Live Aid anniversary 'will bid to renew African aid'

The 20th anniversary of Live Aid will draw the public’s attention back to African issues and encourage western governments to take urgent action, it was claimed today.

Campaigners are hoping Britain will be a focal point throughout next year, with the country’s chairmanship of the G8 and the 10th anniversary of Comic Relief significant dates in the calendar.

The Live Aid anniversary, on July 13, will be used to draw attention to the AIDS emergency and extreme poverty still engulfing African countries.

The suggestion of a Live Aid 2 concert similar to that of 1985 has been ruled out by founders Bob Geldof, Bono and Richard Curtis but they are heaping pressure on developed countries to get Africa back on the international agenda.

A spokeswoman from DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) the campaigning organisation founded by Bono and Geldof in 2002, said they were hoping to whip up enormous support for African issues throughout the year.

“There will be a lot of normal, everyday people wondering what has happened since Live Aid, particularly in Ethiopia,” she said.

“It helped awaken and energise a generation who took matters into their own hands because what they were seeing was so awful. Now people understand charity work alone won’t help. It has also got to be about governments.”

She said Tony Blair’s pledge to make African development a “focal point” of the efforts of the G8 group of rich nations next year was crucial.

“The government can’t go into other countries asking for money if they are not putting their money where their mouth is and leading the way,” she added.

A number of TV and radio specials are expected to run in conjunction with the anniversary.

Rock star Bono will address EU development ministers at a Dublin summit tomorrow, speaking about how Europe can reform aid development and make investments more effective.

Bob Geldof said earlier this month it would be a source of personal shame for himself and the British Prime Minister if they failed to improve the lot of Africa next year.

The original Live Aid has been described as the greatest musical event of all time.

The simultaneous concerts in London and Philadelphia included performances by U2, Queen, Madonna and Elton John, raising millions for famine relief.