Ready, set, TEXT!

Monday, 6th of June 2005 could be the first day when SMS services will reach their peaks here in the UK. It will be the day when the LIVE 8 London concert tickets becomes available to win. Yes, tickets will not be available for purchase. Cost of each text message sent to the competition costs £1.50 + your operator’s standard charge. The first £1.6 million raised will be given to The Prince’s Trust. The competition closes on the 12th and winners will be notified by text (how else!) on the 13th.

The concert is happening on the 2nd of July 2005 at various locations:

Hyde Park in London
Palais de Versailles in Paris
Brandenberg Gate in Berlin
Circus Maximus in Rome
Museum of Art in Philadelphia

So, what is it all about?

According to Sir Bob Geldof:

This is not Live Aid 2.

By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future of millions of men, women and children.

Artists participating in the events are Madonna, U2, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Will Smith, Coldplay, 50 Cent, A-ha, Duran Duran, Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai and many others. For full listing, check out the BBC’s website.

It marks the beginning of the journey – The Long Walk To Justice – for throngs of people by land, air and sea to Edinburgh where the G8 Summit takes place on the 6th of July. To make their voices heard to Make Poverty History.

I do support this endeavour and I wish I could travel to Edinburgh, too. Unfortunately, work will not allow me to do so. Not even to the concert in Hyde Park. But I will take part on the text competition on Monday even when I can’t be at the concert. I will simply give it someone who can, that is, if I win. The radio DJ’s of the morning show I listen to said that online ticket sellers or brokers and Ebay should not allow any sale of tickets to the concerts online. I agree, it would be so appalling for someone who gets it for free and in return sells them to make a personal profit!

I’ve also shown my support by placing a banner here on my blog. You can do so, too, with your own choice of banner. Also, you could get these white bands (as shown below) online, on the high street, on the phone, by SMS, or by post.

Image taken from the Make Poverty History website

The eyes of the world would turn to those 8 men in that 1 room – one final chance to say now is the time, this is the year, YOU can make poverty history.

Go on, make your contribution!