1 person arrested at protest at Band Aid recording

Demonstrations alongside took place outside the recording of Band Aid 3 in Air Studios, Hampstead today "against the whitewashing of the real issues behind world poverty"

Action against the recording of Band Aid 3 single- Protester arrested

Amongst the throng of press and adoring fans outside the recording studios in Hampstead where band aid three was recorded today and hidden as much as possible by police in uniforms -were the dissenters- arguing that Band AId is little more than a screen to hide the real issues behind world poverty.
A series of unknown and known pop-stars traipsed in and out of Air Studios- to the delight of fans and to shouts of real aid- not band aid, don't whitewash Africa, don't play politcians and boo's. One protester was arrested for handing out leaflets explaining the reasons for the protest

Protester Karen said "stunts such as Band Aid do little to heal the deep wounds caused around the world by current global economic policy and instead sharpen the destructive swords of global capitalism."

As Britain gears up for the G8 summit. Blair's government is doing everything it can to brainwash the public into believing that real action is being taken on issues such as Climate change and poverty in Africa. The political circus offered by Bono and Geldof only contributes to the smokescreen. Bono recently topped up Blair and Brown PR by comparing them to "the Lennon and Mcartney of global development". Producing this record just serves to whitewash over the real issues. It avoids tackling the root causes of poverty and hunger in Africa and around the world, hence contributing to perpetuate inequality.

Jenny Leathen from Liverpool commented that "this record is another piece of armory in Blairs recently created Commission for Africa- forcing neo-liberal economic policies onto countries and opening up western markets to allow multinational companies continued access to the vast mineral resources and wealth of Africans. The G8 Action Plan for Africa sets out a blueprint for the continent which is free-market, free-trade, privatised, deregulated and genetically modified. Just as the G8 will privatize Africa, Central and South America, Oceania, the Arctic and possibly Mars, they are privatizing the atmosphere with the Koyote Protocol and its Carbon Trading market."

The 2005 G8 summit will take place in Gleneagles, Scotland- over the last 10 years protest against summits of the ruling elite (G8/IMF/World Bank/WTO etc) have continued to grow. Groups all over the world will come together in a global day of action on July 6th to resist this illegitimate summit. A summit that perpetuates policies that accentuate the gap between the rich and the poor, attack workers rights, lower living conditions for the vast majority of the population, disrespect cultural diversity and kill our environment. The G8 hide behind the new "fight against terrorism" to promote and justify war, militarism and repression and secure access to the oil and mineral plunder that western economic growth "requires".

The original Band AID single produced in 1984 raised 9.5 million. The 2003 G8 summit in Evian cost 400 million. The security budget for the 2005 summit is set at 150 million. The war in Iraq has so far cost the UK taxpayer 80 billion pounds and rising. The continuing loss of life is unquantifyable,

Protesters argue that the song is obnoxious, patronising and out of date with the real situation in Africa
"This isn't about creating a record to support people in Africa- this is a kodak moment for Bono, Midge Ure and for Blair to manipulate public opinion and push through a destructive economic agenda to serve Western economic interests."

Throughout the monotonous drudge of consumer frenzy in shops this Christmas -speakers will boom out the lyrics "thank god it's them instead of you". There is no them and you- there is only us and them- the ruling elite who are using this record to sell their bands, brands, images, this joke of a democracy that makes up the UK/US coalition and an illegitimate G8 summit that cannot pretend to have the larger world at its best interest.

Dissent! a network set up in 2003 to build resistance to the G8 summit and strengthen the grassroots movement in these isles is calling on people to converge in Scotland against the summit and for us to take real action together in villages, towns and cities. Throughout the year we will take direct action and converge in gatherings to inspire, inform and create resistance against the G8.

be part of the solution not the problem-
plans are a foot to release an alternative do they know its christmas on the 29th- the same day as release date for Band Aid 3

The London Anti G8 group is part of the Dissent! Network for more information.
see www.dissent.org.uk
indymedia.org.uk

info-g82005@riseup.net

London Anti G8 group
e-mail: roadshow@riseup.net
Homepage: http://www.dissent.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 24 comments

lyrics for do they know it's christmas

14.11.2004 21:40

It's Christmastime
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime

But say a prayer

Pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging
chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
(Oooh) Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world

Feed the world

Let them know it's Christmastime again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again

repeat then fade

(Bob Geldof & Midge Ure)

bob geldof

chritmas?

