Rightly or wrongly, the G8 leaders would most likely view the protesters as marginalised; the unemployed, students, disenfranchised, socialists, communists, spiritualists and the retired. Easily ignored with not enough influential Middle England, swing voters present to suggest a threat to the centre-right status quo. Anarchists doing a brilliant job of tainting any cogent points being made; the protests won’t even get shown on TV in the States. Meanwhile, forces throughout the UK are mobilised and moved northwards to the G8 summit, making it hard not to think that the protestors have to take a certain amount of responsibility for the police in London taking their eye off the ball with such drastic consequences.

 When a vocal million is allowed to affect policy over a silent majority, it has to be remembered that people will also march for unpleasant causes; the bigots in Belfast and Glasgow actually outnumbered the recent anti-nuclear demo. Should the policy of government be influenced by the philosophies of a mob, even if it is one of good intentions?  The most disgusting human trait of wastefulness; equally displayed by super-sized Yanks in their super-sized cars and anarchists breaking things. We surely could have found a better use for the millions spent on the extra policing of demonstrators in Gleneagles, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. A cynic may assume that the leaders had already made the decisions before they even arrived, and that a video conference could achieve the same result with the minimum of fuss.

 In the United Kingdom of hypocrisy, humanitarian views aren’t even the genuinely or widely held opinion of the population...we certainly talk a good game...but when it comes down to it; the last election was won on a 'Tough on immigration, Low taxes' ticket. “Give some spare change, but don't for goodness sake let it effect my two cars, two holidays lifestyle...and don't let them come over here -unless they're competing in London for our entertainment”.

 Geldof's call of 'We don't want your money, we want you' embodies the whole problem - talk is cheap, and opinions are often held sincerely until people are asked to put their hands in their pockets. Why are we asking for permission to give our own money to charity instead of just doing it? Will leaders do anything significant when we won’t vote for a party who increases taxes?

 Buy the dream: charity going cheap. The bitter taste is almost hidden within these spoon-fed saccharine sentiments, but this palette is highly attuned, and the BS detector lights up like a Christmas tree (do they know its Christmas time?) Unable to swallow any more of this celebrity and media driven, self congratulatory hypocritical distraction. The lure of a free music concert, creating the trendy image and exaggerated impression of popularity. How could organisers not realise the tickets would be e-bayed? This isn't a mass uprising, the overthrow of a corrupt regime; this is carefully orchestrated product; marketed with the international pop branding. The 'Awareness' being raised is the charitable equivalent of a placebo.

 An action group of the masses; or a vehicle hijacked by the media. Driven by idealists, some jumping on the band wagon, others coerced into climbing aboard. When multi millionaire Bono and multi billionaire Bill Gates ask you to demand your government give away your money...don’t you feel someone is taking the piss?  Fringe benefit: album sales have increased more sharply than charity donations during the last two weeks. How about the super rich made some real ‘sacrifices’?

 Newspapers, CDs and wristbands; consumer goods; wear your wristband to show support of sweatshops which produce wristbands. The next campaign should be to make to hypocrisy history. However, the most repulsive thing of all is the reminder of personal contradictions; hoping that something can be achieved asking governments to be tough when we as individuals cannot.