What they said
Nelson Mandela (Johannesburg): "Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice. It is a protection of a fundamental human right. I say to all those leaders, do not look the other way . . . It is within your power to avoid a genocide of humanity."
Rita Marley, widow of Bob (Philadelphia), quoting her husband: "Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights, get up stand up, don't give up the fight."
Bob Geldof (London): "There isn't a plan B. Plan B is that we continue to let them die . . . every night live on television. Mahatma Gandhi freed a continent, Martin Luther King freed a people, Nelson Mandela freed a country. It does work. They will listen."
Bono (London): "The rock stars and the hip hop stars can't change anything but our audience really can. We're not asking you to put your hand in your pockets, but we are asking people to put their fists in the air."
Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman (London): "The generosity we are asking for can save millions of lives. Some day in the future all people, no matter where they are born, will be able to lead a healthy life. We can do this and when we do it will be the best thing that humanity has ever done."
Sting (London): "We are a global village. We're connected to the problems of Africa and our brothers and sisters there."
Simon Le Bon (Rome): "I think 20 years ago people thought that it would be OK to just dip into their pockets and that would be the end of it . . . I think what this is about now is us actually taking responsibility and it's only going to work if it's the beginning of something that carries on."