15.11.2004 00:07

yeah christmas....

if christ existed, would [...] acknowledge and accept
the mind control that is christmas?

a canny tool for bolstering consumerism in the winter months?

which utilises emotional blackmail and the herd mentality into
fear of NOT BELONGING, not showing the right spirit...?

support the state by buying SHIT!
because you'll let the whole side down....

how charitable to sing

'do they know it's christmas....'

who is 'they'

and why should 'they'
'know it'

why?

because years of religous war, under the empirical banner...
first railroaded by the re-imagined roman empire
[hey! that christianity could be a politcally useful tool - new-roman new labour!]
decided that Africa was the new dominion

the new commonwealth
the new freedom, spooned to the savages....

shouldn't they re-name the song:
REALISE ITS CHRISTMAS OR DIE

good luck to you on your protest...
much love

captain wardrobe

do you think it's christmas?

15.11.2004 00:52

a song wot i just wrote

use it if you want
cut it up and use it if you want
rip it up and chuck it if you want
or

add some verses below

this could be good

-----------------------------------------------

Do you think it's christmas
[this bit CW]

-----------------------------------------------
Be a good christian
year after year
emotional baggage
consumer driven fears
of not being seen
as a party pooper
we're scooped along in the flash bang wallop

devilishly sophisticated
moves so fast,

so cool

so now...

you hardly seem to notice
that 32nd frame

----------------------------
chorus

your only following orders
your only following orders
your only following orders
they nail you every time
----------------------------

full to the brim
of christmas spirit
my christmas pudding belly
and my christmas pudding mind

sprinkled with sparkle
of the debt

a calculated risk

are we managed by morons
or the politically slick
the shell of this thin morality
doesn't need a brick

to break your will

----------------------------
chorus

your only following orders
your only following orders
your only following orders
they nail you every time
----------------------------

Care became a company
and we now are all it's slave
PLC
Please look Cool

so we can acheive our joy in peace

i'm a martyr to consumerism
you'll bleed me dry
it's a thorny subject
but isn't this kind control

a crime?

missed a trick

15.11.2004 01:43

your only following orders

should possibly read

ure [as in 'midge']

only following orders!!!!!

hah haaaaa!

Q. Do they Know Its Christmas?

15.11.2004 11:12

A.

Of course they do! There's loads of US Christian extremists coming through their doors with heavy artillery ( and probably coca cola ) as well as bombing their cities flat.

sanity clause

Fucking Hell!

15.11.2004 11:25

Never read all those lyrics before. They're quite something. Deepest Darkist Africa eh? Nothing ever grows there. People just sit around and starve under the permanently baking sun. No rivers in Africa. What a hopeless continent, they don't even have Christmas. (Except a lot of them do - some of the most warped twisted sects of christianity are in Africa these days).

Ozymandias

Don't mention the War

15.11.2004 13:10

Dear Sir Bob

My state is currently fighting an illegal war in order to establish an American empire. This is the key issue facing every single British voter in the next election which will be occuring within the next six to nine months. Unlike famine in Africa this is something I can really do something about in a practical way and which will have a profound effect on the world.

Things do not look good for Maggie Thatcher's government but back in 1984 and then along came Band Aid. It is, or was, a noble idea. But was a noble idea that occured at a time when the miners strike had profoundly divided our society just as the present war profoundly divides our society. It was Britain rather than Africa that needed Band Aid to make us all feel good about ourselves and bring back a sense of national pride. Once again the government is in trouble, society is divided and national self-respect at an all time low. The answer stick a Band Aid over the wound: worry about African famine. Do not mention Fallujah, Afghanistan, Guantanomo Bay, Abu Grab or Grozny. No pop stars are playing benefits for the people in these places and you will not get a knighthood or invites to number 10 for doing so.

