A CYNICAL VIEW OF LIVE 8

Posted By: Useless_Eater <Send E-Mail>
Date: Saturday, 2 July 2005, 2:53 p.m.

I sent an email to Bob Geldof about 2 weeks ago asking if he
1. knew about fractional reserve banking,
2. if so, has he ever referred to it in any live speech or in any interview,
3. and if so has it been edited out because I have never seen any mention of it.

Just to make sure he knew what it was I gave him a few examples of how fractional reserve banking and international finance works.

I work with the brother of the chair of MakePovertyHistory and have made him aware of fractional reserve banking.

Today I am watching the live BBC broadcast of the Live8 concerts. I have a lot of respect for Sir Bob Geldof. He has put alot of time and energy into both Live8 and LiveAid. But I think he is not making the most of the opportunity. I have not heard Bob or anyone else mention fractional reserve banking. Yes, free trade, write off debt, etc.

But I want Bob, and all those associated with MakePovertyHistory, to remember this quote from Lord Stamp,a Director of the Bank of England;
Banking was conceived in iniquity and born in sin. Bankers own the earth; take it away from them but leave them with the power to create credit, and, with a flick of the pen, they will create enough money to buy it all back again… If you want to be slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, then let the bankers control money and control credit.

ie. if we leave the bankers controlling money supply in a few decades we'll back here again doin' the same thang, singin' the same ol' songs....

As for the artists, so far I have not heard one act sing a song that directly refers to Africa, be it self-written or a cover version. There have been a few that due to the circumstances could refer to Africa and poverty e.g. the duo of ColdPlay and Richard Ashcroft singing The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony". What does this say about the artists? Their record companies?

I'm feeling that there is a wasted opportunity here.

I have written personally to Geldof and the chair of MakePovertyHistory explaining EXACTLY how fractional reserve banking and international finance work, and so far there has been no mention of it. I know they know!

I'm very disappointed.

And to top it off every interview after their gig asks the artist what they are doing now e.g. new album, new book etc. Madonna, with her multi-million pound mansion in London, was the classic. An inappropriate act followed by an inappropriate interview.