There are approximately six billion people on Earth. The top five most densely populated countries are China, India, our own country, Indonesia and Brazil. Four out of those five countries are categorized as “less developed.” Guess which country isn’t. Out of the approximately six billion people on Earth about five billion of them are residing in a “developing” region. That means 83 percent of this world is living in a developing nation. The wealth of the first world is concentrated into 1.6 percent of the population (geohive.com). So what does that mean to you?

I am a middle class American attending college, I am part of that lucky 1.6 percent of the world – we all are. How did this happen? How did the wealth become so unevenly distributed? More importantly, what can we do about it when the damage has already been done? It’s hard to comprehend how so much of the globe is living in poverty.

This past summer ten cities around the world hosted Live 8, a benefit concert to raise awareness and to “make poverty history.” The goal was to influence the members of the G8: the USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia to make policy reformations to help lower debt and raise foreign aid in the most impoverished region of the world, Africa. The Live 8 concerts were all free; instead of raising money, the concerts were meant to raise awareness and to make a big enough impact through the voice of the masses for policy reform (live8live.com).

The Live 8 concerts were all headed by the big names in the music industry. The London show was the main venue and although it was “free,” tickets had to be acquired to get into Hyde Park. I was in London this summer on July 2 when Live 8 was scheduled and I was lucky enough to get a ticket off a girl in my hostel who had an extra.

I can honestly say I felt like I was at a publicity stunt. There was a VIP section for all of the celebrities who were “doing their part” in helping the cause which made it near impossible for the “regular” people to get anywhere near the stage. The lineup was impressive but it felt kind of hypocritical to be at an event that was meant to abolish poverty while perpetuating the exact class system struggles that caused the problem in the first place. Needless to say I didn’t stay for long. I had a train to catch.

Live 8 was an attempted solution for poverty. But it certainly isn’t going to solve the crisis. Appealing to the G8 isn’t the best way to go about solving any problems. The G8 or the “Group of Eight,” as they are officially called consists of the top ten wealthiest most powerful white males in the world. Once a year there is a G8 summit to discuss and verbalize the most prevalent and controversial concerns in the world. Then the leaders proceed to sign statements acknowledging the existence of these aforementioned concerns (wikipedia.com). Not exactly the most efficient process.

I asked my older brother what he thought of all of this and his only response was, “You care too much about people that you can’t afford to help.” Granted I am only one person and I can’t afford to help out each individual person but I don’t think it’s possible to care too much. I think that accepting that the problem exists and being informed enough to know the severity of the situation is the only place to start. If everyone knew that there was a problem then maybe something could change.

The premise of Live 8 was a good one, but appealing to the public through music instead of information made the point almost disappear. But Live 8 could have raised money and awareness. It’s hard to get anything done with out a flow of cash. I think that was one of its main flaws. It’s a nice idea to think that problems can be solved with out money, but the reason why this particular problem exists in the first place is because of money.

I didn’t know the amount of poverty in this world until I researched it. I can’t even being to understand how bad it is. It’s so easy to live in America, to go to college, party on the weekends and lead this seemingly normal life and to never even question what the other 83 percent of the human race is doing. What is normal? Certainly not the life we lead.

Melissa Garber is a Collegian columnist.