Live 8: Please don't let it happen again!

United Kingdom | by Steve Jenner | 03 July 2005

Once again, Bob Geldof has staged a concert that not rocked not only our senses, but also the deepest foundations of our existence - the most poignant reminder in 20 years that music really can change the world. Let's go!

Now it's our turn!

It wasn't about stellar line-ups, epic re-unions, superb live sets, global link-ups, celebrity introductions or Ricky Gervais' dancing. It wasn't about anything you saw live, on TV or heard on the radio. Hell, it wasn't even about Bono. It was about us. You and I.

First up, a slap round the face, and rightly so. 20 years ago to the day at Live Aid, Sir Bob showed us, in spectacular fashion, just what was possible with the vision and energy of one man. If that's what I can do on my own, then collectively all of us in the Western world can surely sort out this mess, easily, he said. How we cheered, revelled in being part of history, got our credit cards out, made a pledge on the hotline and... sneaked off, back to the blissful sanctuary of our own lives, heads in sand.

There's no escaping the shame of it today. That colossal stage is, first and foremost, a big, bold reminder of the failure of you and I in our responsibility, as bestowed upon us by Bob that day. After all his legendary effort, we let him down. It's the 21st century - we all love our DVD players, iPods and broadband, but hang on - children in Africa are still going to bed starving whilst we catch up on the highlights from the Big Brother House. But worse than this is the fact that today, these tragedies are completely unnecessary. Completely preventable. And you and I are the ones with the power to end them. If only we can get off our arses and tear ourselves away from the inane distractions that modern life offers.

And Bob has graciously afforded us a second chance to act.

Yesterday, in Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela pleaded with us: "To look the other way would be a crime against humanity against which I ask all humanity now to rise up."

We've decided not to publish reviews and photos of any of the Live 8 concerts, as we believe that to do so would be 'looking the other way', missing the point. You can find them on these other sites: BBC, NME, AOL, News of The World...

On this site, we say let's rise up, as Nelson asked. Let's do Bob proud this time, Let's act. Let's Make Poverty History and let's do it because we can.

Click here to change the world