EDINBURGH, Scotland—I am watching telly as they say here, tuning into Live 8, live from London's Hyde Park, with Robbie Williams once more rock, rock, rocking us as we flash back and flash forward with another mega-rock show for a big cause.
Many thought that singer Bob Geldof's time came and went, but now, 20 years later, it's back again as billions tune into a string of concerts attended by over a million and a half being held in ten cities on four continents described as THE LONG WALK TO JUSTICE. The familiar bands are back singing for Africa but this time as only one part of a larger campaign, and not just a charitable one, and are ostensibly demanding a real change in the world. There are also other more important players this time around, but the pop concert drew far more detailed attention than the political activists did. Virtually all the British media played it up big with commemorative sections.
There were leading NGOs and lobbyists advocating for controls on climate change, fairer trade, debt reduction and more aid. They have come up with policy proposals that already seem to be embraced by some G-8 governments but are unlikely to win the backing of George Bush who made it clear in a British TV interview that he is coming to advance the interests of the USA, not Africa.
Using celebrities and the media, as well as protests called MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, organizers have mobilized hundreds of thousands to take to the streets as they did here in Edinburgh Saturday. (More protests are slated this week.)
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