Band Aid.. 20 years later - Charlotte Alfred
In October, 1984, Michael Buerk, the BBC's correspondent in Africa , presented a report on the terrible famine that hit Ethopia, aired world-wide. Bob Geldof, a rock star from the band the Boomtown Rats, was touched by the programme's report of such total devastation. Geldof and his friend, Midge Ure came up with the idea of producing a record to raise money for Africa .
'Do They Know it's Christmas?' was released on 25 November, 1984 . The song has a myriad of famous contributors, including George Michael, Sting, and Bono. It was the fastest-selling single of all time, and also hit number one in 13 countries. It still dominates Christmas compilations every year, driving everyone mad before mid-November.
Live Aid - Saturday July 13, 1985
Live Aid
Fuelled by their success, Geldof began to devise the idea of a grand-scale fundraising concert. Live Aid was born.
On Saturday July 13, 1985 , a historic moment for music, development and links between global concerns and popular culture, took place. In London and Philadelphia , seventy of the world's biggest rock and pop acts, including the Beach Boys, Dire Straits, Queen and Status Quo performed in the Live Aid concerts that were watched by 1.5 billion people worldwide. The project raised over $140m in aid of famine relief in Ethiopia . It was estimated this would save one to two million lives.
Twenty years on…
This year marks the 20 th anniversary of Live Aid, a milestone that is made all the more significant by coinciding with an important year for African concerns in the Western world. Tony Blair has specified Africa as one of the major issues on the agenda for the G8 summit to be held in Scotland this year. The Commission for Africa will publish their report this Spring, in anticipation of accelerated progress towards achieving the UNMDGs. In Africa , the targets set for 2015 are a unrealistic dream if the progress remains at its present pace. Tony Blair has called the issue of Africa “a blight on the conscience of the world”.
Feed the world
Bob Geldof has become a figurehead for championing the cause of the third world in the past two decades. He continues to speak out over the lack of progress. “There is a totality of decline in the continent of Africa that is unique. Since I first got involved 20 years ago, it's got worse” he says bleakly.
However Band Aid has not lost its power to reach millions, and inspire them to act in the cause against global poverty.
In December 2004 Band Aid 20 was released, a re recording featuring modern artists such as Chris Martin, The Darkness, Keane, Travis, and Robbie Williams. It spent four weeks at number one, and became the year's best selling single. The proceeds are going to help the victims of the crisis in Darfur in Sudan as well as aiding other humanitarian efforts in Africa.
Band Aid have again raised the issues that developing countries face to the fore of the public mindset, and the political agenda (being dependent on the former). The achievements of an idea that started out as a ‘charity single' were ground-breaking in their time and continue to have a huge impact today. The trust spent more than $144 on famine relief in Africa between 1985 and the close of last year. What is next?
Geldof is planning a series of documentary essays shot in West Africa to be broadcast on BBC1 in anticipation of the G8 summit. Written and presented himself, the series will examine the cultural, historic, climatic and political intricacies of the continent, through the experience of ordinary Africans. Geldof is often in the press highlighting the tragedy in Africa , he hopes to celebrate the diversity and splendour of the continent in this series.
Band Aid continues to highlight poverty and injustice through accessing popular mediums and culture. The achievements they have made towards Development in Action's objective to “promote global citizenship by encouraging engagement in global issues amongst young people in the UK ” are an inspiration and aspiration.
Sources
www.liveaiddvd.net
www.buybandaid20.com
www.bobgeldof.info
www.guardian.co.uk
'Do They Know it's Christmas?' was released on 25 November, 1984 . The song has a myriad of famous contributors, including George Michael, Sting, and Bono. It was the fastest-selling single of all time, and also hit number one in 13 countries. It still dominates Christmas compilations every year, driving everyone mad before mid-November.
Live Aid - Saturday July 13, 1985
Live Aid
Fuelled by their success, Geldof began to devise the idea of a grand-scale fundraising concert. Live Aid was born.
On Saturday July 13, 1985 , a historic moment for music, development and links between global concerns and popular culture, took place. In London and Philadelphia , seventy of the world's biggest rock and pop acts, including the Beach Boys, Dire Straits, Queen and Status Quo performed in the Live Aid concerts that were watched by 1.5 billion people worldwide. The project raised over $140m in aid of famine relief in Ethiopia . It was estimated this would save one to two million lives.
Twenty years on…
This year marks the 20 th anniversary of Live Aid, a milestone that is made all the more significant by coinciding with an important year for African concerns in the Western world. Tony Blair has specified Africa as one of the major issues on the agenda for the G8 summit to be held in Scotland this year. The Commission for Africa will publish their report this Spring, in anticipation of accelerated progress towards achieving the UNMDGs. In Africa , the targets set for 2015 are a unrealistic dream if the progress remains at its present pace. Tony Blair has called the issue of Africa “a blight on the conscience of the world”.
Feed the world
Bob Geldof has become a figurehead for championing the cause of the third world in the past two decades. He continues to speak out over the lack of progress. “There is a totality of decline in the continent of Africa that is unique. Since I first got involved 20 years ago, it's got worse” he says bleakly.
However Band Aid has not lost its power to reach millions, and inspire them to act in the cause against global poverty.
In December 2004 Band Aid 20 was released, a re recording featuring modern artists such as Chris Martin, The Darkness, Keane, Travis, and Robbie Williams. It spent four weeks at number one, and became the year's best selling single. The proceeds are going to help the victims of the crisis in Darfur in Sudan as well as aiding other humanitarian efforts in Africa.
Band Aid have again raised the issues that developing countries face to the fore of the public mindset, and the political agenda (being dependent on the former). The achievements of an idea that started out as a ‘charity single' were ground-breaking in their time and continue to have a huge impact today. The trust spent more than $144 on famine relief in Africa between 1985 and the close of last year. What is next?
Geldof is planning a series of documentary essays shot in West Africa to be broadcast on BBC1 in anticipation of the G8 summit. Written and presented himself, the series will examine the cultural, historic, climatic and political intricacies of the continent, through the experience of ordinary Africans. Geldof is often in the press highlighting the tragedy in Africa , he hopes to celebrate the diversity and splendour of the continent in this series.
Band Aid continues to highlight poverty and injustice through accessing popular mediums and culture. The achievements they have made towards Development in Action's objective to “promote global citizenship by encouraging engagement in global issues amongst young people in the UK ” are an inspiration and aspiration.
Sources
www.liveaiddvd.net
www.buybandaid20.com
www.bobgeldof.info
www.guardian.co.uk
posted by Development in Action at 20:22
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