Geldof takes on world issues

HE is already the most charismatic counsellor at the current One Young World summit in Johannesburg, but Irish activist and musician Bob Geldof showed why he is such a rock star.

The 61-year-old hosted a joint press conference with Boris Becker, and without realising it turned the tennis grand slam winner almost into an observer. It led to Becker telling journalists: “It’s my first time participating at this summit, so I’m listening [to Geldof] as much as you.”

Geldof spoke his mind on US President Barack Obama being held back by the “puerile nature of politics in the US at the moment”, China’s aid in Africa, his training for the inaugural Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) commercial flight next year, and technology.

Geldof warned that the extinction of humans may start as soon as 15 years’ time because of climate change – something he said he would miss because he probably would have died by then.

It was a very different affair to Nobel Peace Prize recipient Kofi Annan’s session with more than a thousand ambassadors. Annan took questions on how to root out government corruption, Syria, and how to bridge the gap between politicians and the youth. His response was most interesting: social networks.

“You can bombard the offices of these elected leaders, asking them to take action, whether on the environment, drugs, or international crime. You have no idea – sometimes when leaders get bombarded by individuals, they call their people and say: ‘Do something about it, get it done and let them leave me alone’.”