OXJAM
In October the call to Make Poverty History is getting louder - much louder!
With help from our friends at C4, Oxfam is hosting Oxjam - a nationwide month of music with a message: that together we can bring an end to extreme poverty.
Read on to find out how you can get involved – go along to a gig, volunteer at an event or even put on your own Oxjam– like Live8 in your back yard!
Bands such as The Bleeders, Dimmer, Anika Moa and Ddub have already come on board and more are joining all the time… Go along to one of the many gigs and you'll also be in with a chance to win the latest Apple iPod.
posted by Bomber @ 9:38 am
9 comments
9 Comments:
Just like Live8, there is no way that going to a concert to listen to music is going to make poverty history. The changes have to happen at a fundamental level in the lives of every individual, and in policy at the heights of power. Consumer habits must radically change, and the fact that the "latest" Apple iPod is up to be won makes a mockery of the whole affair.
...
OR it is a way for people living in modernity who don''t have a sense of community and thus understand the power of feeling united by coming together and networking at these events and connecting with one another so that we can do the very change that you so rightly pointed out. If we all went and started that networking we would be a lot closer than we are at the moment
...
AB - Dude you have a very heavy chip on your shoulder - I think part of the problem people feel today is an
alienation in today’s empty consumer culture. Consumer Capitalism works best when everyone is in a small nuclear 4 member family unit (hence capitalisms dislike and ridicule of cultures that have traditional communal values, (you can’t make as much money from people who share) and individualism becomes fetishised to the point that a creeping alienation replaces most peoples sense of unity so that when we see things like global poverty we feel helpless. The synergy created by bringing people together and feeling a sense of community can be the empowering influence for people to broaden their minds and re-evaluate their role in the system and how they can change things in a democracy. Surely AB, being socially aware and working for change within your democratic system is the right of every citizen? Writing off this whole idea as leftist feel good wank is so mind numbingly self defeating. I’ll be going along, and if any of you from the blog are going along, feel free to come up and have a yarn, it would be nice to put faces to the posts.
Standing on the sidelines and slagging things off is easy AB – but being willing to step outside your comfort zone and meet people who want change things as well is a big one in a culture where we are sold 24 hour disconnection.
As for the ‘sell your computer and donate a water pump’ we all try to change things in different ways. For me it is the work I do in the media trying to raise these issues in the radio interviews, free lance writing and organizations I work for, as I think without the media in a democracy covering these issues how do we generate public groundswell to make our Politicians take these issues on board. I’m not suggesting it is easy to care and get involved, it’s much easier to write the whole thing off like you did– but I don’t think you have that luxury when you live in one of the most representative democracies on the planet.
*smile*
First off Boomer I apoligise for the strongness of my comment above. I saw a toddler get run over yesterday and was a bit out of sorts.
What I was trying to say is that direct action has a better effect AND connects you(an individual) with someone who needs help(an individual). I often travel to Asia with my family and we have made many great friends and directly helped some people in Thailand, Malaysia and Indo.
IMO Oxfam etc have their hearts in the right place but Admin costs take up a huge proportion of any funds you might give.
To tackle a problem like poverty you must do it one to one. The side benefit of this approach is that you get to see and experience real culture instead of airbrushed tourism.
You often talk of compassion. That is something that is between individuals.
Don't you think the ipod thing is just fucken stupid? I do.
AB
With all the christian support groups for third world countries, which one really does help.
As a civilised western society we need help in our own country first before we can help others.
Poverty is on the increase, with the lack of state housing, health care and education slipping further away form those that need it most.
If anyone writes and says that we have these services in place, think again.
I know there is another view on the likes of Geldolf, Bono et al.
As a frequent listener to BBC radio (gee I love the net) there are those who say all this charity has done more harm than good and is holding Africa back into poverty - a bit like Hells Angel - Mother Theresa, what a disaster that damn woman was. Pity NZ had never shown Chris Hitchens documentary about her.
Anyway part of their objection is that all this type of publicity has made Africa a basket case in the eyes of the rest of the world, making it virtually impossible for financial independence and progress to happen.
No-one wants to do business or go on holiday in a basket case. There is a lot more to the argument than that of course.
I know China is slagged a lot here but in some ways it is impressive. 40 years ago they were in the grips of famine and disease and have made great achievements in those areas, without the interference of the 'well-meaning' West, christians and other outsiders - in fact they chucked them out.
China had/has a unique problem of population, something that western people don’t appreciate.
I remember years ago seeing a BBC program about how much land per person they would have around now even if they were able to keep the one child policy in place, it showed the catastrophe facing the area if people had more children, don’t recall the figures now but it was a totally unsustainable situation. Something we don’t understand yet, in spite of this, they made great progress.
Billions, if not trillions have been pumped into some of these places for decades and what progress has their really been, in fact famine and other problems (FMG for example) are now spreading. What good will money do in Zimbabwe if there is no change to the regime, it is a fertile country more than capable of feeding its own population, but farming has been destroyed.
I remember the first live aid and, like many people, got onto the bandwagon but what has really been achieve over the last 50 years – I am a skeptic these days. A bit like food banks in countries like NZ, do they eliminate poverty or support it ??
Still I’m sure it will be a nice affirming day out for believers.
" .... As for the ‘sell your computer and donate a water pump’ we all try to change things in different ways. For me it is the work I do in the media trying to raise these issues in the radio interviews, free lance writing and organizations I work for, as I think without the media in a democracy covering these issues how do we generate public groundswell to make our Politicians take these issues on board....."
I cannot believe you aren't embarrassed by that - not much of a difference between you and those whose contribution to helping others is to "pray" for them.
Now make sure you keep yourself comfortable and safe you hear Bomber.
Signed up as a prison volunteer yet Bomber, of no that’s not your style is it. Keep on talking - from a safe and comfortable distance.
...
Who the hell are Anon to make such claims as that? Get lost - do you know what I do for various community groups - do you know the amount of work I put in for the society I live in - no you don't - and where the hell do you get off shitting on me like that - I can see why you don't put a name to the post, because criticising from the sidelines anonymously is much braver isn't it Anon? FYI - I help out the Phobic Trust (have done videos for them in the past), will be attending the Youth Law AGM this Friday and am on the Board of Trustees for Youthline - I've worked with Greenpeace, Rainbow Youth, World Vision, and Family Planning - I'm sorry - what do you do Anon?
Post a Comment
<< Home