Saturday, December 17, 2005

Geldof Makes Cash Plea to Arab Nations

Irish Examiner -- Bob Geldof has appealed to the Arab world to donate more money to ease poverty on the African continent.

At a news conference in the emirate of Dubai, Geldof said the Middle East as a region, does ”very little” to help alleviate poverty in Africa.

“I am here today to encourage the business, humanitarian and the arts sectors to do a little more for that continent that lies less than 150 miles from where we now stand,” Geldof said on Friday.

He said if Dubai hopes to blossom into a multicultural, model economy, it must start shouldering its responsibility to the world’s less fortunate.

“We cannot leave Africa suspended and outside the economic net of the planet. The human cost of that is so horrendous,” he said.

Geldof has dedicated himself to African issues, calling for debt cancellation and fair trade. He organised the Live 8 concerts in July in cities across the world to raise awareness about Third World poverty. He is also the mastermind behind the 1985 legendary Live Aid concerts that raised money for famine victims in Ethiopia.

Last night Geldof and Egypt’s most prominent comedic actor, Adel Imam, addressed a gathering of businessman and humanitarian activists at an “In Honour of Africa” benefit. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

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