Much of the Live Aid money went to buy weapons...

[RoddersUK]

I only donate to the RNLI and the Earl Haig Fund.
This is because I served at sea and then as a soldier.

All of the other so called charities have too high an admin cost for my liking as a great deal of the donations given are used in admin.

[mrmcfister]

Yep heard an Oxfam boss on the radio
Q What checks did you make that the people you gave money to were merchants?
A ...Long pause 'well how would we know they weren't?'

[Dick Moby]

Does it really matter if it's "some of" or "much" ?
I knew money would be siphoned off but I mistakenly assumed it would be used to fund the greed of the privileged. I suppose if I'd pondered a bit longer I would have realised it would be used to buy more arms and therefore power.

[David Johnson]

"Does it really matter if it's "some of" or "much" ?

First it was "at least some" in the story. Secondly, does it really matter - yes.

D

[David Johnson]

"But I'm not aware of Britain receiving money as famine relief and using it to buy arms. "

I'm not suggesting that. Obviously... I am talking about corruption and greed.

D

[mrmcfister]

The reporter on this is a respected BBC journalist not someone with an ax to grind or out for publicity like many of the Band Aid apologists.I have listened to the full programme on the World Service.He took a year to gather his evidence and wanted to speak to His Bobness for his view but the man was 'not available'.

Unfortunately Africa is full of smoke,mirrors,corruption,locusts,disease,nasty creatures etc and the leaders are mostly a bunch of snout in trout bullies.Life is very very cheap.

Just gecause Geldorf banged his fist and Band Aid raised ?11 million (a relatively small amount) it does not mean they did a fine job in filtering thieves.They apparently did not.

It is right that 'charidies' are called to account every now and look how they don't like it!

[steve56]

Cant say im surprised

[max_tranmere]

[max_tranmere]

I saw Geldof on BBC News earlier being very critical of how the BBC has put forward these claims that lots of the cash went to buy weapons.

[one eyed jack]

Only in a world this shitty would people do something like that.

Sometimes i wonder if we should blow up the whole fucking planet and start over again without humans.

Thing is I know there are plenty good people in it is still worth fighting for.

Its about finding the right people to oversee the money is spent on what it was intended for.

I dont think Bob has regretted his efforts but it does highlight how scummy some humans can be whether they be african power hungry or otherwise.

My issue is how quick some of you are to make him look like a dick head with this revelation as if to say , just because you believe Africa to be a bad place that shouldnt be helped out that the people that helped raise that money should somehow feel it was a mistake.

It was no mistake and a trilion dollars saving people from starvation and disease is money well spent in my eyes when you cant put a price on human life.

Even in a place where it appears to be cheap.