I think the main problem with Band Aid is that it is made out as the ONLY way to donate to fight Ebola. It almost gives the image across "if you do not buy this single you're a bad person and want people to die".

The whole basis of Band Aid is a good one. It's there to help ultimately. Although this is dampened by the generalisation of Africa, the artists using it as a money spinner and the fact that Bob Geldof is probably one of the worst spokesmen to have. I know he's the pulling power behind it although really the way he has handled things since Saturday has made me think someone else should have been at the forefront of it all.

I agree with you that throwing money at Africa doesn't solve the problem which is why I rarely support any African charity. However in this situation I would hope we can actually see results ie infrastructure being built,training etc, research into a vaccine so I can't see how it compares to previous efforts

I agree! Maybe if the more economically sound African economies stood up to the plate, Europe and America could stand down, coming out with Smug Ebola free statements seem to be the extent of their contribution

That is a very over simplified assumption there, at the moment there are no more meaningful issues than containing this virus that is the bottom line.
It is a global threat no matter where on earth these things originate.
I don't think there's anymore to be said and it's clear you would rather he didn't bother helping raise the millions he does.
To me, and this is just my personal view that this is a very English attitude.. We hate anyone who thrusts themselves forward in any bombastic or over dramatic fashion as it's seen as crass, vulgar and common.
It's a bit small minded but it's understandable.

I've said plenty of times why I'm against Band Aid, I'm not against him raising money, I'm against the way he presents his campaign and how he makes it less about the cause and more about himself and the celebs involved so you can drop those little digs because you're not being sly or clever about it and it's embarassing to see you try to be.

This "cause" disrespects Africa as a continent. There are by far bigger disasters in the whole of Africa that are ignored yet this tiny "outbreak" is now given more focus and puts such a negative outlook on most of the countries that are actually not effected. Bob doing his usual self-righteuous ****.

I'd like to see him match from his own money every penny raised to see how concerned he really is.

Don't get personal dezzy please, I've said nothing that hasn't been said before on this issue.

Ah that old Kizzy trick of insulting someone and then acting like the innocent party afterwards.

You called me small minded and made assumptions about me, you made it personnel so don't be a goddamn hypocrite if someone decides to point out justified observations about you.

Bob Geldof is a rich man. According to the Sunday Times rich list he is worth £32 million and like most rich people he is understandably keen to hang on to his fortune. That's why, very sensibly, he gives no more of his money away to the Government than he has to. As a registered non-dom he is legally entitled to avoid income and capital gains tax on international earnings. Those of us without non-dom status may envy him the privilege, but we can hardly blame him for it: after all we most of us know that we'd do a much better job of spending (and saving) our money than ever the poltroons in the various agencies of government do.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/ja...es-bob-geldof/

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I shan't buy the single....there are other equally worthy causes in the UK that I would prefer to donate to. 440 people die of cancer every day (in 3 weeks more people in the UK will die from cancer than so far during the Ebola crisis), a hospice has to raise £16,000 per day to provide facilities so people can die in dignity and receive very little or no funding, 27% of children in the Uk live below the poverty line. I do feel the celebs do this more as a publicity stunt rather than for actual charitable reasons.

However, this is my personal view and if this single saves lives then it's all good and worthy but I personally wish to donate my money to charities that I want to.

I didn't mean you personally, but seeing as you have chosen to make it all about you then yes I suppose I do see you as small minded on this issue

While the rest of is have to subsidise people like him and Bono? I have no desire to applaud.

Does anyone on here seriously believe that Geldof and Bono have such financial need that they would have to set up as complex and intricate a scam as the Band Aid concerts would have to be in order to make money?

Geldof is worth over £30 million so feck knows what Bono is worth.

Or are we suggesting that they are both so wealthy because of Band Aid?

There is not one iota of evidence to suggest that these people personally gain from these concerts, because they don't. Geldof, Ure and Bono are driven by sincere humanitarian causes not personal gain, and I think the besmirching of these thoroughly decent guys on here is well out of order and borne of mere personal dislike not valid reasons.

I applauded LT's post because it was informative, and supports my own contention that Geldof is an independently wealthy man who has no need to impeach his honourable reputation for the sake of gleaning a few quid in dirty money from Band Aid. After all he's not a politician.

Finally; I find it highly relevant that Geldof and Bono are Irish, and Ure Scottish. When taken into account with the fact that Ireland also topped the list of a recent survey to ascertain the most generous charitable Nations in the world, then maybe the Gaelic races could teach us all something about the true meaning of selflessness.

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I bet Bono is worth some serious cash.Did'nt he just give an album away for free on iTunes?

Well this is wrong

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I know you don't approve of this 'clapping' but credit it where it's due - this is fecking hilarious and very, very, clever.

My only problem is, I have to resist - 'Get Thee Behind Me Satan' style - the wish that half the pricks in this parody had got fecking Ebola. :hehe::evilgrin:

Oof... WWJS (what would jeebus say)

In what way? :suspect: