“Your Voice against Poverty“

     Rostock, June 7^th. 80,000 people came to see the “Your Voice Against Poverty“-concert in the IGA park. It was a concert against poverty in the Third World during the G8 summit. National and international artists came to show their solidarity with people in poor countries in the world.    

     Despite the heat it was a great party, it had almost festival character. The guests were well-known. Bono Vox, Leadsinger of the British band U2 and the famous German Singer Herbert Grönemeyer appeared. Before the concert Grönemeyer had had a talk that had even turned into a dispute with the German woman chancellor Angela Merkel. Grönemeyer is the man who organized the event and was the headliner, too. He was the last to enter the stage and he directed some words to Angela Merkel. “Keep your promises” was the message that was sent to the woman chancellor. His words: ”Angela Merkel made a promise and she has to keep it. It´s manslaughter through culpable negligence not to keep this.”     

      He called the Africans proud and noble people. ”If we suffered their fate, we would have been prescribed twenty psychiatrists.” Afterwards he sang his song “Mensch” in a duet with Bono. A song that is about humanity. A song that demands not to allow any excuses anymore. “Politicians want to talk their way out of out of their duties”, said “Gröni” and: ”The politicians visit the casino in the evening” he added in an aggressive way. Bono and Bob Geldof sat next to him. Bono took the same line: ”I would shake the devil´s hand to reach our goals”. They seem to know about their function between popularity and politics.    

     On the venue there was a great mood. In the crowd: kids, students, parents, families. Many were wearing shirts with the name of the performing bands.  Surprisingly there were only a few banners. One of the demonstrators was holding a banner proposing an alternative way of living while Seeed and Beatsteaks were on. Other guests were Die Toten Hosen, Silbermond, Mohammed Yunus (Nobel peace prize winner), people from the eight poorest countries in the world, and many more.    

     Everyone knew that Gröni would be the last one on stage. He brought Bono with him on stage. Bono convinced with his German language skills more or less. But he tried. That´s what the presidents should also do.

written by S. S., 11.06.2007   

Eyewitness reports

     After a week filled with the excitement and the anxiety of being at the centre of the world’s attention, everyone seemed to enjoy their return to the chores and pleasures of everyday life. We have also been busy catching up on our routine so that you can finally read our eyewitness reports.

 

Your G8-blog team!

P(oor)8

     On June 7^th  2007 the P8-event took place. This concert was a kind of protest against poverty in developing countries. Famous people and artists had the task to inform young and old people about this problem. The reason for this event was the G8 summit in Heiligendamm.

 

     Over 75.000 people came to watch this show and to listen to the speakers and musicians. The atmosphere was incredibly peaceful and great. I have never been part of such an event in my life before. The musicians, i.e. Die Fantastischen Vier, Die Toten Hosen, The Beatsteaks, Seeed and Herbert Grönemeyer, said that together we could reach something and could change the situation in developing countries. They and the audience had a lot of fun during this festival. The breaks were filled with traditional music of the African countries. There were people of all ages, young and old.

 

     The price for the tickets was very low, but you were not allowed to bring your own drinks and food. So you had to buy something there. And everything was very expensive. This fact and the terrible heat I could not stand. The first-aid attendants had a lot to do because of the heat. Some old people needed help, because they had problems with their circulation. Even my blood pressure was very low. The temperature while I was lying in the sun was so horrible that I had the feeling of being cooked. You would have dried out if you had not bought something to drink.

 

     But all in all the event reached their aim to inform people about poverty and caught the attention of media, public and politicians. I had a lot of fun listening to the music, being with friends and I would go there again anytime. 

 written by A.N., 10.06.2007

 

 

Impressions of the P8 concert

These are some impressions of pupils who were at the P8 concert in the IGA park on June 7th 2007.

Imagine 80 000 people – screaming, singing, laughing. Amazing bands, holiday weather and everything for a good purpose: against poverty! And you are a part of it! Unbelievable!

H.S.

Today I was at the big concert “your voice against poverty” organised by Herbert Grönemeyer and it was really great. Many popular bands and actors played and talked to us. Among them were bands from the eight poorest countries, too! It was a great atmosphere and there were peaceful people everywhere. The weather was really great and I was surprised because Bono of U2 sounded really good while he was singing live on stage. You missed a great event.

P.P.

Imagine a pop-rock concert was able to influence the decisions of the G8 countries. In the crowd you could feel the hope that the most powerful men and women will keep their promise to realize the “millennium” aims. “The world can’t wait”- that was the message of all the reports from Third World countries.

F.T.

Today there was a big event against poverty with many famous faces in Rostock. The sun was shining and the atmosphere was very good. I met a lot of friends. It was fun. The problem was that we had nothing to drink.

S.K.

The concert was great, we saw a lot of bands and relaxed on the grass. But I don’t understand why drinks and food were so expensive at a concert like this.

J.M.

The concert was pretty cool. 80,000 people and a great atmosphere. Between the bands’ performances the members of the P8 spoke about their problems and the G8 summit. It was really hot and the drinks were much too expensive, so there was a touch of capitalism at this concert. But all in all it was great, good music and lots of peaceful people.

F.L.

The concert was great. 80,000 people, a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere. A little bit too hot, but good bands and nice music!!! But not the music was the main event. The most important message was “Your voice against poverty” and that all people have to fight together.

