World

had helped orphaned children in Uganda, Ruby Waxlooked at the effect of world debt on disabled children inZanzibar and Paul Bradley visited bereavementcounselling groups set up in Rwanda with Comic Reliefmoney to help the widows of the genocide survive thepain of loss.This interplay of extremes is a key ingredient of thefund-raising. The juxtaposition of humour with pathos,glitz with destitution accentuate the contrasts betweenthe developing and developed world in a way thatsuggests that imbalances in the world economy, politicalturbulence and conflict, even genocide can be rectifiedthrough the giving of money. Images of economichardship, social injustice and poverty which had beenalleviated by Comic Relief cash, permeate the glamour. Apositive focus on negative issues is the key ingredient,with films that report back how the money raised inprevious years has made a difference. Lenny Henryintroduced the film by saying that Comic Relief cash isspent well because ‘all over Africa there are thousands ofpeople who can genuinely call you friend. Here are someof their stories’.The film began with Lenny singing a rap song thatexplains what Comic Relief aims to do:Lenny Henry:Every other year we start to get funny,The Red Nose posse saying ‘Gimme your money’,We make documentaries,Sell cool merchandise,We make you think once,Then we make you laugh twice,So if you wanna know,What happens to your dough,Just sit back, relax,And watch this show.The film then reviews how money raised by Comic Reliefhas been used to resettle African families on their land inSouth Africa, rebuild families split by war in Uganda andrescue childhood from the vortex of poverty in Ethiopia.Ewan McGregor began:For 30 years, a woman called Mrs Titus and an entirecommunity in South Africa were only to look at theirhomes from across a valley because, in the 1960s, 200families were forced off their land by the Apartheidsystem which gave all of it to one white farmer. 2 yearsago, Comic Relief helped to fund a lawyer who won backthis land and back hundreds of others and we made a filmabout it. In December 1996, Mrs Titus led her friends,family and neighbours back home into their valley...Andslowly the wrongs of the last 30 years are being put right.It’s a success. You have helped the people of Elandskloofbuild a future for the next generation.The film switched to Stephen Fry in Uganda:In 1990, Tony Robinson visited Rakai in Uganda and ayoung family whose father had died from AIDS. Theirmother was also infected with the virus. Their mother diedsoon after our visit and the children were left alone in theworld, but the money you gave in 1993 helped Save theChildren Fund put a roof over their heads and the localwelfare officer track down their aunt who moved in withthem and brought them up. So now, Vincent, 15,Godfrey, 13, Emmanuel, 11 and Rose, 9 are doing prettydamn well. They’ve got a house, a pig, 2 goats and abike...They’ve got a future...Vincent’s parents wouldhave been really proud of him. But you should be proudof yourselves because here in this rural district of Uganda,your generosity 7 years ago, has made a real difference.The chorus ‘Feel the Magic’ appeared with the phonenumber to call if viewers wanted to make a donation, andthe film switched to Ethiopia:Voice-over: Your money has certainly been well spent inEthiopia. Comic Relief started here 14 years ago duringthe terrible famine. 2 years ago, Julie Walters metbrothers Altayeh and Melissaih who were street childrenin Addis Ababa...Today, thanks to you all, we know thatAltayeh, Melissaih, Johannes and hundreds of otherchildren now have a place that’s safe to sleep at night andfood enough to eat during the day. It’s your money that’spaying for these children to go to school. Altayeh is now inschool and at the top of his class. Believe it or not,Melissaih is something of a natural on the football field.He’s been spotted by a talent scout and is having specialcoaching.The film ended:Comic Relief is making a real difference in Africa. Now,we’ve just shown you three examples, but there areliterally thousands more. Before, there was danger, nowthere is real hope.Ewan McGregor: Before there was injustice, now justicehas been done.Voice-over: Before there was a terrible past. Now there’sa real future.The money-raising stunts of Red Nose Day are drivenby the humour. The 10 hour telethon begins with thescreams of the studio audience as they applaud thearrival of Lenny Henry and Davina McCall on stage, topresent the first 40 minutes of the evening’s show.Wearing red outfits symbolic of Red Nose Day, LennyDFID – July 2000 85