Sinead O’Connor Asks: Are We Free To Criticise George Bush?

In an open letter penned exclusively for the latest issue of Hot Press (published Thursday, 30th June) Sinead O’Connor addresses the rumours that Live 8 artists are being told that they cannot criticise George Bush from the stage.

Sinead’s thoughts are formulated in response to an article published in the Daily Telegraph, in which a high profile artist was quoted as claiming that they were instructed to keep silent about their political opinions while performing the worldwide television broadcast of the Live 8 concerts next month.

“If George Bush pulled out of helping Africa because he was criticised at Live 8 by an artist, then he’s a fucking wanker, as Bob (Geldof) might say. And if he dropped even a penny of aid because of being given some truth, by someone who has every right to speak, then he’s a fucking wanker. And, we all know he’s a fucking wanker anyway. So fuck him. And fuck anyone else telling artists to be silent.”

Sinead goes on to say that it is the duty of artists to voice the truth when politicians hide behind their words. She says: “We are supposed to be a voice in the wilderness – which we cease to be if we are to be found wining and cheesing at Downing Street. Suddenly we are one of them. And part of their system. Because they played on our vanities. Politicians are very clever. They try to control artists. Now they have artists controlling artists. And we all have so much politician cock in our gobs, we couldn’t speak if we tried.

"Artists need in these times, to be very sure of who and what they are,” Sinead adds, and of what their role is in this world, as opposed to the role of politicians, who never ever say the word love."

Meanwhile, Bob Geldof has rejected suggestions that artists will be limited in what they say from the Live 8 stage. “I couldn’t give a shite what they say,” he told Hot Press.

In another hard hitting article also in the latest Hot Press, editor Niall Stokes questions where we go after Live 8 and says that in order to Make Poverty History, two key issues need to be addressed: the theft of African oil and the sale of arms.

Stokes says: “Europe owes Africa. Europe owes money – and lots of it. So any impression that Britain is being magnanimous in offering to broker the forgiving of certain debts is grossly misplaced. Britain’s riches, like those of France and Belgium and the rest, were forged to a considerable extent out of African blood. It is only marginally a simplification to say that the debts are only there because of the pillage that took place in the first instance.”

He goes on to argue that “the single biggest factor in keeping Africa locked in its present cycle of poverty and abuse is not AIDS. It is not malaria. It is not crop failure. It is not corruption per se. It is the power that the supply of Western guns gives to the corrupt ruling elites to destroy all opposition.”

Mr. Stokes says that “there is much talk at the moment about the need for good governance in Africa and there is little doubt that corruption is a factor. But good governance is needed in Britain and the US too – and that means preventing the exploitation of African wealth by both the oil hunters and the arms pushers alike.”