Furthermore, if dressing as Mr Blobby is going to feed the world why didn't work in 1984 Bob? Why are you having to do it again?

The best thing we could have done for the world in 1984, including Africa, was get rid of Maggie and the best thing we could do for the world today is to get rid of Blair. Anything that can distract the population of the UK from this hard political reality will be pressed into service by the state to preserve the present government and that includes Band Aid. Band Aid is a circus to keep us unthinkingly engaged in mindless charity, pointless entertainment and debased self-amusement.

Almost all the concentration camps had camp bands to provide a soundtrack to the holocaust. Band Aid is just the same, it is a distraction, encouraged by the authorities to drown out the real horror of what is occuring elsewhere. In short Tony wants us to worry about poor Africans rather than poor Iraqis, or Palestinians, or Afghans. Band Aid is being cynically exploited to that end.

I do respect your motives Bob, clearly you are a compassionate man and I will stick money in the bucket on the day. But as long as you provide an excuse for Tony Blair to hid behind I will denounce Band Aid as a smoke-screen for a war-criminal. In the last year alone New Labour have killed more non-white people than the NF, the BNP or Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists ever have. This record make the Labour Party the most anti-semitic political party in British history. You would not associate with far-right organisations, so why hang out with and provide cover for New Labour and Tony?

Feed the world just makes people dependant on hand-outs. Free the world places them in charge of their own destiny. One is a short term solution that maintains the status quo and the other a long term solution that challenges the interests of nation status and multi-nationals.

I am sorry singing along with "Feed the World" is not going to make a blind bit of difference to the 100 000 people killed in Iraq. It will not end poverty in Africa. But it might just get Tony Blair re-elected Bob, after all it worked wonders for Maggie.

Dora Kappla

Spoil Sports!!!

15.11.2004 13:38

Someone once said...

"I'm in the music industry because musicians are stupid and I can make money out of them"

It obviously hasn't occured to those who are protesting against Band Aid 3 that it is
nothing more than a typical example of just what this guy said.

These performers, and Geldof, GENUINELY BELIEVE they are doing something good.

Whether they are or not is a matter for debate.

But get off their backs will you? These are people who bring joy to others' lives. Just give it a rest for once, eh?

IQ135

Oh come off it! Band Aid didn't help Thatcher.

15.11.2004 13:49

Apart from anything else, the election was in 1983, a year _earlier_ than Band Aid.

More broadly, isn't there a risk of aren't-we-radical political posturing here? I mean, people who get involved in Band Aid or give money mostly want to help Africans, which is a basically good motive. I think we should avoid calling them traitors or fools, we can surely applaud their sense of solidarity while also saying 'but look, have you thought why these problems exist in the first place?' And then get into it.

I know for sure there are people involved in Drop the Debt stuff now who were first turned on to the whole issue by the first Band Aid.

type

worker

15.11.2004 15:16

The whole Drop the Debt organisation fell apart when Prof Richard Hazel took the time to explain the realities of world economics to those who were calling for the cancelation of all third world debt.

U2, who were the driving force behind much of the campaign admitited it was a more complex issue than some had said and instead moved their campaigning to a World Water Campaign.

As ever with these things what seems like a good ida on a Friday night in the Pub is not quite so good when reality is used as the judge.

Drop the Debt - Where did it go ?

alternative band aid version

15.11.2004 21:29

Hey
It was a good idea on friday night in the pub- and remained a good idea till Sunday and has become an even better idea since...

Cunning plans are a foot to record an alternative
version of that terible song that is going to be
blasting from that shopping mall near you soon. The
third band aid song is upon us and the lyrics remain
unchanged.
However the song is ripe for a rip off and a group of
us are up for editing and putting together an
alternative version.

