The year was 1985 when 50 of Canada’s most famous musicians got together to form the group Northern Lights which sang Tears Are Not Enough.
It was, in a sense, Canada’s theme song to raise money and awareness of famine taking place in Africa.
Estimates suggest $150 million was raised out of that venture to aid famine relief. All these years later, war and poverty still affect that continent.
Back then Canada was led by the Progressive Conservatives under Brian Mulroney. Significant funds were allocated to Third-World development. Most leaders of that day saw value in propping up poorer countries, recognizing the benefits of investing in impoverished parts of the globe.
Similar sentiments exist today but all wealthier countries have problems of their own, making it more difficult to send cheques.
Local groups like Go-Go Grandmothers still fundraise to help people in Africa, as do countless others. We have to believe there will always be needs in less developed countries and luckily some ambitious volunteers continue to work toward that end.
Thirty years later, we wonder where the time went and what has really happened to vanquish poverty in Africa. There is lots left to do.
