[Ashsleigh]

I do think that there are other ways to encourage people to donate than this and I can completely understand why people disagree with it. Sometimes I've even thought to myself, 'Isn't that a bit insulting? What is that going to accomplish?' Yes, perhaps people are influenced by seeing their favourite artist/band flying out to an LEDC for a couple of days and showing us what they're living like, but we're not learning anything new about these conditions. I remember when I was younger, about seven or eight, my father showed me a newspaper clipping with a story about how young children were drinking their own urine because they were that dehydrated... I've helped to raise money for and donate to these charities since then. My point is, a celebrity has never encouraged me to donate. It was that conversation I had with my father eighteen years ago.

Of course, these celebrities play a good sized role in encouraging people to donate, but there are better ways of doing it. I don't feel as though it's necessary for them to fly over to poverty-stricken areas and fall into this "knight in shining armour" role, treating these countries like a tourist attraction, walking through their home and pointing out everything that's wrong about it. Could it encourage people to donate? Maybe. But it's at the expense of those who are less well-off than us.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Ashley.

I do think that there are other ways to encourage people to donate than this and I can completely understand why people disagree with it. Sometimes I've even thought to myself, 'Isn't that a bit insulting? What is that going to accomplish?' Yes, perhaps people are influenced by seeing their favourite artist/band flying out to an LEDC for a couple of days and showing us what they're living like, but we're not learning anything new about these conditions. I remember when I was younger, about seven or eight, my father showed me a newspaper clipping with a story about how young children were drinking their own urine because they were that dehydrated... I've helped to raise money for and donate to these charities since then. My point is, a celebrity has never encouraged me to donate. It was that conversation I had with my father eighteen years ago.

Of course, these celebrities play a good sized role in encouraging people to donate, but there are better ways of doing it. I don't feel as though it's necessary for them to fly over to poverty-stricken areas and fall into this "knight in shining armour" role, treating these countries like a tourist attraction, walking through their home and pointing out everything that's wrong about it. Could it encourage people to donate? Maybe. But it's at the expense of those who are less well-off than us.

We wouldn't be doing it if they weren't would we?

Not all the celebs are white that highlight issues in Africa, I can't help but think it's counterproductive, for genuinely involved people like Ed Sheeran to reduce him to his skin colour to prohibit him from contributing his money and efforts is unfair and effectively prejudiced.

The UK is predominantly a white country, there will be white people donating, what's wrong with white people promoting the cause? :/

In the name of inclusion and integration this is a bad call, worse it's regressive. The image of the colonialist white saviour was nothing like Ed Sheeran... surely that's apparent?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

We wouldn't be doing it if they weren't would we?

Not all the celebs are white that highlight issues in Africa, I can't help but think it's counterproductive, for genuinely involved people like Ed Sheeran to reduce him to his skin colour to prohibit him from contributing his money and efforts is unfair and effectively prejudiced.

The UK is predominantly a white country, there will be white people donating, what's wrong with white people promoting the cause? :/

In the name of inclusion and integration this is a bad call, worse it's regressive. The image of the colonialist white saviour was nothing like Ed Sheeran... surely that's apparent?

It's not really about the literal colour of his skin in my opinion; these videos and propaganda are just as much of a problem when it's black "rich western celebs" sitting wringing their hands.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It's not really about the literal colour of his skin in my opinion; these videos and propaganda are just as much of a problem when it's black "rich western celebs" sitting wringing their hands.

It's still highlighting the issue though isn't it and bringing it to a wider audience, as I said what's the alternative, if it's a corrupt government failing their citizens how do you convey that to a wider audience... how does it help those people survive now?

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

We wouldn't be doing it if they weren't would we?

Not all the celebs are white that highlight issues in Africa, I can't help but think it's counterproductive, for genuinely involved people like Ed Sheeran to reduce him to his skin colour to prohibit him from contributing his money and efforts is unfair and effectively prejudiced.

The UK is predominantly a white country, there will be white people donating, what's wrong with white people promoting the cause? :/

In the name of inclusion and integration this is a bad call, worse it's regressive. The image of the colonialist white saviour was nothing like Ed Sheeran... surely that's apparent?

I'm amazed at myself But credit where it's due:

I TOTALLY agree. Well said.