So- heres the plan-
record your own versions/make up your own lines and
send them as an mp3 to this email address
.It's easy
and fun to do.
We will edit them into an exciting, fun packed and
meanginful version of
"do you know its capitalism" (possibly)
ready for download and further fun and frolics in the
build up to consumertime.
Since the action on Sunday at the recording studios
where we attempted to stop things from getting this
far people have already started sending in their new
lyrics- but in the true spirit of band aid we need
everyone to do their own lines so it truly is voices
of dissent!

some ideas so far for the title include
you know it's christmas
do they know its coporate capitalism
do you know what christmas is
do you know its consumerism
etc

So far ideas for the chorus amount to
sell the world

creative input is needed and would be great, tell your
friends , your famlies and your neighbours- get round
that microphone and help really make a difference this
Xmas.
Karoke fiends we are waiting for you!
here are those lyrics again just to refresh you...

DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 24th November 2005

doyouknowitscapitalism
mail e-mail: doyouknowitscapitalism@yahoo.co.uk

the public thinks the government is wonderful

16.11.2004 11:52

bit of an oldie - but Citizen Fish song - "Charity"
- goes right for the target

Charity

As the Charity Department at the Treasury
dispenses licenses so you can do one too,
the Ethiopians are running out of weaponry,
so their leaders stock it up instead of food.

And charity begins at home,
so get out on the streets and help the refugees.

And the manager of EMI Technology
seems reluctant to discuss his business deals,
because the weapon sales are paying for his meals.
He'll go to wuthering heights to keep it out of sight.

Profit!
Weaponry doesn't fee refugees.
It's a hit! McCartney's saying please on TV's royalties
to feed the world with guns.

Wembley Stadium forever on the video,
and a million spent the raise that sixty more.
Nothing ever quite as big as this before
and it broke our hearts as it topped the charts.

But when the overkill exploited the reality,
we forgot the facts and reveled in the noise.
We didn't see that while we had the voice
companies and laws were pulling vocals chords.

If the Western World was less obsessed with property
and the need to keep it safe with threats of war,
then the Third Worlds wouldn't need a War Economy
that we're supplying at a cost they can't afford.

So we buy up all their crops and grain
and sell it back again when there ain't no rain.
Have a big campaign, using famous names.
And as the Penny drops into the oxfambox,
take off the V.A.T. then call it "charity."

And the public thinks the government is wonderful
for promoting our assistance to the poor,
but their profits are a whole lot more.

They create the need to feed the refugees
and then delegate the guilty feeling to the public eye
via pictures of starvation on TV.

Let's get the public conscience back out on the streets
with the empty tins and little flags on pins.
Then call it "charity."

Let's call it "charity." Ha, make it pay!

oldskool

More Alternative Lyrics

18.11.2004 10:04

Alternative Lyrics submitted to WDM website

http://www.wdm.org.uk/lyrics/lyrics.htm

-----------------------------

Don't we know it's payback time?
Paul, Bracknell, England

It's payback time
But don't be afraid
At payback time we let in peace and we bring security
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Trade justice not aid and debt at payback time

So raise a cry
A cry for equality
At payback time it's hard when you've had so much
There's a world outside your window
A world of theft and inequity
Where all the wealth is flowing from the poor to you and me
And the rules that we created
Are the prison bars of poverty
Well tonight let's ring the bells of liberty

And we'll free the world of our exploitation at payback time
The change that we must make to our life
(Wheeeere) corporations don't run the world
No more waging war for oil
Do we know it's payback time at all?

(Here's to justice) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to peace) not under the US thumb
Now we know it's payback time for all

Free the world, free the world, free the world
Let them know it's not for sale

Free the world
Let them know it's not for sale
Free the world
Let them know it's not for sale
Free the world
Let them know it's not for sale
Free the world
Let them know it's not for sale

-----------------

Do you know it's all in your name?
Claire:

It's Christmas time,
There's every need to be afraid.
All year round we feast on the harvests of unjust trade.
And in our world of plenty we must overcome our greed.
Set free the chains of debt at Christmas time.

