MTV Viewers From 24 Countries Rock Tony Blair And Bob Geldof In Lead Up To G8 Summit Debates

MTV Viewers From 24 Countries Rock Tony Blair And Bob Geldof In Lead Up To G8 Summit Debates

Blair optimistic about G8 impact and Geldof predicts Live8 to be 'The Greatest Concert Ever' in an exclusive appearance

LONDON, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, in the first preview of the challenges ahead at next week's G8 Summit and Saturday's Live8 concerts, UK Prime Minister and Chair of the G8 summit Tony Blair and Live8's leading force Bob Geldof took tough questions on African poverty, debt relief and Bush policies on climate control from MTV viewers representing 24 countries around the world - including 7 African nations. 'All Eyes On Tony Blair' was taped as live, and will premiere tomorrow in a 60-minute programme on MTV UK at 7pm GMT and MTV US at 8pm ET - as well as on other MTV channels worldwide. For a complete transcript of the programme, please visit http://www.mtv.co.uk/alleyesonblair/transcript.doc. MTV is the world's largest broadcaster, reaching a potential worldwide audience of over 1 billion people in 164 countries.

On his perspective on Africa going in to the G8 Summit, Tony Blair said: " The thing that has changed between what we are trying to do now and what people were trying to do 20 or 30 years ago, is that this is not about the wealthy countries coming along and saying to African countries 'Here is a bit of charity'; it's about a partnership between the African countries and the developed, wealthy countries, to say, 'Here is what we can do to help you help yourselves', because that is the only solution in the end."

Bob Geldof commented on the potential historic impact of Saturday's Live8 event: "It will be the greatest concert ever. It has all the promise of rock'n'roll ... The times are changing - they have changed, the answer isn't blowing in the wind, it's called the Commission for Africa Plan. We will do our job, you will see the greatest concert you will ever see and you will need to remember it because the originals with their children, their grandchildren and great grandchildren will all be on one stage."

Mr Geldof paid tribute to the UK Prime Minister's efforts in advancing the Africa agenda: "The reality is that he has pushed the boat out more than any politician I have known."

Rapper Snoop Dogg set the tone for a very unique G8 discussion when he opened the programme by asking Tony Blair, "Excuse me Mr. Prime Minister or President Mr Tony Blair, I'd like to know what, or who, is G8?" Hosted by MTV UK presenter Trevor Nelson, 'All Eyes On Tony Blair' saw 49 young people aged 13-28 spark a debate with Tony Blair on issues ranging from why G8 countries haven't done more to end poverty in Africa, how he expects debt relief to have an impact in the face of corrupt governments to why he has not had cooperation from US President George Bush on global warming policies.

On the issue of climate change, Robin Chapelle, age 23, from Hong Kong questioned the Prime Minister on the disconnect between his policy and US President Bush's: "Couldn't President Bush simply just be wrong?"

Tony Blair responded: "It is a revolutionary thought ... We have had a disagreement with the Americans over the Kyoto Agreement which we have signed and they haven't ... But if you can get to a new dialogue, then possibly, just possibly, we might start finding some common ground and believe me this is important. The world is warming up, climate change is happening, and it is for me, long term, probably the most serious threat we face."

21 year-old Sibuele Sibaca from South Africa, who lost both of her parents to HIV/AIDS, said to Mr. Blair: "We are tired, we are a continent of amazing, inspirational, passionate young people and yet constantly we are seen as young people who have absolutely no future. And how do we become part of the solution so the world knows we are part of the solution?"

The Prime Minister replied: " I think by turning the passion you have shown in the question you have asked into getting involved in the leadership not just of your own country in the future but of other young people like you in other African countries. What I can do is try to get focus on it, try to give the help that we can, and in the end, you will be the people that do it. You are going to be the future of Africa, not me and not the people from other different countries here."

Davinder Rai from India put to Mr Blair: 'I understand Africa's important, but why is there all this focus on it when there are other countries that are just as poor? India, for example, has more people living in extreme poverty than all off Africa.'

Tony Blair responded: "It's true that there are some great problems elsewhere but India is making progress. Africa is the only continent that has gone backwards in the last 30 years; they are experiencing grinding poverty without any hope of relief. In the end, India's developing economy will lift its people out. Africa's problems of poor governance, conflict and trade relations is huge - it's a very special set of problems that we should devote special attention to."

The 40-strong audience of young people represented 24 different countries from all corners of the globe including the UK, US, France, Italy, Russia, China, Korea, India, Japan, Canada and numerous African nations such as Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Lesotho, and Republic of Guinea. The participants were selected via MTV International's partnerships with Unicef, the UK Department of Education and Skills and Virgin Unite (Virgin's independent charitable organisation). In addition, MTV's global audiences had input into the key themes of the forum via a web survey, hosted across MTV's network of fully localised international websites.

MTV has a long history of giving young people a platform to express their views on pro social issues, and regularly offers its audiences opportunities for direct dialogue with world leaders. In 2003 Prime Minister Tony Blair took part 'An MTV Forum With Tony Blair: Is War The Answer?' where, during a debate with young people from across the globe, he revealed he would be prepared to wage war on Iraq without a second resolution authorising military action. In the aftermath of September 11th in 2001, MTV US hosted a global discussion with US Secretary of State Colin Powell giving young people from around the world the opportunity to ask questions on the war on terrorism, HIV/AIDS and other issues affecting them.

In addition, MTV's pro-social activities include MTV International's award-winning Staying Alive campaign to drive awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Staying Alive's next project is 'Transit,' a two- hour television film that uses fiction to deliver crucial HIV/AIDS prevention messages to young people. MTV Networks UK also offers school children the opportunity to express their opinions and ideas creatively via the BOOM! Music Video Academy, a government-endorsed project that enables students to create music videos as part of the national curriculum.

MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), Game One, and VIVA. On a worldwide basis, the channels are seen in 418.8 million households in 164 countries and 18 languages via 108 locally programmed and operated TV channels and 91 Web sites. Additional US-based brands from MTV Networks are CMT (Country Music Television), Comedy Central, Spike TV, Nick at Nite, Noggin and TV Land, among others. The company's diverse worldwide holdings also include interests in television syndication, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B).

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For electronic materials: Video News Reel available to Reuters subscribers and non-subscribers. For satellite coordinate information, please contact your MTV press representative.

Source: MTV

CONTACT: Suzi Lancaster, +44-7775-788-620, lancaster.suzi@mtvne.com, or
Glenna Patton, +44-7768-610-486, Patton.Glenna@mtvne.com, both of MTV
Networks International, or Eleanor Parker, +44-7968-344-767,
Parker.Eleanor@mtvne.com, or Mel Fox, +44-7970-868-216, fox.mel@mtvne.com,
both of MTV Networks UK/Ireland

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For art: go to http://www.gettyimages.com For electronic materials: Video News Reel available to Reuters subscribers and non-subscribers. For satellite coordinate information, please contact your MTV press representative.

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