Live 8
So, Live8 is happening – five concerts across Europe and the USA to raise not money but awareness of the issues of global poverty and trade justice.
Interestingly, Bob Geldof et al. are in trouble in the UK media for suggesting, first, that people travel to Edinburgh for the G8 meeting as part of a large protest to ensure that the representatives of the rich nations there can’t ignore the issue. Edinburgh, apparently, can’t cope with that many people. Well, I suspect that the only answer is “Tough”! This is democracy in action – people going out of their way to make their opinions plain. Perhaps, though, those going to need to plan ahead for possible problems…
Even stranger, though, Geldof and friends are in trouble for suggesting that people take the day off work or school to attend. Now, I’ve no idea why taking a day’s holiday to go is a problem (or do they think that people will “pull a sickie”? In which case, the actual problem is quite different – the attitudes of workers to their jobs, not the campaign itself), but I can understand the issue with schoolchildren. We have a responsibility to educate our young, and they have a responsibility to learn. However, is one of the most important lessons not to take responsibility for ourselves for the decisions that our political leaders make? In which case, spending a day to support the protest in Edinburgh might be the best day of education that someone could have.
pax et bonum
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