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We didn’t watch much more than the news reports of the Live 8 concerts, but that doesn’t mean we don’t support Sir Bob and aid to Africa. We do what we can when we can, and wish that was true of more people – and more governments, for that matter. Aid to the Third World and Africa in particular often turns out to be money poured into a gaping abyss, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t helping and isn’t necessary. There’s much more to the analysis than that. First, much of what’s promised is never delivered – look at the Tsunami promises and then look at what’s actually been spent so far, for example. And certainly, better aid, too, is called for, such as opening the trade barriers and assisting in set-ups like the Global Fund for Women. There are many ways of helping, and Sir Bob’s pleas shouldn’t be derided or denigrated out of hand. People claiming that aid is useless without the reform of corrupt governments or that rock stars aren’t in a position to lecture anyone or aren’t giving away their own millions are just creating excuses for themselves to do nothing. The rock stars are giving away money, just like many rich people already do, and if they have used their leisure time to study and reflect on conditions outside their immediate environment, they deserve a hearing. Reforming corruption is undeniably necessary, but isn’t going to happen quickly if there is no relief from poverty. Sir Bob’s right: “don’t let anyone tell you this doesn’t work”: it does, if only because we’re all talking about it. And let’s keep in mind, Plan B is that there is no Plan B.