LIVE 8: The Gr8est show in the world

20 years after the original Live Aid concert in 1985, Sir Bob Geldof has announced a follow-up. Last time the aim was to raise money for the starving children in Africa, this time, named Live 8 (after the G8 Summit being held in Scotland on July 6) it is to raise awareness not money. There are going to be five simultaneous live concerts taking place around the world on Saturday July 2, making this the largest gig in the world. Their aim? To Make Poverty History.

Every day 30,000 children die because they live in conditions of extreme poverty. On July 6, when the most powerful leaders of the world sit down together, they have the power to change this situation. But will they? Live 8 is the beginning of the Long Walk to Justice; a mass protest to show world leaders that enough is enough and that action needs to be taken. Although Geldof has been urged not to encourage people to go to Edinburgh for fear of public safety, he has anyway, appealing to everyone to take time off work or school and get to Scotland, in the name of political justice.

G8 brings together the leaders of the most powerful countries in the world; the USA, Canada, Russia, Japan, Italy, the UK, France and Germany. LIVE 8 organisers want these men to cancel the debt of the world's poorest countries, increase international aid by £25 billion and promote fair trade. They believe that this is the way forward to make poverty history.

So, where is LIVE 8 taking place and who is taking part?

The USA at the Museum of Art in Philadelphia

Acts include (so far) Will Smith, Bon Jovi, 50 cent, Maroon 5, P Diddy, Stevie Wonder, Jay Z and Rob Thomas

London in Hyde Park

Acts include Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Dido, Sir Elton John, Madonna, Scissor Sisters, Joss Stone, Sting, Robbie Williams and U2

Berlin at Brandenburg Gate

Acts include A-Ha, Brian Wilson, Lauren Hill and Peter Maffay

Paris at the Eiffel Tower

Acts include Andrea Bocelli, Craig David, Jamiroquai, Youssou N'Dour, Placebo and Johnny Halliday

Rome at the Circus Maximus

Acts include Nek, Laura Pausini, Zucchero, Vasco Rossi, Faith Hill and Duran Duran

Tickets will be allocated via a text competition where 5 million fans are expected to apply. Details of who to text and more information on the competition will be released on Monday 6 June by all UK Radio Stations and BBC Television shows. Entry will cost £1.50 plus your normal text charge as determined by your mobile phone operator. The deadline is midnight on the 12th June and winners chosen at random by computer will be notified by text after the 13th June.

So, let's see if we really can make poverty history and change the people's lives of Africa and around the world. Raising money is just not enough - Live Aid 20 years ago didn't really change the situation. This time the aim is to create one big voice so the people who do hold the power to change things have no choice but to listen.

Why not visit the official LIVE 8 website

— Maria