Live 8 - Removes 98% of all known Guilt

I remember the first one, Live Aid, Band Aid (haha), etc as a late teen. I wasn't much impressed, then. Just a bunch of hysteria over a very token gesture; basically an event designed to help the middle classes feel less guilty about their wealth. I remember the self-righteous tones spoken by the participants, particularly the Brits, who sneered at their US counterparts' ignorance.

It's like throwing a tramp a £1, then going back to your £500,000 house, in your £20,000 car, comfortable in the knowledge of your £60,000 a year job, thinking "I've done my bit for the poor of this world" and feeling proud of yourself, sneering at those who pass the tramp by, staring at their shoes.

I'm one of the guys who stares at his shoes.

I can't say I'm an expert on the subject of Africa's poverty. I have been to Kenya on holiday. I remember sitting in the bar of our hotel when a group arrived back from a "safari". They went up to the young woman serving and ordered some drinks, then proceeded to describe in mocking terms the condition of the Kenyian roads "If you could call them roads" - queue loud laughter.

Not for a moment did these people think they might be insulting this woman, who smiled politely, I think uncomfortably .

This is the patronising arrogance of the white, middle-class Brit which fuels the euphoria of such events as Live 8.

"So, what am I doing to help matters." says the voice in my head, which represents the imaginary readers of this blog.

"Nothing", is my reply.

But if there's a referendum on whether the rich countries to share a bit of their wealth out to the poor countries, I'll vote yes.

Yes, I'm prepared to take a cut in living standards to even things up a bit - cos that the reality. The reality middle-class people dont want to face - that they might actually have to make more than a token gesture, or do more than spend a few hours joining the mass hysteria of a nationwide charity event.

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Given up trying to find a producer stop Decided to do it myself stop Probably change my mind again by tomorrow stop