THE ISSUE
-----------------------------------------Are you bothered?
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Open debate
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This week Seven puts aside its weekly interview and opens a debate on the rise of corporate and celebrity interest in Africa and the HIV crisis.
Is it exploitation of the crisis in Africa, or a much-needed way of dealing with the continent's problems? For, or against, we want to know your views.
If you wish to comment please e-mail:
areyoubothered@se7enmagazine.org
We will feature your responses on the website.
Your responses
"If every column inch generated by celebrity activism equalled a step towards social, political and trade justice for Africa then it would be beyond reproach. That isn't the case. Bono and his ilk are undoubtedly well-meaning, seasoned in using the media, and, as Live 8 demonstrated, effective at ratcheting up the flow of aid to the third world.
But Live 8 was also self-indulgent, bloated and patronising; it had little real-time relevance to the people of the continent it purported to be helping. Celebrity activism needs to be understood in the context of a wider, more complex political, economic and cultural movement working towards aid, fair (not unremittingly free) trade, and the development of proper systems of government."
Thomas Woodward
"Bono's tour of six African countries to try and improve access to AIDS treatment can be seen as a positive and amorous for those who are suffering from AIDS in Africa. The facts are that one in three people are thought to be HIV positive in Africa, which constitutes to millions of people dying and even more at risk. I don't dispute that celebrities such as Bono, Bob Geldolf etc may help to bring the problems of this continent to the forefront of the media and the western world, but more needs to be done. The problems in Africa stem much deeper than is even being portrayed, concerts like Live Aid, meetings like the G8 summit are positive moves forward, but evidently this is not enough- less talk more action needs to be taken or more people will die, it is that simple.
I also believe that it is a shame that we live in a society which is built around celebrity status. We will see the likes of Bono, Angelina and Brad travelling to some of these African countries which are plagued with AIDS, and it is only then that we really recognised that these developing countries do need help."
K Osafo Jones
"This sudden increased interest in Africa is an exploitation for, what I think, obvious reasons. Of course that irritates me. But if the people are getting what they need, then in the end I don’t think "where" the interest is coming from matters, so long as the problem is finally being addressed."
Erin PT Canning
"It is a sad fact that our society is fascinated in vacuous celebrity culture, presumably compelling charities to attract these endorsements as a means of exposure. The well-oiled publicity machine behind the modern day celebrity dictates that increased profile and visibility is intertwined with a bigger capacity to generate revenue somewhere down the line."
Ben Rawson-Jones
Is it exploitation of the crisis in Africa, or a much-needed way of dealing with the continent's problems? For, or against, we want to know your views.
If you wish to comment please e-mail:
areyoubothered@se7enmagazine.org
We will feature your responses on the website.
Your responses
"If every column inch generated by celebrity activism equalled a step towards social, political and trade justice for Africa then it would be beyond reproach. That isn't the case. Bono and his ilk are undoubtedly well-meaning, seasoned in using the media, and, as Live 8 demonstrated, effective at ratcheting up the flow of aid to the third world.
But Live 8 was also self-indulgent, bloated and patronising; it had little real-time relevance to the people of the continent it purported to be helping. Celebrity activism needs to be understood in the context of a wider, more complex political, economic and cultural movement working towards aid, fair (not unremittingly free) trade, and the development of proper systems of government."
Thomas Woodward
"Bono's tour of six African countries to try and improve access to AIDS treatment can be seen as a positive and amorous for those who are suffering from AIDS in Africa. The facts are that one in three people are thought to be HIV positive in Africa, which constitutes to millions of people dying and even more at risk. I don't dispute that celebrities such as Bono, Bob Geldolf etc may help to bring the problems of this continent to the forefront of the media and the western world, but more needs to be done. The problems in Africa stem much deeper than is even being portrayed, concerts like Live Aid, meetings like the G8 summit are positive moves forward, but evidently this is not enough- less talk more action needs to be taken or more people will die, it is that simple.
I also believe that it is a shame that we live in a society which is built around celebrity status. We will see the likes of Bono, Angelina and Brad travelling to some of these African countries which are plagued with AIDS, and it is only then that we really recognised that these developing countries do need help."
K Osafo Jones
"This sudden increased interest in Africa is an exploitation for, what I think, obvious reasons. Of course that irritates me. But if the people are getting what they need, then in the end I don’t think "where" the interest is coming from matters, so long as the problem is finally being addressed."
Erin PT Canning
"It is a sad fact that our society is fascinated in vacuous celebrity culture, presumably compelling charities to attract these endorsements as a means of exposure. The well-oiled publicity machine behind the modern day celebrity dictates that increased profile and visibility is intertwined with a bigger capacity to generate revenue somewhere down the line."
Ben Rawson-Jones
