So therefore, I'm snickering about this.
Regards, Ivan
Posted on 07/03/2005 11:13:37 AM PDT by MadIvan
A tiny band of boats have sailed into a south coast port after completing a symbolic voyage across the Channel in support of the Live 8 protest.
The final number of yachts fell far short of the 73 expected to take part in the Sail 8 flotilla announced by Bob Geldof and Dame Ellen MacArthur last month.
And the aim of bringing French campaigners back to join the G8 protest in Edinburgh also proved over-ambitious after nobody turned up to accept the free lift.
Bob Geldof, who was expected at Portsmouth to meet the boats, also cancelled earlier today.
In fact there were more journalists in the greeting party than Sail 8 participants.
Organisers at Portsmouth's historic dock yard, which this weekend is hosting the International Festival of the Sea, where the three yachts and a motor boat berthed, said the journey was meant merely as a symbolic part of the awareness-raising campaign.
Spokesman Don Brind said: "It is disappointing, but, trying not to be negative about it, we see it as part of the overall Make Poverty History campaign.
"With something like this, you have to try things. Some work, but others do not, and we have to concede that this didn't."
Mr Brind said that several other yachts had also set off on Friday and Saturday, but had turned back because of the poor sea conditions and heavy winds. But he could not explain why there were no French people to take up the voyage across the Channel.
He said: "All we could do was provide the opportunity, and, for whatever reason, it wasn't taken up.
"There were things going on in France, including the concert in Paris, so the French were involved."
Greg Hill, 45, from Northampton, sailed across in his yacht with wife, Sue, 40, daughter, Kate, 11, son Sebastian, 9, and family friend Jackie Wilmshurst.
He said that he found Bob Geldof's enthusiasm for the idea irresistible and decided he wanted to join in.
He added: "It sounded like a fantastic idea, we are a pretty adventurous family and it sounded like a good crack for the weekend. We wanted to be part of the message and I think it's really important that friendly pressure is applied so politicians can't have it all their own way."
Mr Hill said that he believed poor weather conditions as well as many yachts already having commitments with this week's International Fleet Review and International Festival of the Sea led to the small number of participants.
He said: "It is really disappointing and it is a shame that there were so few who took part and even more disappointing that so few boats came to greet us when we arrived."
So therefore, I'm snickering about this.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
I'm just wondering how the self-loving-for-dollars fundraiser in San Francisco did...you know, Masturb 8.
If I had enough money to buy a sailboat and sail it across the channel, I'd buy the world a giant baloney sandwich.
Maybe they ought to sell the yachts and donate the money.
When people use the words "raising awareness", I start to get nervous. It usually means I'm going to have to pay extra money in taxes for something pointless.
Regards, Ivan
Its just silliness. No one involved in this has any idea where wealth comes from, nor any idea what causes poverty. The money they gather will do little or nothing.
But its a good time, and you get to bash people you don't like, so its not a complete loss.
...or their sister fundraiser Fell 8.
I agree. And to help me forget about all of the starving people in the world I think I will eat a big steak. But I won't eat all of it. I'll eat most of it, and then I'll throw the rest away.
Perhaps those who have the yachts that didn't show up were smarter than the rest and donated the money they would've otherwise expended merely for show.
where the three yachts and a motor boat berthed
ambitious after nobody turned up to accept the free lift.
Not me Ivan, I'm ROFLMAO!
Chortling, cackling and guffawing my arse off too :)
CONFUSION TO THE ENEMY!
Is this a part of that "Yachts for the Poor" program that I've been hearing so much about?
You know, the poor don't have yachts and I, for one, think it's a crying shame.
Perhaps there could be a gigantic and dare I say colossally expensive program to buy a yacht for each poor person.
Or someone's on a crusade and about to try and brainwash you!
Good idea.
The whole thing is so phoney it is nauseating. The basic principle is "poor people from rich countries sending money to rich people in poor countries," all for the self-esteem of rock stars.
So therefore, I'm snickering about this.
I always snicker at this crap.
Foreign aid: Poor people in rich countries giving money to rich people in poor countries.
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