Saturday's visit to Live8 in Hyde Park was an amazing experience. The atmosphere and the intent to make real change was ever apparent. The music on the whole was great (bless poor Snow Patrol who were so overcome by the whole thing that they forgot the words!). There were a few things that really got my goat. The whole day was based around the 'Make Poverty History' campaign. A part of this is to encourage fair trade with farmers and other people selling produce in Africa. So one of my gripes is... why where all the food sellers the usual greasy spoon caravans you get at all the other festivals and events. As far as I could see there was no reason why they couldn't have got people in selling food that was more appropriate to the even and that was perhaps more 'organic' and environmentally sound. Having just been to Glastonbury I felt a similar thing although there were people selling more appropriate food if you wanted to look for it.
My other gripe was at the price of the merchandise. £20 for a t-shirt smacks of money grabbing to me. Now if the profits for the merchandise was going toward the cost of the event then why not say so somewhere. If the profits were going toward the MPH campaign running costs then why not inform people but as far as I could see the stuff they were selling was over priced and most likely was going to line someones pockets somewhere.
So all in all it was a day of mixed messages. On the one hand they are putting pressures on the members of the G8 to drop debt and increase aid. On the other hand they are happy to get in profit making money grabbing stall holders and merchandisers who are happy to fleece punters who have come to support a good cause.
I have to say I went away with a slightly bitter taste in my mouth (not from any food stall I might add) and no t-shirt!