Band Aid was depressing enough 20 years ago, but the denatured, diet Coke remake of 'Feed the World' is an abomination. Shrill C-list acts mouthing meaningless platitudes to make themselves feel warm inside.
Contrary to the prevailing view, babies still starve to death even if they're not on television. There truly would be a crisis if all they had to rely on was a few quid every couple of decades from the average guilt pricked British punter.
And contrary to the insulting lyrics of the track, Africa is not a barren basket-case populated by perennial victims. It's not a place where "nothing ever grows", or "no rain or rivers flow". Vast tracts of the continent provide excellent conditions for a variety of food and cash crops.
But it's a little difficult to make a living when the West imposes unfair trade restrictions. For example, Mali is a great place to grow cotton. But Mali is prevented from subsidising it's cotton production as a condition of the loans it receives from the World Bank. The US on the other hand subsidises it's cotton farmers to the tune of $3.4bn. Therefore it's cheaper to import US cotton into Mali than grow it there.
Saint Bob and his tribe of pop muppets are actually promoting poverty and starvation in Africa, not preventing it; by conning the great British public into believing they are actually doing something worthwhile.
Don't buy this rubbish.
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