Let me first say that I am just floored and honored. I think that this is an incredible step in giving bloggers the confidence to get out there and be a part of the community and report back to the others to spread the word about whatever their specialty/interest may be: music, photography, food, events, activism, politics. This backing of the Live 8 blogging effort put together by Joe Trippi, John Hinderaker and David Sifry is incredible. Giving fifty bloggers from all over the world the opportunity to see what the folks in the main stream media see will empower us all in the future. More of us deserve this kind of access, not just to special events.
So, getting back to me. I'll be posting here, on Philly Future, from now through the weekend about my Live 8 experience. I'll be taking photos which will be posted right to the homepage here and also acessible through my Flickr account. The rest of the Philly Future team will be helping me with the workload on the backend as well. I'll be talking to the other bloggers in the press tent. I should have access to the performers, politicians and playas who wander in and out of the area. I plan on leaving the tent to mingle through the masses as well. You cannot get the true feeling of an event like this without being in the middle of it all. I'll be selling prints of some of the photos I take at this event and donating the money to the effort to help make poverty history. If you see a photo you really like, please leave a comment saying so or email me directly. I'll be posting some more polished photos on my photoblog after the event is over.
But I should not be the only voice posting here on Philly Future during Live 8. All of you who are reading this post should be posting and commenting. It takes seconds to become a member of Philly Future and start your own Philly Future hosted blog. The Philly Future team will be looking at all of the posts throughout the next week or so looking specifically for Live 8 posts to promote to the front page of this site. Of course, you can comment anonymously for those who are a little shy. And don't forget to tag your blog posts with Technorati's specially made Live 8 tags which enable anyone with internet access to see what everyone else is posting on with the same tag[s] as you.
This is a gala to bring attention to the plight of millions. You could call that oxymoronic, but it's a great way to get a ton of people together to listen to a message [or at least some of it]. A lot of Philadelphians are annoyed at the lineup. I say, suck it up. This is bigger than just your favorite band playing a free concert, or wishing your favorite band was playing a free concert. This will bring people out together and it will start a dialogue. It will be in the news. It will be in blogs. It will be discussed at the water cooler. Knowledge is power.
Philly is in the spotlight of the world this weekend, let's show them a good time.
Make It Happen
I am quite happy that they chose Philly as one of the cities for the "Live 8" concert. I attended the Live Aid concert in 85'. Back then, we all were more concerned with partying and who was going on next than what the first concert's cause was intended. "Live 8" will bring attention to the G8 summit and try to convince 8 men to provide a workable plan to end starvation in the world, which according to statistics, kills 30,000 children EVERY DAY.
Kudos to Bob Geldof for putting this together Again, and to the many people who are behind the scenes.
"Nothing in politics happens by accident. If it happened, you can bet it was planned that way." Franklin D. Roosevelt