more actually-important stuff
Alot of people knocked Live8 for a bunch of singers trying to change world politics.
In a way the detractors are right; no world leader is going to sit down and say "Gee, these rock folks think this is a good idea, maybe I should do what they say".
But the concerts did serve the function of raising awareness, which, in a way, is more important than what world leaders think. Elected leaders think whatever their voting populace tells them to think, and nobody is better for altering what the populace thinks than a bunch of rock stars. The concerts were major news for weeks; and while the G8 leaders may not have listened, a huge number of people paid attention to the concerts, and damn near everybody paid attention to the news blurbs about them. That, my friends, is star power; that is raising popular sentiment.
I don't know how much good it will do, but I respect their methods, and, to a certain extent, their goal. I don't particularly agree with their politics, but they are using the tools they have at hand to further an important cause, so power to 'em.
That's a sideways method to bring up the post I want to mention. The blogosphere, ironically for Live8's blogging detractors, serves much the same function as the concerts. If you're a blogger or blog reader, then I have news for you: George Bush dosen't care what you think. No elected official has any use for your personal opinions. The only hope you have is the same as the performers at these concerts, and you have much less pull than they do. You, a political nobody, can alter world policy through a connection to a massive group of other political nobodies.
All through public perception and awareness.
Anyway, I tend to get melodramatic with stuff I find important to spread around, so I'll just shut up and put up:
go read this story. See? I'm raising awareness, to a much lesser extend than Bob Geldof. But I think it's important, and if you do as well, then share the story, and maybe something can get done about it.
