Concert for Sandy Relief, '12-12-12,' Being Planned by Same People Behind Historic 9/11 Benefit

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7. There have been so many of these since the Concert for Bangla Desh in 1971

And it would be all very well if natural disasters were simply acts of God that took an extra infusion of cash to put right.

But it's becoming increasingly obvious that the real problem on a global level is with our political systems -- systems that perpetuate poverty, that allow poor people to live in unsafe and often unsustainable conditions, that in some places are riddled with corruption so they wink at substandard construction in hurricane or earthquake zones, and that rely when things go wrong on charitable organizations and NGOs that if anything make the disasters worse and are themselves susceptible to corruption and exploitation . . .

I'm tired of putting bandaids on problems that allow a few rich performers and donors to feel good about themselves. I want the problems fixed. I want everyone on the planet to have a decent life. I want the actual, unavoidable disasters to be met with relief that is prompt, honest, targeted at those who need it most, and dedicated to protecting the victims against the inroads of disaster capitalism.

And I'm at a point where I can't really endorse any charitable effort that merely perpetuates a corrupt and failing system.