BRITAIN: Bob Geldof has proclaimed a unique opportunity to "tilt the world on its axis in favour of the poor" through a series of global concerts on the weekend before the G8 summit at Gleneagles next month.
And he has suggested Pope Benedict's "first gig" should be at a post-concert demonstration in Edinburgh as the leaders of the world's richest countries meet to consider British government proposals on trade, the cancellation of debt and the doubling of aid to the world's poorest.
Geldof had resisted proposals for a repeat of the 1985 Live Aid concert, admitting yesterday: "I was reluctant to do this again.
"I couldn't see how anything could possibly be better than that glorious day 20 years ago, almost perfect in what it achieved."
But as he announced the details of the Live 8 concerts in London, Berlin, Paris, Rome and Philadelphia on July 2nd, he made it clear that the difference this time was that the concerts were "not for charity, but for political justice."
Geldof, a member of the Africa Commission with which Prime Minister Tony Blair is closely associated, said it was "morally absurd and repulsive that people die of want in a world of surplus."
And he insisted: "This is not an issue of politics. It's not left or right, this is a genuine solidarity of people", as he defined the main aim of the free concerts to raise awareness of the Make Poverty History campaign.
Sir Elton John told yesterday's press conference the "crème de la crème" of musicians would be participating.
Bob Geldof said he was not worried by the possibility the events might fail by comparison with Live Aid 1985.
Asserting this was "a different thing", he said it was already assured of "an immense artistic success."
However, he said failure to honour previous commitments to double aid was "a form of moral corruption".
With Mr Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown pressing the issue at Gleneagles, Bob Geldof allowed it would be an "honourable failure" if Britain failed to persuade the other countries to act.
And in a characteristic burst of passion he said: "If any of them won't come to our party they can f*** off."
Geldof said of global poverty: "It's clearly the greatest moral sore, but it's also the greatest political problem."
He also confirmed that he had written to the Pope asking him to support the Live 8 event, as he appealed to people to attend the concerts and then converge on Edinburgh as the G8 summit got under way.
Co-organiser Midge Ure appealed to churches, chapels, synagogues and mosques to open their doors to people participating in the demonstration.
Clearly anticipating large public support, Geldof said further details would be announced shortly, while signalling that the Edinburgh demonstration would involve "massive" fleets, flights and ferries.
Police in Scotland last night voiced concern at the prospect of such a big demonstration, saying that it was "potentially hazardous".
The summit, Geldof said, presented Britain with a unique opportunity "to do something unparalleled in the world . . . to tilt the world a little bit on its axis in favour of the poor, and that's not a difficult thing to do."