I’m a simple person. Not simple-minded, but I don’t have a background in finance or politics, not at a federal level, nor a global one. But that doesn’t matter, because I have a background in being a compassionate human. One thing I find unacceptable is that parts of the world have pockets of extreme wealth, while others have dust. I don’t need a report from the W.H.O. or even dear Bono to tell me that. This has been the case for centuries, and in the most simplistic terms, it just shouldn’t be happening.
About Bono, U2’s front man, he’s been able to get recognition for his causes; he’s got wealth and fame to help that. He also has charisma too, but what really works for him is his oh-so-solid belief in his cause. The New York Times’ James Traub has an article forthcoming that outlines Bono’s work with DATA (Debt AIDS Trade Africa), and his lobbying at the G8 conferences. Bono and the DATA group are working to eliminate the debt that the very poor countries owe institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The goal is 100% debt relief. Along with wiping out debt, these activists promote increased aid towards the same 3rd world countries.
Spurred by the mid 1980’s Live-Aid ideology, Bono went to live and work in Ethiopia for a month with his wife Ali. Though he came back home and lived his regular ‘rock-star’ life, he never forgot the pointless poverty.
In 1997 he was contacted by Jamie Drummond who wanted to enlighten him about the debt burden of the 3rd world countries and to ask him for help spreading the word throughout America. Bono agreed and then went on his own fact-finding mission. He picked the brains of the top people he could find, notably Jeffrey Sachs, the Harvard University economics professor. In 1999, after educating himself thoroughly on the ins and outs of the maneuverings of The World Bank, the economy of the poorer African countries, AIDS, malaria and so forth, he went to Washington.
Article comments
1 - Bob A. Booey
Is anyone else sick of this guy?
That is all.
2 - Dave Wilburton
Good job.
Bono's work is certainly opening many people's eyes and minds to understand some of the world's important issues.
3 - Kate
No, I am not sick of this guy, I will never be sick of this guy. He's breathtaking, and grows more profound and beautiful with each passing year. I am fascinated and amazed, and can't wait to see what he will do next.
4 - Kristin
Definitely not sick of Bono. He fuels my hunger for knowledge of these emergency issues. Anyone sick of these people doing such work for these issues is choosing to be indifferent and ignore the world at large.
That is far from all.
5 - Mary K. Williams
Thanks for the comments. Sometimes we do tire of celebrities, but there are some, and Bono is just one example, of those who really dig in and learn what's going on, and work very hard.
I certainly got an education in just reading the 14 page Times article that prompted other research, that led to the post.
6 - Bob A. Booey
I think Bono means well and he takes on some great causes. But I don't think he's very bright or sophisticated with his politics nor do I think he's particularly educated about the issues, which is why the "Bono as head of the World Bank" story was so stupid.
I agree with almost all of Bono's politics and he's a good musician, but he and U2 have always struck me as going for the most universal, broad-based political positions that no one could possible disagree with in the most general of terms. I'm not cynical enough to think it's part of their mission to be be the biggest band in the world over the last couple of decades, but I've rarely seen Bono or U2 go out on a limb and challenge something that I've found really controversial. I find it especially odd when he's hanging out with people like Jesse Helms who claim to be really moved by his words but don't do anything to back up their meetings with the ambassador of rock. Global poverty and debt relief are huge, huge massive issues that lend themselves to fuzzy generalities and grand moral statements, but Bono's not someone with any ideas for how to save lives in Africa.
But I think him for bringing the issues to the attention of his mainstream fans.
That is all.
7 - Mary K. Williams
"which is why the "Bono as head of the World Bank" story was so stupid."
Bob, which story was that? I've read a bunch of stories now about Bono and this situation, I'm not sure which one you refer to.
As far as Helms hanging out with Bono, and the subsequent non-action, who knows why. From what I had read so far, Bush seemed to promise aid in the form of an improved water system in (forget the name of which African country)but later on seemed to disregard that discussion. *sigh*. Frustrating.
Anyway, thanks for the comments
8 - Bob A. Booey
Mary, it was an old non-story when Bush was looking for a new head of the World Bank. Some idiot journalist asked John Snow about whether Bono would be considered and he gave his standard denial of all rumored names by saying, "We're not commenting or ruling out anyone." The idiot media picked up the story and ran with it as "Bono being considered for World Bank head" despite the fact that it was never, ever even a remote possibility in this galaxy or any other. It made me ill, especially when everyone who knew anything knew that it would be Wolfowitz.
