Band Aid 30: Bob Geldof May be Annoying But His Passion for Change Should be Celebrated

Thirty years after Sir Bob Geldof got some of the biggest names in music together to record a charity single - all in the name of combating famine in Ethiopia - the Boomtown Rat turned part-time superhero is at it again.

This time the 63-year-old globetrotting philanthropist is taking on Ebola, the virus that has killed thousands in West Africa.

Never one to mince his words, he warned X Factor viewers that "This thing could arrive here on a plane any time. Instead of watching African mothers unable to touch their dying children it could be a British mother.

"We will support those immensely brave NHS workers, those young doctors and nurses, those young soldiers, who are going out to help. The government are leading the world with this."

Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran and One Direction are just a few stars the secular saviour enlisted to re-record the classic charity track Do They Know It's Christmas at a studio in West London. He even switched up the lyrics to bring attention to the plight of those affected by the outbreak.

Good Intentions vs Attention seeking

But despite his obvious good intentions, Geldof is still accused of being a self-serving narcissist trying to emotionally blackmail members of the public into supporting his latest PR exercise.

Much like marmite, the activist has the capacity to divide. While some argue that he is an impassioned maverick, critics insist his initiatives have done more harm than good to those he so valiantly proclaims to help.

"The question is whether this song will actually encourage an understanding of what's happening in West Africa and build towards the political solutions needed, or whether it will simply reinforce tired and unhelpful stereotypes," Nick Dearden, director of the World Development Movement, said in his Guardian article.

What many people fail to understand is that we need professional do-gooders like Geldof, no matter how pompous or self-congratulatory. He is the missing link between detached world leaders and the general public and has the get-up-and-go attitude that the younger generation admire.

Live Aid raised $150m in 1984 and countless other celebrity charity singles have since been inspired by Geldof deciding he would make a change by penning a heartfelt plea with Midge Ure.

Yes, his obvious yearning to become Africa's messiah by delivering the poor and oppressed can be annoying, but there is no denying he gets the job done.

As a result of his fierce campaigning and investment on the continent, scores of Africans are thriving and many UK-based charities can smile about tax exemptions on donations.

Although there are atrocities closer to home that he could be fundraising for, Geldof should still be celebrated. Not because he has solved the world's problems but because he continues to try.

He may not have single-handedly put poverty or Ebola on the global agenda, but he definitely continues to use his political influence and celebrity status to fly the flag for change.