SusanHu wrote a little somethin-somethin’ on this a couple weeks back, but as it’s coming up, I’ve decided to create a diary about it (also thanks to some gentle prodding by SlackerInc).
From the front page of the Live 8 website:
On July 6th, we finally have the opportunity to stop that shameful statistic.
8 world leaders, gathered in Scotland for the G8 summit, will be presented with a workable plan to double aid, drop the debt and make the trade laws fair. If these 8 men agree, then we will become the generation that made poverty history.
But they’ll only do it if enough people tell them to.
That’s why we’re staging Live 8. 10 concerts, 100 artists, a million spectators, 2 billion viewers, and 1 message… To get those 8 men, in that 1 room, to stop 30,000 children dying every single day of extreme poverty.
Let’s think about that for a minute. 30,000 children die of poverty each day. I grew up in a town of just over 15,000 people. That means that twice the population of my hometown is dying. Not in a year. Not in a month. In one day. And that is only counting the children who are dying.
The concerts are taking place on July 2 (this Saturday). Here is the list of locations:
Palais de Versailles, Paris, France
Siegessaule, Berlin, Germany
Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA
Park Place, Barrie, Canada
Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, Japan
Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa
So, what can you do?
If you happen to be to near Scotland, go here to read about the Long Walk to Justice in Edinburgh.
For the rest of us, the least we can do is sign the petition to the G8 leaders, and forward it on to our friends. And if you’re feeling slightly more giving, get one of their sharp white wristbands. Here is where to get them, based on country.
And if you can’t make any of those shows, be sure to tune in on TV. In the States, I know that both MTV and VH1 are going to have 8 straight hours of coverage, beginning at noon Eastern time.
(X-posted at EuroTrib)
Thank you ejmw. We all need to remember that 30,000 people die every day and that it is preventable.
OT a little. After being blown away at the U2 concert back in April, I went to the One.org site that Bono referred us all to durung the concert. I wanted to do my part so I signed up for four bracelets at $40.00. Now I thought that was a bit steep for rubber bracelets but it was for a good cause. I told my son what I had done and he just started laughing his butt off. When he got himself back in control he explained. “Mom, you didn’t order 4 bracelets you ordered 40, they come in packs of ten. Ah, what the heck it was for a good cause and my grand daughter got to take a bracelt fro all her classmates.
I saw U2 a few years ago (on the Pop tour, I think), and they were incredible.
I just ordered a pack of 10 wristbands from one.org, but I’ll probably end up doing a supplemental order for friends at work.
I wish I would have heard about this Live 8 thing sooner, I would have loved to try to go to one of the shows!
U2 concert was a spiritual experience for me. I got to experience with my 35 year old son and his wife. We were but six people back from the ellipse and Bono was outfront alot. He actually made eye contact with my daughter in law. The enrgy was incredible in the venue and it is a night I shall never forget. They did a reading of the Un Bill of Human Rights…something GWB has obviously never read and then they went into “Streets” very moving.
Actually, it was the reading of the UN Declaration of Human Rights into BAD, which led into Pride, into Streets (“from Dr. King’s America, to Nelson Mandela’s Africa, the march for equality goes on…”), and then finally into One. Amazing.
Come on, Mom, get your facts straight! 😉
But I agree. Bono’s not just one of the greatest rock stars in history, he’s an amazing human being. If only we were all so dedicated to equality, justice, human rights, etc.
Bono is definitely a great person. We see so many celebrities who achieve their great status, and don’t use it for any greater good. It’s so refreshing and inspiring to see him putting it all out there.
And he sings pretty well, too 🙂
Smartass! LOL The gig is up.
This was to paulucla just for the record.
“putting it all out there”
You are right, those words describe Bono perfectly. Anyone who has ever seen him in concert knows that somehow this man is able to make every single member of the audience at every single concert feel like he is putting on the concert of his life for them. He (and the band) hold absolutely nothing back. They are the greatest live band ever, period.
And that is how he treats life. It was truly inspiring to hear him on Meet the Press last weekend. So eloquent and passionate. A true inspiration!