Saturday, July 02, 2005
POVERTY HISTORY MADE
Local charities were banned at Live 8 concerts:
Organizers have said local fundraising could “dilute the focus” of the concerts, which includes encouraging the world’s G8 leaders to eliminate the debt currently owed by African countries.
And in other history-making poverty news:
Live 8 performers are playing for free, but local organisers plan to shower the celebrities with a Hugo Boss duffel bag loaded with high-fashion trinkets valued at about $4,000.
They’ll also be able to add to their goodie bags with big-ticket items including Hugo Boss suits, valued at $1,000 to $1,310 each; XM satellite radios and subscriptions, $655; Gibson guitars, $2,600; Bertolucci watches, valued between $2,000 and $7,900; and other items.
In all, a celebrity could walk away with a bag of gifts worth as much as $15,700. “We want this to be a thank-you to the celebrities who are giving up their time and energies,” said Nicole Cashman, whose firm was tapped by Larry Magid’s Electric Factory Concerts to put the bags together.