News Archives: June 2005

Thursday, June 30, 2005

A Quick How To...

How to Make Poverty History :

Listen to pop music, played by people who are often obscenely wealthy themselves.

Chant vague slogans. Some suggestions : "Make Poverty History!", "Debt Relief for Africa!", "More and Better Aid!"

Walk around for a bit, fifty miles away from where anyone relevant might see you.

Do I seem a little cynical here? Live Aid had a definite, clear aim : Raise money, buy food, feed starving people. It was hard to argue, so no one did. Live 8 on the other hand has no clear aims I can understand. Is any money going to go to ensure primary education for all children? Is any money going to go to ensure clean water for everyone? Are any of the big corporations going to be pressurised into moving towards fair trade? Is the catholic church going to be forced to tell everyone to use condoms? I don't know, but I doubt it. (Except the last one - that's definitely a "no". Geldof ain't gonna shout at the pope.) Instead everything's vague and hippyish. "Why can't politicians just, I dunno, make the world a better place, man!" Which is probably why most people seem more interested in the music than the politics.

Oh, and Graham's forecast for the marches. Chance of violence at Gleneagles (100%), Edinburgh on Saturday (20%), Edinburgh next Wednesday (60%).

Posted by graham @ 06:13 pm

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Zombie Midgies

It's been a while since I posted. Claire's been doing such a good job of keeping everyone up to date on what we've been up to that I have little to add. (Anyone who hasn't been following Claire's blog, probably should...)

Today, Steve Jackson's blog had a link to a story I missed when it first appeared about two and a half months ago (think about it...) concerning the unusual side-effects of malaria in Cambodia. Especially worth reading for all those who were being eaten alive last night at Caroline's otherwise-great-fun party.

Posted by graham @ 11:46 am

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