Do they know it's Christmas?
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Topic: Do they know it's Christmas?
Posted By: Wil Chips
Subject: Do they know it's Christmas?
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 7:53am
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The emphatic answer seems to be 'yes' here in East Africa. The re-release of the 1985 original (mashed up with other versions) recently has caused a bit of a stir here and elsewhere, and I've been engaged countless times times over the last couple of weeks on it by friends I made when posted here from 2015-23 ( I still do some consultancy work that brings me back 3 or 4 times a year). The original version came out through the shocking famine and drought that hit the region in the early to mid 80's. It's estimated somewhere between 400,000 and 1.1m people perished in that awful time. It's a sensitive issue today though as many East Africans feel as if they are portrayed as needy, overly dependent on foreign aid, and that debate drifts in to, and has, colonial connotations. The truth (through my lens at least) is there's been a huge uptick in the region's ability to maintain itself through times of hardship since those awful times. No doubt about that. However, and as seen in many countries around the world (India springs to mind), certain elements of society seem to get left behind. An example of this in Kenya is the pastoralist communities of Turkana and Marsebit in the North and North West of the country. A region some 5 times the size of Wales, where the rains have perpetually failed ( at least 4 years). There's a stark comparison when you look at that area against the bustling metropolis of Nairobi or Mombasa. Those remote communities depend entirely on goat or cattle herding, there's no real infrastructure, homes are traditional village hits, and water and electricity are only available in the 3 or 4 towns in the counties. Unlike South Sudan and certain parts of Ethiopia famine isn't driven by geo political issues and civil conflicts there. So the middle ground on this argument for me might be 'trade not aid'. Food security through the major providers (UN/US Aid etc) is essential in the short term of course, but mid term money might be best spent on developing an ecosystem that supports industry, whatever that may be. So that you don't think I'm just blowing hot air about it I have set up an NGO here to try to do just that ( trade not aid). |
Replies:
Posted By: GPR - Rochester
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 8:36am
Well done Wil. Although my time in Africa was much shorter & a longer time ago I still have very fond memories of the area which I used to visit for work. I wish you the very best of luck with your organisation. If you feel I could offer anything to help you know where I am.
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Wil Chips wrote:Posted By: RR1972
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 9:26am
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i’m all for charity but the band aid thing is a bit wearing. it’s basically a load of rich people telling a lot of poor peiple to give to chairty. i’ll tell you what would be more impressive if everyone in that room gave 50 per cent of their vast fortunes to good causes. rather than use this record as a chance to boost tyeirviwn careers generate good pr and no doubt launch a new album or tour on the back of it
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Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 9:40am
| They should take a leaf out of Michael Sheen’s book !!!! |
Posted By: dr_martinov
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 10:23am
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I always (in retrospect in the 90s onwards) found the lyrics to be patronising and never understood why they made it about all Africa but viewed it as a song released in the mid-80s intended to raise money for a famine so couldn't really [beep] them off too much. I now understand why this issue has re-appeared if it's been re-released yet again as obviously it's outdated.
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Posted By: dr_martinov
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 10:26am
| Maybe my view of this changed when I encountered the "white saviour complex" as well. But again, it was just a charity song from back in the mid-80s trying to raise money for a famine. There's other targets out there that deserve far more criticism for their impact on the world. |
Posted By: dr_martinov
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 10:29am
| And thanks a lot for this thread Wil... I now have this bloody song stuck in my head! |
Posted By: RR1972
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 10:32am
| tbh the new version is dire. ps poor old midge gets ignored again! |
Posted By: dr_martinov
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 10:35am
| Maybe we can donate money to get them to stop releasing new versions? |
Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 11:16am
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It's a worthy cause, and there's no bad side from doing good of course. Just that this particular way of shining a light on something had already run its course I guess.. To just give some data (without getting over tactical) here's the metrics we use (Global hunger index) which shows how things are developing, but also the areas of concern. https://www.globalhungerindex.org" rel="nofollow - https://www.globalhungerindex.org |
Posted By: RR1972
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 11:40am
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Posted By: dr_martinov
Date Posted: 26 November 2024 at 11:51am
So the positive trends show the songs are working... Bono will be chuffed.
