yes, the US government have announced a new initiative to fight aids in Africa, the man who will headline this fight, Michael Jackson!

MJ plans to tour Africa in May/June with several massive concerts to raise money to wipe Aids from Africa altogether! This will be the biggest concert tour of all time in Africa!

However, 1 snag, MJ is on bail????

He will have to get permission to regain his passport, however, with some govnt interference im sure the judge will gladly oblige!

Michael Jackson is promoting the idea of staging a concert tour in Africa to help raise money to fight AIDS - if a California court where he faces child molestation charges will let him.

The entertainer said little at a Capitol Hill news conference where he was the main attraction, but Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, elaborated on details of the possible tour, saying it would be held in late May or early June.

"This man is going to lead the global effort" against AIDS, said Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., as Jackson stood to his right, lightly bowing his head and smiling softly to a throng of reporters and photographers.

Jackson Lee said that during a meeting in her office, Jackson was invited by ambassadors from several African nations to tour their countries and help raise money for AIDS prevention, treatment and education programs.

Whether the tour will take place is in doubt, though. Jackson surrendered his passport after he was booked in November on child molestation charges and will have to ask a judge for permission to travel outside of the country.

Michael Jackson was met by loud screams, applause and chants of "Michael, Michael" from fans who waited to get a glimpse of him as he was hustled by bodyguards through the narrow hallway of a House office building.

Wearing a satiny red jacket, embroidered across the chest and sleeves with silver sequin brocade and bearing purple-sequined military-style stripes on the shoulders, Jackson met for more than an hour behind closed doors with a small group of black lawmakers and the African ambassadors.

Later, his only words at a brief news conference were "That wasn't loud enough," when plans for a concert tour in Africa were announced and met with mild applause.

Jackson was scheduled later to visit patients at Walter Reed Hospital, where many soldiers wounded in Iraq are being treated. An association of spouses of African ambassadors is scheduled to present him with a humanitarian award Thursday for his contributions to fighting AIDS in Africa.

Source: Associated Press



just to give ya a bit more info

Did someone say publicity junkie?

I've seriously had it with him now, he's a waste of space.

look up the word oblivious in the dictionary and you'll find this picture

togdog said:

OMG HE'S THE SEXAY!

bananacologne said:

Actually, I think he has a geniune concern for this. He's been involved with AIDS charities for many years.

Cloudbuster said:

I'm sure the dude is very concerned, which is very cool. It's just the timing of this, i guess what with the pre-trial hearing and all, that might make one a bit cynical.

Still, i ain't gonna say a word against the man until such point as he's convicted. Which may well be never, so i'm trying not to be too cynical on this one. Anything, anything at all that can help the fight against AIDS is cool.

Please don't criticize his efforts in helping raise funds for AIDS.

well...I'm going to criticize him and I work in the HIV/AIDS arena. MJ's timing is always questionable in my opinion. Why didn't join up with Bono and Oprah on this issue since they both have worked very hard on this as well? It seems that he wants to get the focus off of his problems because no press was really needed in this...JUST GO DO IT.

The problem with MJ is,even when he tries to do something good and admirable,he always screws it up somehow.Remember the "What More Can I Give" single that was supposed to benefit the families of 9/11 victims? Great idea,but why did he have to allow his gay-porno-director "friend" to produce it?? There's no reason to believe that this latest attempt at doing a good deed will succeed.Most likely,it will turn out to be yet another embarassment.
[This message was edited Fri Apr 2 4:28:08 2004 by DavidEye]

Rhondab said:

as someone who has held two friends and a lover in his arms and saw them whittle away to nothing, your statements sadden me..

I dont care if your Jeffrey Dahmer, if you have the capability to draw attention or raise money and get rid of this horrible desease....DO IT!!!

DavidEye said:

Who gives a fuck if was gonna be produced by a porn director. Why should that matter?

MJ can do no right as far as some people are concerned.

Cloudbuster said:

Do you think all those recording artists who appeared on the song (Celine Dion,Justin Timberlake,Gloria Estefan,etc) aren't the least bit embarassed by this? There's nothing wrong with a porno director and there's nothing wrong with being friends with one.But for a project like this (which was aimed at FAMILIES ),it was wildly inappropriate for MJ to allow his gay porno-director buddy to be involved.That's why Sony didn't even release the record! I know you love Michael but you gotta admit,that was a huge blunder.

These days,it seems as if MJ bends over backwards looking for controversy,even when he's trying to do something admirable.If he had been in his right mind,he would have simply called up Quincy Jones to produce it,the song would have been released and probably would have grossed the $50 million that MJ was hoping to raise.It just takes a little common sense,something MJ doesn't seem to have too much of,these days.
[This message was edited Fri Apr 2 6:01:05 2004 by DavidEye]

DavidEye said:

I think it was more inappropriate that people even thought the guy's history was worth mentioning in the first place. If something is done for a good cause then nothing else should matter, least of all the fact that some bloke was once involved in the porn industry.

I'd like to roll my eyes just once more.

Cloudbuster said:

Well,the whole controversy could have been avoided if MJ had just simply called up Quincy Jones,dontcha think? Besides,what would a porno director know about music,anyway??

DavidEye said:

Yeah, but he was gonna direct the video, not produce the music.
And wouldn't it have been fun to see what positions he'd have put the performers in?

Imagine Gloria and Celine having a lesbian session while Justin blows himself.

Cloudbuster said:

I think that's a lot of ppl's reaction...MJ is over and a non-factor.

Cloudbuster said:

DavidEye said:

I suggest you take that image to bed with you.

Revolution said:

And still sells millions of albums and hits no.1 on the charts. Yeah, he's so over, isn't he!

MJ in DC:



Does this look like a man who is the least bit worried about going to jail to you? But for real... give the guy a break. He has raised more money for charity then any other celeb on the planet. He deserves some credit for that.

WildStyle said:

Could be that he's innocent and can prove so.

CinisterCee said:

RIGHT!

"I dont care if your Jeffrey Dahmer, if you have the capability to draw attention or raise money and get rid of this horrible desease....DO IT!!!"

Agreed


"And still sells millions of albums and hits no.1 on the charts. Yeah, he's so over, isn't he! "

Agreed again. He ain't over for shit.

Cloudbuster said:

Or that he's a lunatic (WHOOPS, "eccentric") who doesn't perceive his situation?

Cloudbuster said:

This coming from a person who thinks MJ can do no wrong

sosgemini said:

Why does my statement saddens you? I didn't say MJ shouldn't do anything but his timing...as others have stated...is questionable. You should be sadden that someone would use a cause like HIV to get the spotlight off of his situation.