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Live 8: Was it mainly a corporate media bonanza?
[COMMENT by Lorenzo: I have to admit that some parts of the Live 8 concert moved me, particularly since I'm a long-time Pink Floyd fan. But there was something about the vibe of the rock-hero-gods high up on their altars that just didn't feel as good as it does when your DJ is on the floor with you. So I tried to shrug off my bad feelings about it and join in with the emotion of some of the performers, like Alicia Keys, who I believe is very sincere about her beliefs, which I share, btw. . . . Then, today I came across this article, and it put Live 8 in a slightly different light. In the end, you will have to be your own judge about what this event ultimately will mean, especially to the poor people on the African continent.]

(GlabalResearch.ca, July 5, 2005)
Live 8 is a multimillion dollar undertaking, which will result in huge profits for its corporate sponsors including AOL Time Warner, the US based media giant, the Ford Motor company, through its Swedish affiliate Volvo and Nokia, the cell phone company, not to mention Britain's EMI Music Group, which has entered into a highly lucrative arrangement with the Live 8 organizers. . . . AOL also holds the exclusive online rights for the event on the internet. . . . TV air-time has been auctioned off around the world. Millions of dollars of advertising revenues are expected from the broadcasting of the event, not to mention the repeats, the video-clips, the internet broadcasting and the DVDs, which will be available commercially. . . . According to the producers, Live 8 will go down as "the biggest global broadcast in history". The organizers expect --through TV, radio and the internet-- to reach some 5.5 billion people, or 85 per cent of the world's population. The advertising industry places the number of potential viewers at a conservative two billion, approximately one third of the World's population. . . . By far this is largest media advertising operation in history, which will line the pockets of the promoters, producers, corporate sponsors, not to mention the royalties accruing to the performers and "celebrities". A small percentage of the proceeds might accrue to charitable organizations involved in developing countries but this is not the stated objective of Live 8. . . . In a multimillion dollar agreement with the Live 8 organizers, Britain's EMI Music Group has secured the exclusive rights on the DVDs of the concerts in six of the G8 countries including the US, France, Britain, UK, Italy and Germany . . . In the words, of Bob Geldof, "I hope this will be the biggest-selling DVD of all time." . . . Meanwhile, the event has contributed to boosting stock market values with EMI's share price triple its 2003 level. . . . Distorting the Causes of Global Poverty . . . The concerts are totally devoid of political content. They concentrate on simple and misleading clichés. . . . They use poverty as a marketing tool and a consumer-advertising gimmick to increase the number of viewers and listeners worldwide. . . . Live 8 creates an aura of optimism. It conveys the impression that poverty can be vanquished with the stroke of the pen. All we need is good will. The message is that G8 leaders, together with the World Bank and the IMF, are ultimately committed to poverty alleviation. . . . In this regard, the concerts are part of the broader process of media disinformation. They are used as a timely public relations stunt for Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is hosting the G-8 Summit at Gleneagles, Scotland. Tony Blair is presented as stepping up his campaign to convince other G8 nations "to take action on poverty".

[Please click the link above for this complete article. Additional topics, which are covered in detail, include: The G8's Debt Forgiveness Proposal and "Social Safety Net" for the IMF and the World Bank.]

Concluding Remarks . . . The concerts serve to usefully distract public attention from the US-UK led war on Iraq and the broader relationship between war and global poverty. Not a word is mentioned in the concerts on the fact that George W. Bush and Tony Blair are considered "war criminals" under international law. . . . Moreover, Live 8 tends to undermine all forms of meaningful and articulate dissent to the G8 policy agenda. With the exception of the South African venue, which included the appearance of Nelson Mandela, the concerts are devoid of a broader understanding and commitment. . . . Live 8 undermines both the anti-globalization and anti-war movements. It diverts public opinion and distracts media attention from the G8 protest movement. It also serves to undermine the articulation of more radical voices against the New World Order. . . . More generally, the event instills an atmosphere of ignorance among the millions who listen to the music and who have the feeling of doing something positive and constructive. But none of the core elements needed to understand the causes of global poverty are presented. . . . To the Live 8 corporate sponsors, including Bob Geldof, the EMI Group, AOL Time Warner, The Ford Motor Company, Nokia, MTV, the Walt Disney Company, etc. "Put your money where you mouth is." . . . If you are really committed to poverty alleviation, give the entire proceeds of this multimillion dollar media operation, including the revenues generated by the corporate sponsors, TV networks, advertising firms, royalties accruing to celebrities and performers, to the people of Africa. Let them use this money as they see fit, without interference from donors and creditors.

To the people of Africa. Do not let yourself be deceived by a giant corporate media stunt where poverty is used as a logo, to attract consumers and make money. Default on your debt to the IMF and the World Bank.

posted by LoZo 6:49 PM