Join WDM now ...
Act in solidarity
At Christmas time we're so excessive, and when you're having fun
The world outside your window
Is being exploited in your name
Where the only water flowing is being privatised and sold
And our leaders they tell us
Their actions are benign
Well unless you're blind and stupid you know it's a crime

Free the world, free the world, free the world
rid them of big business' blithe

Free the world
Join WDM and take some action
Free the world
Join WDM and take some action
Free the world
Join WDM and take some action
Free the world
Join WDM and take some action

------------------------

Tim Ireland, England:

This Christmas time
There's a need to be afraid
This Christmas time, we offer hope and then we banish it
'Cos in our world of plenty we can afford to spread some joy
Throw some change at the third world this Christmas time

But say a prayer
And pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're sending funds
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of financiers
Where the only celebration is the next financial year
And the Christmas bells they ring there are the clanging chimes of doom
And your money it helps them instead of you

'Cos there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
But climate change will soon be part of life
(Oooh) Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow
And you won't care it's Christmas time at all

(Here's to you) throw some coins for everyone
(Here's to them) and the next Fallujah bombing run
Do we care it's Christmas time at all?

(repeat, then fade away like my will to live)

-----------------

Warren:

It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
But last time 'round, we forgot to mention Aids
And crushing debt and conflict, that won't be solved with smiles of joy

These problems will go on, because of us

But say a prayer

and pray for condoms
At any time, it's hard when you're against the Vatican
There's a world outside your window
that's controlled by guilt and fear
But the only water flowing is, 2 hours walk from here
And polluted by Shell's oil wells
While we drive our brand new cars
Well tonight remember this, it's because of you

And no-one goes to Africa at Christmas time
(or any time)
No-one wants a land of dust and flies
where nothing ever grows
no rain or rivers flow
Tourism is valuable you know

Here's to them, a family of Muslims
There's the troops, driving them from their own homes

Do they know that land's theirs afterall?

Free the world, let them know they owe us nothing
Free the world, let them know they owe us nothing

feed the world - who cares about bloody christmas!

do they know its part of a geopoloitical great power ploy ?

20.11.2004 15:42

well do they ?
course they do, course they do !
course they f###king do !

///////////////////

Most ridiculous protest of the year

23.11.2004 15:27

That is fantastic. You might as well stand in front of those charity collectors in the street protesting them. Geldof did mention that focus should be made on the causes of poverty this time, and I saw that on News at 10! Great. Keep it up guys.

biscit
mail e-mail: dave@socialistwanker.com
Homepage: http://www.socialistwanker.com

Fair play

24.11.2004 17:49

well good on people for protesting against shit rich mans conscience bollocks music. If any of these rich rock stars cared they would set the example of we don't need to be landowners, with our range rovers, swimming pools, please don't steal 1 million pounds worth of jewelry from us. It's the likes of these rock stars who represent the social elite who are keeping the world in poverty. I guess any of us the consumer are also guilty to an extent but lets face it the wealth of Bono ( " I love the cops who shot carlo me")etc comes through ultimate exploitation that's what his pay masters are. Fuck them and their false claims to care.
Any one who's not into rock star token charity wank that benefits multideath profits more than the poor then check out something 100% benefit:
there is gonna be a benefit at the poison Depot, 2 Flander way, Homerton, Hackney after the anarchist bookfair on Sat 27th Nov. So after you done your anarchy shopping come down and support North & East London Hunt Sabs with a night of anarcho punk. Bands playing are Visions of war (Belgium), Active Slaughter, Terminal City Ricochet and Spanner

cheers

Snoops

What

24.11.2004 19:57

Most ridiculous protest of the year
23.11.2004 15:27

That is fantastic. You might as well stand in front of those charity collectors in the street protesting them. Geldof did mention that focus should be made on the causes of poverty this time, and I saw that on News at 10! Great. Keep it up guys.
biscit.

You haven't been reading the threads above.

It cost more money to run a Conference than it is to raise the wad for the "Africians".

