Paul McCartney and U2 headlining the London show, an estimated 30 million viewers watched the broadcast. And what resulted from all of this synchronicity? A 50 billion dollar increase in aid; half of which is dedicated to Africa. Debt cancellation for 14 African countries (and four others) by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. A promise to set a date to end agricultural export subsidies that have traditionally lowered the value of products sold by struggling countries. Not bad for a bunch of rock stars. But can they really take all of the credit? Of course not. Many of the "deals" at the G8 were solidified before the concerts even took place. However, it's fair to say that the pressure looming from the announcement of the shows had some impact. The attention the media gave the G8 summit was greatly increased due to Live 8, which meant that activists and political buffs weren't the only people in the know. Regular citizens all over the world learned about the topics of these important meetings, and were called to act. We'll never truly know the weight of what Live 8 accomplished, but it undoubtedly deserves a margin of credit for the success. That's not to say that there hasn't been a fair share of criticism directed at our favorite celebrities. Bono specifically has been accused of cozying up to unpopular world leaders, who allegedly only want the association with him for their own political gain. While that may be true, what the critics are forgetting is that the people of power are the ones that need to be solicited, or all of the work will have been for nothing. It's wonderful to have the support of like-minded individuals and to make a lot of noise, but it's the opposing individuals that you need to engage for real change to take place. Bono is brilliant to declare his organization non-partisan. He's wise to ask for help from both sides of the political fence. He's also fair to call the bluffs of leaders who don't deliver. And that's where we come in, folks. As citizens of developed countries, it is not only our responsibility, but also our privilege to see that the promises that have been made are kept. That the money we've pledged is delivered. That this never happens again. Many of U2's lyrics echo the sentiments of this global emergency: How long must we sing this song? A little death without mourning/no cause and no warning. So where is the hope/and where is the faith/and the love? And it's already gone too far. Where you live should not decide/whether you live or whether you die. Think about it. If a bunch of musicians can come together twice in twenty years and inspire such results, consider what would happen if everyone who watched the concerts responded in just one way. I beg of you to accept the challenge. Let Bono go back to his day job. Download "Sgt. Pepper." Wear the white band. Write to your leaders. Do something. Do anything. And don't ever say music can't make a difference. © @U2/Kokkoris, 2005.
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