When pop stars get political

From the BBC website

"Bob Geldof wants to turn up the heat on the G8 leaders. "

"No matter what happens in the future, rock and roll will save the world," said The Who guitarist Pete Townshend.

The Live 8 concert may not quite put his forecast to the test, but it once again raises the question of whether microphone diplomacy and a pair of wraparound sunglasses cuts any ice with world leaders." Read more here .....

There now seems to be a debate raging in the UK about whether Bob's call for a mass protest in Edinburgh ("one million people should come on the same day ...") at the time of the G8 summit in July is a good idea or not.

Some local people fear violence, but probably more are concerned whether a city of 300,000 can really cope with trebling in size over night. On the other hand, lots of people agree with the need to do something, and think this might be worth a try. And I heard it argued on the radio that Rome coped with mass crowds at the Pope's death overnight, and Liverpool coped with rapidly forming crowds celebrating their winning of the European Football Championship - isn't that what big cities are supposed to be able to do, went the argument?

So, what's my view? Go for it. In fact some of our kids and I have just booked to go to Edinburgh ...

Leaders all take chances, and Leaders all have a strongly held point of view on what needs doing. And Leaders all make changes - Leadership and status quo are not compatible concepts.

My only advice to Bob? Just make sure you also step up to the enormous responsibility here - yes, let's fix poverty if we can - the poor people of the world are surely worth the effort. And also make sure you are really listening to the views, needs and fears of those people that will support you and the cause.

Leaders know how to talk to the people around them in ways that make sense - in other words, in ways that followers want to be talked to. Make sure the event is a succesful yet safe one for all stakeholders, by getting support from all quarters, including the political establishment and the inhabitants of Edinburgh .....

To find out more about the arguments and plans to eliminate poverty, and see what Geldof and his co-organisers are up to, see the Making Poverty History website.

And, if you have time, read Jeffrey Sachs excellent book "The End of Poverty: How We Can Make It Happen in Our Lifetime".

Sachs' concept of in-depth, multi-disciplinary "Clinical Economics" (as opposed to that of "4 bullet point development economics" - my expression) is nothing short of brilliant. And he provides an executable if challenging roadmap to actually make a difference.

The problem, of course, is that it is hard to be as "clinically" rigorous as Sachs and as passionate and commited as Geldof and Bono are.

That's Leadership.