Snow of course had to give Bono lip service because he's become an unassailable, bipartisan PC icon now that he's chummy with monsters like Jesse Helms and cloaked himself in the most universal moral fabric of poverty and famine in the Third World.
Here's a link to the story:
BS Bono World Bank story
That is all.
9 - Mary K. Williams
"especially when everyone who knew anything knew that it would be Wolfowitz."
Well, I'm definitely not everyone who knew anything. LOL. I am fairly ignorant of these things. Still, and even though I think Bono is great - etc, to think of him as leading the World Bank is a bit silly.
10 - John Morton
Here's something I found interesting at monstersandcritics.com by Trent McMartin.
The Gospel According to Bono
Irish rockers U2 were in Toronto earlier this month on the second leg of their highly successful Vertigo tour, which alongside The Rolling Stone’s most recent outing and Green Day’s American Idiot tour has become one of the most successful tours of the year.
The band kicked off the first of four sold out concerts at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre last Monday by putting on a high intensity, nostalgic filled show that catered to new and old fans alike. Ripping through such classics as “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “Pride (In the Name of Love)”, and “Where the Streets Have No Name”, the band whipped the crowd of 18,000 into a frenzy incorporating the right balance of song and politics.
At the show Bono, whose relationship with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has been strained to say the least, called the Canadian leader “a friend” who has improved his record in the fight against global poverty. The two had a falling out last spring when the PM reneged on his promise to boost Canada’s foreign aid to the promised level of 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product.
Canada is currently giving between 0.2 and 0.3 per cent of its national income to foreign aid, whereas the U.S. gives 0.16 per cent, which is the smallest percentage of any G-8 country. Martin has agreed to double Canada’s foreign aid by 2008-09 but would still fall short of the 0.7 per cent target.
“We will ultimately reach the 0.7 percent, but we’re not going to do it ... until we can basically say to Canadians ‘Here’s how we’re doing it and here’s when we’re going to do it and there are no caveats and conditions’,” Martin said.
At the G8 meeting this past July in Edinburgh, Scotland, Bono candidly expressed his growing frustration with the Canadian Prime Minister saying, with a clearly uncomfortable Paul Martin by his side, “He’s very difficult to deal with because he won't agree to things that he doesn’t believe he can deliver, although that is very frustrating and annoying and infuriating.”
Martin laughed over Bono’s vow to “kick his butt” and insisted that both he and the outspoken U2 frontman “each have a job to do.”
“My job is to make sure that we achieve the 0.7, and I'm going to do that. And his job is to push me to do it as quickly as we possibly can ... He’s doing his job and I'm doing mine.”
During U2’s stop in Vancouver back in April Bono told CBC radio that he was very disappointed with Martin and accused the Canadian leader of holding up history. Recognizing the troubles Martin and the Liberals were facing with the sponsorship scandal, Bono urged the Prime Minister not to lose focus. He than asked Canadians to flood the Prime Minister’s office with phone calls. Later that night during the U2 show, Bono flashed Martin’s number on the jumbo screen calling on the crowd to phone the number and leave messages urging Martin to keep his promise to increase foreign aid.
“It was a touching moment,” said U2 fan Andrea Clarkson who was in the crowd that night in Vancouver. “With the music and the flags and the screens that showed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it was a very moving event that caused my eyes to swell.”
The Vancouver incident is a reminder of how much power and influence Bono has in the world right now. The U2 singer has been a tireless campaigner in fighting global poverty and the raging AIDS epidemic in Africa lobbying many world leaders and important government figures to increase aid and drop debt.
He was a central figure in organizing the global concerts that were to become Live 8 back in July and is one of the celebrity supporters to be involved with the One and Make Poverty History campaigns whose soul purpose is to eradicate world poverty by lobbying people to ask their governments to increase foreign aid, drop debts and deliver trade justice.