It's a fu*king whitewash for the next U.K. elections. Poor old Tony Blair isn't very popular with the war and so. So to make this feel good factor that the Labour Party needs. Tony strings poor Bob to do the dirty work, are you blind, don't you see it? If you don't, then you must beleive Iraq had WMD and Saddam was going to use it within the next five minutes while you were having a wet dream in bed.

Oh plz! Wake up.

Sorry

24.11.2004 20:24

Fu*king fab and about time.

Sorry?

Where did that cost figure come from?

29.11.2004 10:23

Where did the quoted figure of £80 billion ('cost to the UK taxpayer') come from? Nothing I've read says that the cost is more than about £6 billion.

Peter Gasston

Never black and white

14.12.2004 21:18

Of course there are more noble causes and more serious problems but as a son of two that had to choose between supporting conservative Churchill or being placed under Hitler's Fascism nothing is black and white. By arguing this you fall into Bush's good verses evil roundabout. Being in Britain in 1983/4 I know the arguments around the Coal Miner's Strike and it is very similar to the dispute in our forests. Do you defend an industry that is a major cause of polution? I would rather discussions "hey it's great to give this money to the African starving but imagine if instead of spending so much on the military some went to helping these people and not on bombing them, would that help stop terrorism?".
Can the attackers of Geldof and co. answer my question, "Should I stop cotributing $A35 a month sponsoring a child in Africa which does not really solve the problem of third world poverty but does help one small community?"?

Tony Miller
mail e-mail: millertas@bigpond.com

Make Poverty History

15.12.2004 19:35

Look, yes, Bono and Geldolf are millionaire capitalists. Yes, Tony Blair is a war mongering neo-liberalist with no concern for the poorest people of the world other than a source of revenue.

However: The band aid single is at least drawing attention towards poverty.

It's associated campaign, the Make Poverty History campaign, is a geniuine one, with clear goals that we should sign up to.

Stop being so fucking cynical. Yes, the band aid single itself is raising very little money. Yes, the media is distorting the message to be "Give a little bit of money and you've cleared your conscience."

But anti-capitalists and anti-globalisation protesters should endorse the clear message of the associated campaign: Make extreme poverty history.

We should - Write off all debt to 3rd world countries.
- Ensure all poorer countries AT A MINIMUM receive the 0.7% aid promised by the UN
- Ensure FAIR trade not FREE trade.

This is all part of the Make Poverty History campaign.

This is a message of economic equality.

It is saying that all people should have human rights and social justice.

It is a radical message, and one which we should subscribe to.

Mike

15.12.2004 19:53

career aid

09.01.2005 13:58

Glad theres other people who feel the same as me. I know plenty of people who hate it just because its a shit song not because of the real issues. On tuesday I went made a new Tshirt I wrote live aid on the front and scribbled out the live and put career then on the back put the alternative chorus of "rape the earth let the little bastards starve" by minge fur and bob fuckoff my girlfriend wouldnt let me take my coat of all the time we were out because she thouight it was offensive even after i explained that it was just to show the true attitudesn of most of the people involved in it and the publics attitude of we wont help anyone unless a celebrity tells us to pisses me off. I know its a little off topic just glad I aint completely alone.

dobbs

09.01.2005 14:08

1 person arrested at protest at Band Aid recording

Comments

lyrics for do they know it's christmas

chritmas?

do you think it's christmas?

missed a trick

Q. Do they Know Its Christmas?

Fucking Hell!

Don't mention the War

Spoil Sports!!!

Oh come off it! Band Aid didn't help Thatcher.

worker

alternative band aid version

the public thinks the government is wonderful

More Alternative Lyrics

do they know its part of a geopoloitical great power ploy ?

Most ridiculous protest of the year

Fair play

What

What

Where did that cost figure come from?

Never black and white

Make Poverty History

Make Poverty History

career aid

career aid

Kollektives

London Topics

London IMC

Major Coverage

London links

London Links

UK IMCs

Other IMCs