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Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 27 November 2024 at 3:39am
Great Gareth--thanks! |
Posted By: roy munster
Date Posted: 27 November 2024 at 5:16am
Hi will...This is a very interesting account...please can you expand with more details on your NGO The monies raised from band aid I believe is about 150 million and a similar amount from feed the world in the USA, but it was mostly about raising awareness and pressurising govts to do more...cop 29 recently pledged 300 billion to poorer countries fight climate change..The G7 plus russia are responsible for 85% of pollution since 1850...So the calculations for polution reparation to the poorer almost non polluting countries is mind bendingly complex calculation. https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/rich-nations-paid-less-5-percent-533-billion-east-africa-needs-confront-climate So the band aid can still be useful and relevant......it can highlight the climate situation in africa... though some will be turned off its a story that cant be avoided. Some people are fed up of it because some of the domestic UK green peace policies are seen as counter productive and wasteful. But that doesnt change the fact its a real problem and its hitting the weaker nations harder, who arent even responsible for its acceleration Globally, acute food insecurity continues to rise. Ethiopia joins Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen as countries with populations that are facing or are at risk of starvation or catastrophic conditions. I heard that sheeran has withdrawn .....which may increase sales lol....because someone called fuse who is a musician....said the song is doing more harm than good. The portrayal it gives of africa is he claims giving them such a bad image its impacting their economy trillions? I find that figure hard to believe. However I think suggested some lyric changes, an idea which fell on deaf years...The lyrics have already been changed a few times.... I think FUSE hes done his own song now. A major factor in africas agriculture problems it seems is the abolition of tariffs trade deal with the EU...which seems incongruous...But the reality is the african countries are being flooded with EU produce which is under cutting african produce...thus bankrupting them and forcing farmers and labourers out of africa and into the EU....Maybe ed sheeran can do a song about that
 ------------- ROYMOND MUNTER MBE (FOR SERVICES TO THE COMBOVER) |
Posted By: roy munster
Date Posted: 27 November 2024 at 5:24am
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Original lyrics (I think) "Do They Know It's Christmas?" It's Christmas time There's no need to be afraid At Christmas time We let in light and we banish shade And in our world of plenty We can spread a smile of joy Throw your arms around the world At Christmas time But say a prayer Pray for the other ones At Christmas time It's hard, but when you're having fun There's a world outside your window And it's a world of dread and fear Where the only water flowing Is the bitter sting of tears And the Christmas bells that ring there Are the clanging chimes of doom Well, tonight thank God it's them Instead of you And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time The greatest gift they'll get this year is life (oh) Where nothing ever grows, no rain nor rivers flow Do they know it's Christmas time at all? (oh) (Here's to you) Raise a glass for everyone (Here's to them) Underneath that burning sun Do they know it's Christmas time at all? Feed the world Feed the world Feed the world Let them know it's Christmas time again Revised Lyrics 2014 It's Christmas time, and there's no need to be afraid At Christmas time, we let in light and banish shade And in our world of plenty We can spread a smile of joy Throw your arms around the world At Christmas time But say a prayer and pray for the other ones At Christmas time, it's hard but while you're having fun There's a world outside your window And it's a world of dread and fear Where a kiss of love can kill you And there's death in every tear And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom Well tonight we're reaching out and touching you Bring peace and joy this Christmas to West Africa A song of hope they'll have is being alive Why is comfort deadly fear Why is to touch to be scared How can they know it's Christmas time at all Here's to you Raise a glass to everyone Here's to them And all their years to come Can they know it's Christmas time at all Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time again Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time again Heal the world, let them know it's Christmas time again Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time again Heal the world, let them know it's Christmas time again Heal the world, let them know it's Christmas time again Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time again Heal the world, let them know it's Christmas time again Heal the world ------------- ROYMOND MUNTER MBE (FOR SERVICES TO THE COMBOVER) |
Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 27 November 2024 at 7:03pm
