Make poverty history.
Updated observations:
(Updated: 7/2/2005).
- Kanye West has a lot more stage presence than I realized
- The idea for raising awareness is great, but big, gigantic crowds are just mobs
- VH-1 says Live8 is sponsored by "War of the Worlds" - G8 vs. "Third World"?
- Jay-Z and Linkin Park, wtf was that?
- Madonna was great, apparently, but I missed her set
- In London, Green Day ends their set with "We Are The Champions"... of what?
(Original post: 6/23/2005).
Debt relief is a great idea.
If the rich nations can't forgive the debt, then at least convert the loans to interest-free instruments.
International banking is fine, just not under loan-shark terms and conditions.
Poor countries with growing economies and hopeful people are better than poor countries with dying economies and desparate people.
(For one thing, you breed less terrorists in places where there's hope.)
But an economy can't stabilize, much less grow, if it's saddled with loans and interest payments that extend several generations into the future; the kind of stuff that makes people desperate.
Still, as compassionate as this would be for the G8 to do, I'm skeptical about their motivations if they actually go through with it.
I don't see how ruthless, mercenary people can suddenly become benevolent and altruistic overnight, with no ulterior motives.
There's no way debt relief wouldn't come with massive strings attached.
Be careful what you wish for.