“Like him (Bono) or not, he has been smart enough to use his power discerningly,” wrote Vancouver Province writer Tom Harrison back in April. “He (Bono) knows that whatever he says will be newsworthy, so he has been careful to align himself, with meaningful causes. His stand on reducing third-world debt has resulted in people from the first world being aware that there is such a thing as third-world debt. That’s a very dangerous power, for which rock musicians usually aren't prepared.”
Bono is probably the only celebrity to probably have both singer Beyonce’s number and British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s number on his cell phone. He has associated himself with the world’s most recognizable individuals and can be regularly seen hobnobbing with the rich and powerful in the world of religion, entertainment, and politics.
Last year Bono was nominated for the second time for the Nobel Peace Prize making him and Live Aid/Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof the only musicians to be nominated (each have two nominations) for the award.
But for all the love and praise showered upon him there are his detractors as Orange County Register journalist Ben Wener pointed out in an article he wrote earlier this year.
“This always surprises the true believers, but there are people who can't stand U2,” wrote Wener. “St. Bono, the living embodiment, for better and worse, of John Lennon's social concern and indefatigable optimism. No wonder people grow resentful of his omnipresence. Best intentions aside, we love to destroy crusaders,” he added.
Bono knows that U2 offers him a stage to communicate his concerns to an audience unfamiliar with such issues. The marriage of rock and politics has been U2’s specialty since they formed over 25 years ago. Recent U2 concerts have been described as “rocking temples of Bono worship.” The devotion seen at some of these concerts rivals that of religious gatherings.
Which brings us back to Monday’s show in Toronto where the crowd greeted the band with extreme adulation singing along with each song with such passion and vigour that even the band was impressed.
“What a strange year,” Bono declared at the show. “These are strange times to live in London or New York or wherever.”
And as he did in Vancouver almost five months prior Bono challenged Prime Minister Paul Martin to increase Canada’s foreign aid to the poorer nations of the world.
“Take out your cell phones,” said the singer clad in his trademark wraparound sunglasses.
“You can even call my friend Paul Martin.”
Bono has always complimented Canada and it’s global role as peacekeepers mentioning on more than one occasion that the country has avoided a stigma that’s attached to the West that other parts of the world regard with suspicion.
And on Monday Bono let up a little praising Martin for his attempts fulfil the promises he made to raise the country’s spending on foreign aid to 0.7 per cent of the gross domestic product by the year 2015.
“He’s (Martin) a good man and he’s been improving,” Bono told the Toronto crowd. “Every time you shout he hears you.”
“We look to Canada to lead, not to follow.”
Trent McMartin
11 - vanessa
im a big fan of U2 and i support what Bono is ddoing. He is honest and works ard in his music and trying to save the world. He isn;t in it for anything but the happiness after saving people.
thank you:)
12 - Bob A. Booey
That's called a Messiah complex.
That is all.
13 - Mary K. Williams
Bob says:
"That's called a Messiah complex"
Now I know you don't really mean that Mr. Bob. : )
::wagging finger::
14 - Steve Z
Thank you, Bono. You are doing a tremendous job of ensuring that we will all be able to live relatively pampered lifestyles for a much longer time than we otherwise would. You are morally bullying us into throwing money at the poor people of Africa so that they can feed and heal themselves. Let's forget about the fact that virtually the entire continent is full of corrupt governments with contemptible leaders who consistently steal much of the aid that is meant for their people. Yes, let's not think about that because it makes us feel good to "give to the poor". But if we did think about it, we might realize that we are actually taking so much away from them. Even if all of the aid we sent to Africa went to the poor, all we are doing is making them dependent on our charity. And, we are helping to keep their oppressive & corrupt governments in power. And when we do succeed in feeding and healing the poor in Africa and therefore allow the population to rise, what then? At that point, unless we throw more money at them, with a larger population they will eventually end up in the same situation they are in today. When that happens, will Bono be around to make us feel bad and give more simply because we have some kind of backwards moral obligation? Where does it end? Do we simply keep giving more until we ourselves are poor?
If we really want to help the people of Africa, we must do much, much more than give them aid (or relieve debt, which is the other side of the same coin). In fact, we should probably give less aid. What we need to do is help them achieve SUSTAINABLE develpoment, so that they can provide for themselves and stand on their own two feet. Is that going to be difficult? Absolutely. Is it harder than just throwing money at them? You bet. How are we going to do it? I don't know.
