Posted on 07/06/2005 9:29:44 PM PDT by Murtyo
EDINBURGH -- Bob Geldof Tuesday dismissed protesters who fought running battles with the police in Edinburgh as "a bunch of losers."
The Live 8 organizer said that they had nothing to do with the Make Poverty History campaign and he ridiculed the so-called anarchist clowns with "white painted faces" who thought they could "cause world revolution by standing on top of park benches and hitting the police." He also praised the police's handling of the protests.
Geldof arrived in Edinburgh Tuesday night on the eve of the G-8 summit at Gleneagles Hotel, as dozens of those arrested appeared in court. Many are accused of breach of the peace. Others face drugs, weapons and obstruction charges.
A hundred protesters were arrested but about 40 were released without charge. David Williams, 25, a chartered accountant from Cheshire, was remanded in custody when he claimed that the strict bail conditions -- banning him from going near Gleneagles, entering the centre of Edinburgh or Glasgow -- violated his human rights.
Thousands of anti-capitalist protesters are expected to gather Wednesday for a demonstration in the town of Auchterarder, next to Gleneagles Hotel, where many shops are boarding up their windows in anticipation. Police fear that a minority of those heading for the venue will attempt to provoke further violent confrontations and have warned that they would respond "robustly."
More than 4,000 officers, many of them from police forces in England, will surround the hotel and a total of 10,000 officers will be on G-8 duty for the next three days in one of the biggest security operations seen in Britain.
The Make Poverty History campaign launched around the summit has been endorsed by the Dalai Lama, Pope Benedict and Nelson Mandela, along with scores of others around the world.
Britain's Treasury chief said those who believe human misery can be eliminated "with the stroke of a pen" may be disappointed by the results of this week's G8 summit.
Treasury chief Gordon Brown, who has worked closely with Geldof, U2's Bono and other campaign leaders, said he has warned them to temper their expectations.
"I know that what you will say is that what we can achieve is perhaps not good enough, but we have got to bring the whole of the world together," Brown, in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television, said he told Make Poverty History organizers. "What Britain says is one thing, (and) what we can persuade the rest of the world to do together is what we will get as the outcome of Gleneagles."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made Africa and climate change the central themes of Britain's G-8 presidency, and he describes global warming as "probably the most serious threat we face."
In addition to the proposal to double aid for Africa by 2010, Blair's Commission for Africa has also recommended a second $25 billion increase in aid to Africa, to $75 billion annually, by 2015.
Geldof said Britain was pushing hard for a deal to help Africa, but sounded pessimistic. "I am not sure the others want to do it, which will be a grotesque failure," Geldof said.
Here's what the police had to do / deal with - I think some freepers have a inaccurate idea about who Geldof is and what he's about.
Takes one to know one...
About three weeks ago, Rush Limbaugh played the Boomtown Rats' "Up All Night" and mimicked the lyrics. It was hysterical. He did say the song had a good bass line.
I think his heart is in the right place, but he has to seriously listen to what Bush is trying to tell them. Do they just want to dump money on Africa? Or do they really want to help the people?
I don't know why you're calling him a loser? Can you be specific or do you just like to call people names?
donno what "Police said they had made nearly 30 protesters..." means.
Well, I would probably wait about 9 months to do the final count. There might be more than 30, if there are twins.
L
OMG. DUmmies are always saying they're going to start a revolution. LOL. It must have been the entire DU army.
I think that this may all fail. Africa, especially sub Saharian Africia is very messed up. But I think Geldof has given this some thought and I know that he has given conservative ideas and politians credit on several occasions.
PS - not to you, just a general FYI - he's not officially "Sir Bob Geldof" cause he's not a British Citizen, he's Irish, he can call himself "Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire", only Brits are supposed to use "Sir", of course if you live in a Republic you can call yourself "King and Emperor" or anything else if you want!
A loser, or a fool - take your pick - in my book is someone that keeps doing the same things in hopes of differing outcomes.
Much treasure has been wasted on "aid" to Africa; the people are no better off and the rulers keep getting richer.
So.. what does Geldorf do about it? He sets up concerts to enrich himself, gets liberal musicians to rail against GW Bush, and begs everyone to pressure their elected officials to spend more of my tax dollars to "save the poor, poor Africans from poverty".
Bullsqueeze! Yet more liberal lunacy from the moonbat brigade. Geldorf's heart might be in the right place; but he has a serious rectocranial inversion.
seems kinda low #, i've seen CSI - with that technology they should be able to ID every agitated scotsman based on his tartan in 16 seconds.
good point
"Thanks for the cash!"
Funny that the MTV tried to tie the WTO protests in Seattle to the Live 8 concert... when they weren't talking over bands playing.
"gets liberal musicians to rail against GW Bush"
Geldof did no such thing... actually insisted that Bush bashing and Iraq talk not be a part of the show and credited Bush with doing more for Africa than any other world leader in the week leading up the show.
" Geldof did no such thing... actually insisted that Bush bashing and Iraq talk not be a part of the show and credited Bush with doing more for Africa than any other world leader in the week leading up the show. "
I can attest to this. I read it on BBC online a month ago. I remember being rather shocked.
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