Live 8

Live 8
source
Name	Live 8
Location	London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Philadelphia, Barrie, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Moscow
Start date	July 2, 2005
End date	July 6, 2005

Live 8 was a dual-venue benefit concert that took place on July 2, 2005, in London and Philadelphia, and was followed by other concerts in Paris, Berlin, Rome, Barrie, Tokyo, Johannesburg, and Moscow. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise awareness about poverty in Africa and to pressure the G8 leaders, including Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schröder, Silvio Berlusconi, Vladimir Putin, Junichiro Koizumi, and Paul Martin, to take action. The concerts featured performances by Pink Floyd, Queen, U2, Coldplay, The Who, Madonna, Elton John, and Sting. The event was broadcast on BBC, MTV, and VH1, and was watched by an estimated global audience of 3 billion people, including viewers in China, India, and Brazil.

Introduction

The idea for Live 8 was conceived by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, who had previously organized the Live Aid concert in 1985 to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The Live 8 concerts were held in Hyde Park, London, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Palace of Versailles, Brandenburg Gate, Circus Maximus, Molson Park, Makuhari Messe, Mary Fitzgerald Square, and Red Square, and featured a diverse range of performers, including Snoop Dogg, Destiny's Child, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kanye West, and 50 Cent. The event was supported by Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates, and Bono, who all appeared on stage or via video link to emphasize the importance of addressing poverty in Africa and the need for the G8 leaders to take action. The concerts also featured performances by African artists, including Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo, and Baaba Maal, who helped to raise awareness about the African music scene and the impact of poverty on African communities.

Background

The Live 8 concerts were held in the lead-up to the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, which was attended by the leaders of the G8 countries, including Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schröder, Silvio Berlusconi, Vladimir Putin, Junichiro Koizumi, and Paul Martin. The event was organized to raise awareness about poverty in Africa and to pressure the G8 leaders to take action to address the issue, including increasing foreign aid and canceling debt owed by African countries. The concerts were also supported by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Save the Children, which helped to promote the event and raise awareness about the issues. The event was also endorsed by celebrities, including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and George Clooney, who all appeared on stage or via video link to emphasize the importance of addressing poverty in Africa.

The Concerts

The Live 8 concerts featured a diverse range of performers, including Pink Floyd, Queen, U2, Coldplay, The Who, Madonna, Elton John, and Sting. The concerts were held in Hyde Park, London, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Palace of Versailles, Brandenburg Gate, Circus Maximus, Molson Park, Makuhari Messe, Mary Fitzgerald Square, and Red Square, and were attended by hundreds of thousands of people, including fans of rock music, pop music, and hip hop music. The concerts also featured performances by African artists, including Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo, and Baaba Maal, who helped to raise awareness about the African music scene and the impact of poverty on African communities. The event was broadcast on BBC, MTV, and VH1, and was watched by an estimated global audience of 3 billion people, including viewers in China, India, and Brazil.

Impact and Legacy

The Live 8 concerts had a significant impact on raising awareness about poverty in Africa and pressuring the G8 leaders to take action. The event helped to increase foreign aid to African countries and to cancel debt owed by African countries. The concerts also helped to raise awareness about the African music scene and the impact of poverty on African communities. The event was supported by Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates, and Bono, who all appeared on stage or via video link to emphasize the importance of addressing poverty in Africa. The concerts also featured performances by African artists, including Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo, and Baaba Maal, who helped to raise awareness about the African music scene and the impact of poverty on African communities. The event was also endorsed by celebrities, including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and George Clooney, who all appeared on stage or via video link to emphasize the importance of addressing poverty in Africa.

Criticism and Controversy

The Live 8 concerts were not without controversy, with some critics arguing that the event was too focused on rock music and did not adequately represent the diversity of African music. Others argued that the event was too focused on celebrity endorsements and did not adequately address the root causes of poverty in Africa. The event was also criticized by some African leaders, including Robert Mugabe, who argued that the event was an attempt to impose Western values on African countries. Despite these criticisms, the Live 8 concerts were widely seen as a success in raising awareness about poverty in Africa and pressuring the G8 leaders to take action. The event was also supported by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Save the Children, which helped to promote the event and raise awareness about the issues. The event was also endorsed by celebrities, including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and George Clooney, who all appeared on stage or via video link to emphasize the importance of addressing poverty in Africa. Category:Benefit concerts