In an amazing U-turn (that will cause jaws to drop on many cynical anarchist anti-capitalist types who were so quick to criticise the well meaning but slightly deluded ex-pop star during his G8 debacle), Sir Bob Geldof has finally seen the light...
In a press conference today in London, Bob Geldof offered his humblest apologies for having been misguided in his alliances over the last year and gave in to widespread calls for him to "give us YOUR fucking money!"
Geldof pledged to donate his own personal fortune, which, (surprisingly for such a scruffy individua) amounts to over £678 million along with lots of rather nice property and cars. More importantly he also swore he would use his new found influence within the corporate world and leaders of the industrial west to demand that imports of food from famine stricken Kenya be stopped immediately!
Okay, so I exaggerated a little, he didn't say he'd hand over all of his £678 million. In fact he hasn't offered any of his own money at all or even mentioned the plight of Kenya at all from what I can tell. I made it up - put it down to wishful thinking.
However, Kenya is suffering another drought and people there are starving while G8 countries are importing Kenya's cash crops.
“We have never seen anything as bad as this,” said Mr Abdi, a 40-year herder who has lost everything he owned, 100 goats and 200 cows since the rains failed again in December. Denaba Mohamed saw most of her fifteen camels die of hunger and fears for the health of her children. Her 14-month-old girl weighs only 4.6kg, half the normal weight for a child that age.
The devastating drought has left 5.4 million people in desperate need of food but the grain silos in Kenyas ports are full ready for export and the worlds affluent enjoying all the usual benefits of the 'free' market.
Although less than a fifth of its land is arable, Kenya is a net food exporter. While the west send token 'aid', grain silos are still full from last year’s harvest. Despite the drought, the government forecasts a surplus of 62,500 metric tonnes of maize next year.
So why are 27% of children malnourished?
Why is land being used to grow crops for export (usually for animal feed in europe) rather than being used to feed the local inhabitants?
And why isn't the humanitarian hero Geldof handing over his millions and demanding that the west stop stealing food from babies mouths in the guise of free market and world trade?
Geldof pledged to donate his own personal fortune, which, (surprisingly for such a scruffy individua) amounts to over £678 million along with lots of rather nice property and cars. More importantly he also swore he would use his new found influence within the corporate world and leaders of the industrial west to demand that imports of food from famine stricken Kenya be stopped immediately!
Okay, so I exaggerated a little, he didn't say he'd hand over all of his £678 million. In fact he hasn't offered any of his own money at all or even mentioned the plight of Kenya at all from what I can tell. I made it up - put it down to wishful thinking.
However, Kenya is suffering another drought and people there are starving while G8 countries are importing Kenya's cash crops.
“We have never seen anything as bad as this,” said Mr Abdi, a 40-year herder who has lost everything he owned, 100 goats and 200 cows since the rains failed again in December. Denaba Mohamed saw most of her fifteen camels die of hunger and fears for the health of her children. Her 14-month-old girl weighs only 4.6kg, half the normal weight for a child that age.
The devastating drought has left 5.4 million people in desperate need of food but the grain silos in Kenyas ports are full ready for export and the worlds affluent enjoying all the usual benefits of the 'free' market.
Although less than a fifth of its land is arable, Kenya is a net food exporter. While the west send token 'aid', grain silos are still full from last year’s harvest. Despite the drought, the government forecasts a surplus of 62,500 metric tonnes of maize next year.
So why are 27% of children malnourished?
Why is land being used to grow crops for export (usually for animal feed in europe) rather than being used to feed the local inhabitants?
And why isn't the humanitarian hero Geldof handing over his millions and demanding that the west stop stealing food from babies mouths in the guise of free market and world trade?
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