RE: I don't live in Africa...

Exactly! We can't save a nation from itself. So what are we doing in Iraq, again?

Absolutely! There are starving people everywhere. Even in this country. I see them every day standing at Five Points in Winston Salem. We had a vice-presidential candidate whose main talking points were eliminating poverty in this country and aiding the textile industry to recover from job loss. He also admitted that NAFTA was a mistake that must be corrected. That team lost. There is no doubt that Mexico needs help. Have you ever been just over the border and seen the squallor these people live in day-to-day? No wonder they're literally dying to get here! Check out the website SaveTibet.org. There have been numerous relief concerts for that organization.

The African focus is about AIDS.
This isn't a new problem. Relief in Africa is an on-going event that includes mission work, argicultural education and AIDS relief. The Live 8 concert was planned to coincide with the G8 Summit in order to call attention to a growing epidemic in Africa that warranted serious international discussion. African nations and physicians are actually asking for help.

According to Avert.org:

"The human toll and suffering due to HIV & AIDS is already enormous. AIDS is now the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the beginning of the epidemic over 15 million Africans have died from AIDS. During 2004 an estimated 2.3 million adults and children died as a result of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have failed to bring the epidemic under control. Nearly two-thirds of the world's HIV-positive people live in sub-Saharan Africa, although this region contains little more than 10% of the world's population. There is a significant risk that some countries will be locked in a vicious cycle, as the number of people falling ill and subsequently dying from AIDS has a tremendous impact on many parts of African society, including demographic, household, health sector, educational, workplaces and economic."

It is hard to overemphasise the trauma and hardship that children affected by HIV/AIDS are forced to bear worldwide. Not only does HIV/AIDS mean children lose their parents or guardians, but sometimes it means they lose their childhood as well.
As parents and family members become ill, children take on more responsibility to earn an income, produce food and care for family members. It is harder for these children to access adequate nutrition, basic health care, housing and clothing. Fewer families have the money to send their children to school.
Often both of the parents are HIV-positive in Africa."

It isn't just rock stars who have gotten involved, either. Pat Robertson of the 700 Club is also a supporter. Last I checked, he was not a liberal.