LET'S TALK SHIT

Bob Geldof responds to those who think increased aid will mostly benefit Africa's corrupt power brokers:

"Those critics are just being stupid. They don't know what they are talking about. I do. I've been doing it for 20 years.

So, Geldof's an expert because he's been talking about something for 20 years. Since he mostly talks shit, that must make him a shit expert.

He should have kept his mouth shut but he was just getting started:

"Africa is not mired in corruption, it is mired in poverty. Corruption is a by-product of poverty just like dying of famine or Aids."

Hmm, I'm inclined to think he has it the wrong way around, Africans are poor because corruption is systemic. Regardless, if those in power behave, Bob's going to front with the goodies:

"When you live in a country that's got nothing and finally you make it to the top and you start grabbing what little there is you kill people below you."

He added: "They must be transparent, they must be accountable first to their own people then to rest of the world.

"If they do that we will come with the debt trade aid package. I'm not interested in critics."

It sounds like he's trying to start a cargo cult.

Update: Bjork, Live 8's opening act, isn't as optimistic as Geldof:

"I look at the news, I see people starving, I am crying. I'm a total mess," she told reporters after the gig.

"You try to think how you're going to break through this cobweb of problems and bureaucracy and how on Earth anybody is going to make any change."

Good point, Bjork, that thinking stuff isn't easy. If you ever master it, you can give Geldof a few pointers.

Update: More talking without thinking:

Coldplay's Chris Martin

This is the greatest thing that's ever been organised probably in the history of the world.

Can we take this opportunity on behalf of all the bands and on behalf of you people to say to Bob Geldof he is a hero of our time and he deserves all the credit he gets.

Sting

There is a groundswell for what we're doing here.

Those eight men in that room are going to have to position themselves to please these people. They have to address this.

We are a global village. We're connected to the problems of Africa and our brothers and sisters there.

Midge Ure

This event is huge, it's immense, it's amazing. I think it's fantastic that the UK is leading this entire thing.

Yep, it's a self-congratulatory bullshit festival, as expected.

Update II: As the organizer of Live 8, Geldof thinks there's a place for him in the history books:

"Mahatma Gandhi freed a continent, Martin Luther King freed a people, Nelson Mandela freed a country. It does work. They will listen."

It's too early to tell for sure but Live 8 probably won't achieve Sir Bob's lofty goals, or make him a historical figure. By the way, the North Koreans, Chinese and Vietnamese should really be told they've been freed, they don't seem to realise.