The Garbled Epoch

Live 8.

That was the name of the most widely watched concert our globe has ever seen. On Saturday July 2nd , 2005, an estimated 3 Billion people "united with one voice" and asked that world poverty be ended. Many popular bands/artists that gave their time, and their money to make their views known. Here are just a few that were there:

Dave Matthews Band
U2
Will Smith
Bon Jovi
Toby Keith
Linkin Park
Maroon 5
Black Eyed Peas
Green Day
Audioslave
Dido
The Cure
Sheryl Crow
REM
Coldplay
Snoop Dogg
Velvet Revolver
Elton John
Jet
Barenaked Ladies
Motley Crue
Simple Plan
Good Charlette


With one voice they said: "Let us end world poverty" they began a focus on the poorest inhabited continent, Africa.

The concert took place around the world, in many prosperous cities which included: London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Philadelphia, Barrie, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Moscow, and the Eden Project.
What amazes me, is how truly amazing this concert really is. How the world is able to rally together and declare that they want to end world poverty, and the Church can't even get over arguing about doctrine. The world is getting something the Church needs to learn, yet the world is still not fully getting it.

This is their plan according to Bob Geldof:
"This is without doubt a moment in history where ordinary people can grasp the chance to achieve something truly monumental and demand from the 8 world leaders at G8 an end to poverty.

The G8 leaders have it within their power to alter history. They will only have the will to do so if tens of thousands of people show them that enough is enough.

By doubling aid, fully canceling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children."

[G8= "The G8 brings together the leaders of the worlds most powerful countries – the USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia. This year they meet from 6th – 9th July in Gleneagles with Britain’s Prime Minister, Tony Blair hosting the summit.
Tony Blair has put the challenges faced in Africa on the top of the agenda – but the leaders need to know when they sit down that the world is watching them and waiting for them to deliver."]

Why do I bring this up? Read specifically the suggestions that are in blue as mentioned above. They want to fully cancel the debt of Africa. What a great idea! Letting them get off scotch free... Yet do they gain anything from it? Do they receive a "get out of jail free card" only to get sent back into the system they are trapped in now? The problem I have with the message being sent out by the world is that, "Don't worry! It's ok! We'll let you get off free without having to learn any hard lessons!"

Don't get me wrong, Africa has been dealt a lot of crap. Slavery, war, and AIDs have ripped that continent apart, if any country deserves aid it's Africa. But, how do we know that Africa won't slip BACK into the same cycle it's been in for the past few hundred years? How do we know that the lessons have been learned?

Easy, by the fruits that they show. So far, all that I have seen is poverty, and genocide, the fruits of a deeper political problem. One that reminds me of our Christian walk.

In our walk with Christ, there comes times when we have habitual sins which we must deal with. Now Christ could come in and heal us all ridding us of our habitual sins, but would we gain anything more than a tingle down the spine? Would we have anymore strength in our fight against sin? Would we have gained more wisdom? More determination? No. Christ allows us to go through hardship, so that we might learn a lesson and not go down the same path again.

It is when we fight the good fight, and win that we gain freedom. Freedom from our habitual sins, freedom from poverty, freedom from oppression.

That is why America is such a strong country. That is why God allows us to go through hardship, and that it why Africa can not be made into a prosperous country overnight. Their governments must learn. And at the same time, America, and the other countries of G8, must be the "accountability partners of Africa". We should guide them down the path that will lead them to a place of political and social stability.

Now coming back full circle. Live 8 was about voices being heard. What do you want? Let your voice be heard. 3 Billion people want Africa to begin healing. I am one of them. But how will it begin? How will the healing of our world begin?

You decide.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 04, 2005 at 5:24 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.