A.K.

Die Fanta 4 were really great…! But the heat was so horrible. Many people were informed about poverty in the world.

A.N.

The concert was just amazing. So many people and also famous people who had only one thought: poverty and what everyone could do against it. The motto was “Your voice against poverty”. It was a huge crowd of about 80,000 people. The atmosphere was so peaceful. Amazing. Also, the music, which was performed by famous artists like Seeed, Fanta 4 and Herbert Grönemeyer was great. Only the heat and the expensive drinks were a bit nasty.

F.H.

Photos by Matthias Bannert

Do you agree?

 

Find out about our impressions of the P8 concert tomorrow.

Tell us your opinion.

Your G8 blog-team!

Famous Faces

     The G8 – summit 2007 in Heiligendamm is an occassion for many more or less well-known celebrities to pretend political interest or socialist thougths. In fact, it is proved that celebrities and even normal inhabitants of industrialized countries could help most if they donated their money (or at least a certain amount of it). But instead they just deliver speeches, or blame the politicians, or both. And the widly- spread fairy tale that famous people would help to get children and teens interested in political issues may be partly true, but what for? Now there are more kids who know that they can’t change anything. They know about political issues they can’t influence at all. And if they try anyway they are held down by the police and the government.

     Nevertheless, there is one positive aspect about the famous faces – Rostock gets a great concert with some great artists, but they better perform and not just talk the entire time about politics!

 

written by K.S., 30.05.2007

Famous Faces & G8

      It is clear that a big event like the G8 summit is not going to take place without the presence of “famous faces”. The whole world will look at Heiligendamm for some days and celebrities will use this occasion to present their opinions concerning current political issues and to influence their fans.

      On 15 Mai Irish singer Bono, German singer Herbert Grönemeyer, former Foreign Minister of Nigeria Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Irish singer Bob Geldof presented the new report of DATA (an advocacy group founded by Bono). This report should “wake us all up”, said Bono, the front man of the Irish band U2, who is maybe the most popular G8 critic. One of the demands of the report is that the members of the G8 should double their financial aid for Africa.

      Furthermore Bono, Herbert Grönemeyer and Bob Geldorf as well as other popular musicians such as Silbermond, Fanta4, Die Toten Hosen, Seeed, 2Raumwohnung and Sportfreunde Stiller will give a concert in the grounds of the IGA Park on 7 June. The concert supports the campaign “Your Voice against Poverty” and is planned to put the summit in Heiligendamm in the shade. Musical ambassadors of the P(oor)8 as well as films about life in developing countries will accompany the concert. Hebert Grönemeyer comments on the concert: “It’s up to us to do something about the social imbalance in the world now. We are able to, and we will be heard because we are loud enough.”

      So far it is obvious that most celebrities use their influence to point out what politicians seem to ignore: the G8 is a symbol of the discrimination against developing countries.

Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/

2007/05/15/AR2007051500775.html

http://blogging-g8.blogspot.com/2007/05/

missed-woodstock-dont-miss-rostock.html

(May 24, 2007)

written by R.M., 24.05.07

Famous Faces

     The most important question on that topic is: Who is a “famous face” and what is his or her task?

 

     A famous face is a popular or at least well-known person in his or her homecountry. In the best of cases he or she is known all over the world. Famous faces are often popular through movies, music, sports, politics or social activities. These people have a role-model function and you can see those so-called celebrities on television, in magazines or you can hear them on the radio. It doesn´t matter if these celebrities are from the A Category (stars known worldwide such as Bob Geldorf), or from the B Category (like Herbert Grönemeyer).

 

     Society pays attention to what they say and about what topic. Almost every time they do a good job, but now and then they are criticized enormously. Especially political topics, such as the G8 summit this year in June they obtain a hearing all over the world. That is a chance to explain their own opinions and to represent the opinions of thousands of people. First of all young people need a person to orientate themselves to and they find that one among celebrities. As you can see, famous faces influence and fascinate young people. Expressing attitudes is a social and politically correct task of famous faces.

 

     But there is one critical point. Some of these famous faces are not taken seriously. People ask if these celebrities do things only because they want to use the spotlight to increase their popularity or if they really want to help and tell the facts? Most of them, however, do a good job and have been politically or socially active for years and have tried to find a solution to worldwide problems, to mention for example Bono Vox, leadsinger of UK´s band U2.

 

     The result is a higher attention to main problems. That is the way it is going to be this year again, in Heiligendamm,Germany. Events for and against the G8 summit are planned and we will see lots of famous faces again and are curious what they will tell us from 4^th of June until 6^th of June. We may see some of them in the middle of demonstrations or on stage in a music event against the G8 summit.

 

written by S.S., 23.05.2007

Here we are!

It’s only some days to go until the G8 summit starts in Heiligendamm. But people have been busy preparing for this special occasion weeks and months before. So have we. Here are the first articles that have been written by pupils of the advanced course English 3 in year 12 on different aspects of this event.

Have a look and feel free to ask questions and to tell us your opinion.

 

Your G8-Blog team!

Coming soon…

This blog will provide some articels with information and news during the G8 summit. This is a student’s project of the Innerstädtisches Gymnasiums Rostock.

Please be patient till the first item is released online.

Your G8-Blog team.