Live8 just confuses me. Why is it receiving so much positive attention when, in my humble opinion, it serves so little purpose?

In my mind, it's an extension of 'mourning sickness'. It's a term coined by a think-tank called Civitas who, I think, put out one of the best bits of research in recent years. It refers to this public pastime of rampant public mourning, but I think it also extends to anything where people want to be seen to be caring.

Too often these days, it's not about helping a charity or cause. It's about being seen to be caring. Wristbands to "show that you care" to quote one newspaper piece. Then there's the crying and laying flowers for dead celebrities or children that the person has never known. Or there's this competition on who can mourn the most.

Take the one-minute silence. The length of the silence wasn't important, it was the gesture of stopping to think. But now it's a competition. Why have a one minute silence when you can have two minute one? Why have a two-minute one when you can have a five-minute one? When a two-minute silence was held for those that have hedges blocking their light, you know it has lost any meaning. The US had 9/11? Well let's compare everything else to it. The Madrid bombings, that's "Spain's 9/11". Ooh, we need a catchy name too. Let's call it "3/11". It's like a constant sport on who can make the biggest gesture of loss and grief. Whatever happened to quiet, dignified refection?

Live8, although not about mourning, is very much along the same lines. Let's just take this back to its basic principles: this is not a charity concert, its aim isn't to raise money for charity—and it's a free concert. The Times today proclaims: "Ten vast concerts on four continents blared out a message to the world's leaders: do something for Africa's huddled masses or we'll deafen you". Oh, is that was it about? I don't know about you, but I really don't think the world leaders are quaking because some people decided to stand and watch Coldplay sing.

I wonder how many people who attended these events even cared about Africa a month ago? Do they make regular donations? Some will have, but the majority won't. They just wanted a free concert! If it was a free beer giveaway, they'd have gone. It'd maybe have been a more telling event if people had to just go and stand in a field with no music all day.

Any "awareness" led by this event is also beyond me. I've not seen much about Africa's plight in the media at all. On the contrary, the paper I read today is filled with pictures of singers, and real demonstrations of the Africans' plight like Coldplay singer Chris Martin's baby with earmuffs on. You go guys, I'm sure the Africans are feeling better already.

I donated to Oxfam, and decided to set up a regular payment. However I cancelled that regular payment within a week when I saw exactly where my money went. Full-colour brochures sent to me, twice in one week at one point, with pictures of African children so that I could sit there and go "Aww, pictures of African children. I've given a tiny bit of my wages, and aren't I great.". They even wasted money on full-colour printing on the damn envelope! It's revolting.

Charity is not about showing you care, it's about doing something (even if it is reasonably small) for the act of doing it. If I give money, I give it because I want to help the people in question. I don't want to pat myself on the back, or proudly wearing a badge saying "I care" in some vein attempt to diminish the guilt that we feel for having such pampered lives. And I think guilt, and narcissism, mixes together to create this culture of "caring". But I'm sorry, the British public often want nothing to do with immigrants who come to the country. Yet they're happy to just put the onus on the government and let them sort it, as long it's not on our doorstep.

Standing in a field listening to free music is fine, but when it's portrayed as this brilliant, mass effort to end poverty I feel rather sickened by it all. Put your money where your mouth is, get your wallets out and give money to genuine charities if you really want to help. Just don't think standing at a concert is in some way pushing your leader to do something, and don't pretend if you wear a badge that you're the next Bob Geldof.

To read more about mourning sickness, I suggest reading this.

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Poll Results

Below are the results of the most recent Get Desperate! poll:

Would you like to see more of the characters' parents visit Wisteria Lane? No, never again after Sophie Mayer 45.2% - (24 Votes) No, let's focus on the main characters 37.7% - (20 Votes) Yes, it's good to see where they came from 16.9% - (9 Votes) Total Votes: 53

As we feature an interview with Harriet Sansom Harris we turn the poll to her character, Felicia Tilman:

Today's Television Listings

ABC is tonight re-running "Who's That Woman". Here's the synopsis:

Cash-strapped Mrs. Huber figures out that Susan had something to do with Edie's house fire and tries to blackmail her; Carlos becomes suspicious that Gabrielle is seeing another man, but targets the wrong suspect; Lynette balks when the twins' teacher insists the boys have ADD, and Bree struggles with her rebellious son after Rex moves out.

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