madonna at live8 = hypocrisy

[ThatGuy]

There will always be rich and poor, but extreme poverty does not have to exist in its current form. That is the point.

[strangeirish]

How many people will go to the G8 summit, to pay attention to what happens?

Eight! And the PR stunt, as you called it, served its purpose by bringing worldwide attention to this very important meeting.

[Thomo]

The cynicism in here is disgusting. How many of you have given up all but the bare essentials to make poverty history?

are u calling diamonds, bare essentials? i'm not suggesting she should have tried to pretend shes something shes not, but surely at a gig theoretically intended to help africa, is it not somehow wrong to be wearing something made from a rock which is causing the plight of so many africans? make trade fair my arse! tell teh ppl of siera leone that!

[dahamsta]

are u calling diamonds, bare essentials?

Did you understand the question?

EDIT: In hindsight, perhaps I've extended the point a bit further than some people would expect or understand. I /could/ have asked the cynics how many of them had given up all of the luxuries in their lives to make poverty history, since they seem to believe that Madonna should. However I stretched it a bit further, since if they're going to accuse Madonna of hypocrisy, I think they should be willing to give up all but the bare essentials.

But I still wonder how many of them have CD players, and cars, and televisions, which would be a rough equivalent of Madonna's diamonds. And I'd wonder how they actually know where Madonna's diamonds come from, since not all diamonds are conflict diamonds*. Or how much research they've done into how much of her wealth and time she's contributed to charity.

Perhaps she's contributed none, or very little. But they've made an accusation, I think they should back it up.

adam

[size=1]*In fact it would be interesting to know how they know they're real diamonds at all. Was there an intermission while audience members armed with loupes piled onto the stage to check?[/size]

[Thomo]

Did you understand the question?

yes yes i did

But I still wonder how many of them have CD players, and cars, and televisions, which would be a rough equivalent of Madonna's diamonds. And I'd wonder how they actually know where Madonna's diamonds come from, since not all diamonds are conflict diamonds*. Or how much research they've done into how much of her wealth and time she's contributed to charity.

Yes. i take your point. however, i think u may have missed mine. i was not proposing that luxuries and material things should be abandoned. however, i think perhaps, whether madonna was or was not wearing conflict diamonds, she should have not worn diamonds full stop given the contentious issue that it potentially creates. it was an innapropriate choice of wardrobe was my point.

oh, and yes i am aware of madonnas previous charity work, for the record.