Pop politics (From Barry And District News)

Pop politics

I DID not attend or watch the Live8 concerts for two main reasons.

Firstly, I do not like pop music. To me it is just dreadful noise banged out and screamed out by foul-mouthed and scruffy persons.

It is quite impossible to understand what are the words of the songs, and if one can ascertain them, then they turn out to be banal rubbish.

I have an aversion to hearing those in the industry - who have much more money than I - telling me what to do with my money and even what to think.

Secondly, I did not think that the concerts would serve any useful purpose, other than making even more money for the industry by increased sales.

Political leaders of nations are not the sort of weak-minded persons that would be influenced by a few thousand of the less intelligent members of the community jigging up and down and screaming at a concert.

The only results of the concerts seemed to be to cause riots on the streets of Edinburgh and in the Gleneagles area. Perhaps they will come to be known as the Geldof/Bono riots.

My opinion of both these men is that they are over-rich and conceited, and public menaces. Perhaps they might help to pay for the extra policing that was required to control the crowds.

However, there is much that can be done to improve the lot of the Africans. But most of the action needs to come from the Africans themselves.

The whole continent needs to change its thinking on corruption, efficient government, civil war, AIDS and safe sex.

Mr Bush implied that his government would not invest in corruption. I think the other G8 leaders are of the same view. Sadly, the British government will invest in corruption, to gain a bit of popularity and a few votes.

No nation can prosper if it indulges in civil war and tribal prejudice and allows political despots to hold power.

While such a situation prevails, and it certainly does prevail, sending money to African governments is like pouring water into the sand.

Much of the money ends up in the pockets or bank accounts of dishonest men. Debt relief is fine, the capital would never be repaid, and not a lot of the interest either.

Money should only be funded to Africa through reputable charities, where Europeans can monitor exactly where the money goes.

As regards corrupt governments and despots such as Mugabe, it may be necessary for some African nations to have some sort of European/United Nations mandate as it is obvious that the concept of Africans governing themselves has proved to be a failure.

Finally, what a ridiculous decision to hold G8 at Gleneagles. This was just asking for trouble.

The summit should have been held on board a Royal Navy aircraft carrier, steaming in calm waters, or anchored in some remote Scottish loch, such as Scapa Floe.

This would have kept all leaders safe from protesters and crowds. One local police unit lost 20 percent of its manpower to the G8 up in Scotland for one week.

A J D Coxon

Elm Grove Road

Dinas Powys