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Thanks for your interest Roy. I'm not sure some posters will thank you for posting the lyrics Roy! Our NGO is P.A.I.R. - PASTORALIST ADAPTIVE INITIATIVES for RESILIENCE- we were officially granted our NGO license In Kenya a few weeks ago....it's a battle to get it because I was in and out of the country and the other Co Founder was posted to Turkey for a few months. He's a Kiwi, and was the Region lead for a long standing German NGO in Kenya (WHH) for many years....he's no cargo pant and flip flop NGO though...he has lived and worked in the remotest areas for weeks on end...all at the world's less attractive locations...Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan. In essence he is 'Aid' and I am 'trade'....Aid is desperately needed in the short term...Trade is the answer long term. We have 3 applications/propsals in with the various Aid agencies to deploy through 2025, as well as our funding ( we must match the Aid funding). Our focus is the more marginalised items that tend to get missed with mainstream aid agencies like the UN etc...we are looking to supply dignity packs for young women, assist lactating mothers, provide appropriate support to infants up to 6 months old. I'm leaning in on contacts at the apparel companies for baby clothing, and to other entities that I know through various Chambers of Commerce. An example is to add a pack of basic hygiene products from Unilever to our issue. The trade bit follows on..it's a tough gig as the areas of Turkana and Marsebit have little in the way of natural resource so it's going to push me...right now I have 5 or 6 things in play and under evaluation... -The Agave plant only grows in coastal areas at the moment - it produces Sisal which is largely used in the manufacture of dart boards amongst other things. Kenya actually produces around 70% of the world's dart bards, including all the championship versions. We've migrated plants to the areas we cover and are assessing if it's feasible to grow commercially.... -Brown olives grow naturally in some areas but are not commercially farmed as yet. -Being extensively pastoral communities, cows and goats are the only means of income and sustenance. Some 3 million hides are flayed each year....half of them disappear through cartels running an export business to Asia, the other half have been quite clumsily flayed, so they end losing value to an end user. I can't fix the cartels (and stay alive) but I can try backward integration that could allow the hides to stay in the region and get made in to product. They currently get shipped to Thailand and Cambodia to be made into golf gloves ( goat hides are the softest leather and ideal for this). I know guys at Footjoy and other soft leather users so I can bring pressure on them to set up vertically integrated factories in the region. -Honey is a product that thrives in these conditions, however the farmers get little for their product. The average hive produces about 10kg of honey a year, the farmer currently gets about 200 shillings a kilo (£1.20). I can get contacts at Fair Trade and the Global compliance mechanisms to shine a light on this and get the farmers a fair price and allow them to expand operations. -The pursuit of water each and every day is the primary job of the women and children. There's a young Harvard educated American couple here in Nairobi who have just set up a sort of 'Uber Water' mechanism with network of boda bodas ( 50cc motorbikes) that deliver to the customers whatever they need ( from 1 litres to 500 litres) and take no profit from it. We are trialing this in the region with a view to them becoming self sufficient one day. Communities are remote, with little infrastructure, so we are playing with the idea of drone deliveries too. There's a few more...but that's bored people enough! |
Posted By: greypower1
Date Posted: 27 November 2024 at 7:46pm
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Thank you Wil for that eye openner. I feel humble and ashamed by my "luxurious " and unfair situation compared to the millions who have little to survive on. ------------- Keep the faith |
Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 27 November 2024 at 8:26pm
Really sorry, this was not meant to draw comparisons against. I've lived in Africa for the best part of 20 years of my life. I was afforded the opportunity that most are not given, |
Posted By: lofty evans
Date Posted: 27 November 2024 at 8:45pm
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Read your posts Chips. Humbled. ------------- In 1972, Roy Bergiers scored that try and said "that was for you lofty" "All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us" |
Posted By: GPR - Rochester
Date Posted: 28 November 2024 at 6:31am
| Fantastic insight Wil & what a worthwhile cause. |
Posted By: Eastern outpost
Date Posted: 28 November 2024 at 1:43pm
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Inspiring and true Christmas spirit that lasts all-year round. ------------- In a world where you can be anything – Be Kind. |
Posted By: reesytheexile
Date Posted: 29 November 2024 at 12:11am
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