Live 8 shows pitfalls of stars with a cause

The power of the famous to make a difference will be put to the test on July 2, when dozens of concerts happen to alleviate African poverty.

When aid groups approach the media to draw attention to a problem, the response is more often "Who have you got?" than "What is the issue?"

HT Image

Driven by an insatiable appetite for celebrity, newspapers and broadcasters often want a recognisable face as much as a theme, helping explain why stars get involved in charity and why the Live 8 concerts on July 2 are proving such a big media draw.

"The appetite of the press is what drives it," said Lysbeth Holdoway of Oxfam. "We want to get our issues out there and if we are always asked 'Who have you got?' we go and find someone," she added.

"It's what they (the media) want in order to address the issues, and I think that's a shame."

The power of the famous to make a difference will be put to the test on July 2, when dozens of major pop acts grace stages across the world in a Live 8 extravaganza that aims to pressure leaders into doing more to alleviate African poverty.

There is no doubt eight concerts from Tokyo in the East to Toronto in the West will raise awareness of Africa's problems.

The question is whether stars can encourage Group of Eight leaders meeting in Scotland on July 6-8 to do more for Africa.

Noel Gallagher of British band Oasis has his doubts.

"Are they hoping one of these guys from the G8 ... sees Annie Lennox singing 'Sweet Dreams' and thinks, 'Fuck me, she might have a point there, you know.' It's not going to fucking happen, is it?" he said in a newspaper interview.

And those on the receiving end of celebrities with a cause are not always convinced they help much.

"Highlighting the problems of Africa is a noble thing, but beyond that, stars' solutions to the problems are suspect," said Franklin Cudjoe of Imani: The Centre for Humane Education in Ghana, who believes they help prop up corrupt governments.

Rather than "rock-star economics" for Africa, he calls for institutional reforms allowing locals to help themselves.

Experts say the key to success for celebrities with a cause is a long-term commitment to a single issue, a comprehensive understanding of the problem, the ability to avoid playing party politics and working through consensus.

Stars know politicians cannot ignore their fan bases, and often enjoy rubbing shoulders with the world's top performers.

One of the most powerful celebrities with a conscience is Irish singer Bono, who regularly bends the ear of leaders about causes like poverty in Africa.

"We have a unique power in this ridiculous thing called celebrity, and our job isn't finished when we write songs that grow out of concerns," he said recently.

The day after his nomination as head of the World Bank was announced, one of the first people Paul Wolfowitz called was Bono ... twice.

Months later, rich nations announced a deal to wipe out over $40 billion of impoverished nations' debts which aid groups and lobbyists believe was partly thanks to Bono and fellow Irish rocker Bob Geldof, who is organising Live 8.

"Politicians say to me every day of the week that it's hard to do anything about these issues because no one cares about them," said Tom Hart, director of government relations at DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), a group Bono founded.

"The ability for celebrities to shine a spotlight on these issues has a huge impact on them," he added.

But critics question ties between Bono and Geldof and leaders like U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Commentator George Monbiot, who refers to "Bush, Blair and their two bards", accuses both artists of failing to challenge Western leaders' policies in Africa which he says had a role in the continent's accumulation of debt and corruption.

"The good these two remarkable men have done is in danger of being outweighed by the harm," he said.