Well, let's say we do succeed in helping the people of Africa achieve sustainable develpoment. The poverty rate has fallen dramatically, and consequently most Africans are relatively healthy and well-fed. Their population rises, but they can provide for this on their own. They even begin thinking about raising their standard of living beyond basic, but good, survival. They want cars. Computers. Nicer clothes. Better houses. Jewelry. Etc-- all of the things people in the industrialized world want. But cars need gasoline (oil), as well as aluminum, steel, etc. Houses need wood, metals, and a multitude of other materials. To have jewelry, you need precious metals and gemstones. All of a sudden, there are millions upon millions more people who want the same raw materials that we do-- but there is still pretty much the same amount of those materials to go around (especially the oil). What does this mean? WE will all pay more for many of the things we want and need. It's economics 101. This is actually the situation we are facing right now with China and India. About half of the world's population are working their way out of poverty (through CAPITALISM, not aid) and beginning to demand more RESOURCES. But our oil production is already pretty much maxed-out. You think you're paying too much for gas right now? Just wait. And it's not just gas: everything you use every day is made up of raw materials. Some are renewable (though it may take a long time to renew them), some are not. When more people are trying to get the same amount of materials, price goes up. Now, not only are you paying more for your SUV, but you're paying much more to fill it up. At the same time, you're being out-competed of your job by someone in Nigeria or Kenya. Now what?
I believe that in a free-trade environment, where individuals are free to act in their own best interest, human ingenuity and achievement will flourish and overcome many of our problems. Although it may be painful in the beginning, ultimately everyone will be much better off. Sure, oil might be expensive, but we will figure out another way to run our cars. Yeah, you might lose your job, but you'll find another one that is more relevant in the "new world". The only system that has shown itself capable of achieving these wonders is Capitalism (NOT Socialism). But not everyone believes this.
If you didn't believe this, you might be very afraid of enabling millions of people to become self-sufficient.
So, Bono, I must respectfully (though only because you are the lead singer of U2) say that you are either not very bright, or a complete a**hole who has no confidence in human capability.
If we truly want to help the people of Africa, let's figure out how to help them help themselves. Let's do what we can to help eliminate corruption in their governments and educate their peop-- aww, hell- it's easier to just throw money at them. Besides, throwing money at poor people makes us feel good. ;)
15 - nick
This is my favorite song. By Nick Decesere.
16 - Mary K. Williams
Mine too Nick. Thanks for stopping by.
17 - DrWayneR
I appreciate what Bono is doing (and The Edge's incredible guitar work). They are sharing with us and I am sure the poorer populations of the world, in more ways than by radio waves. I remember the first time I heard of U2 and it was the Joshua Tree song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and I was awe-struck. The song, the words, the potential meaning. Rumor was U2 was a Christian Rock Band. Christian or Protestant, as an early questioner I wondered? My understanding of religion would logicaly assume Christian. Why? Because a Christian would want to be open without compromise and a Christian musician would take that to the Nth level... without compromise. What I think I am seeing now is the furtherance of that very concept. Could it be that Bono has built a stairway of success to realize the early "business plan" of the group, waiting until the momentum was insurmountable to insure the continuance of world influence, in a good and much needed way, of the group as well as their own needs being met. We all have needs that need to be met and some of us can meet those needs superfulously and some can meet those needs and the needs of others and some cannot meet their needs at all. I won't make any judgement calls, we all know our own personal answer to where we stand in that arena. Is sharing a good thing? Well, Yes. Does capitalism endorse sharing, well, no. Capitalism will teach "to each his own outcome" according to the laws of scientific analyzation and thumb screws. I am a capitalist as is the rest of the entire world whether they will admit it or not. We all want the most, the best and the newest for us, our families and our friends (we really don't like seeing the beggars at the grocery stores that say they will work for food because we think they are making more money than we are by begging!) and we can't socialize with people too far outside our income level because of the "desire" factor. Another U2 song. I came here looking for the "tell Bono how to solve world hunger" question and decided to just tell whoever reads this that it can't be solved by mere mortals. The problem has been here since the beginning of time and it will be here until the end time *(a clue to the solution)* The devil owns this planet and until his greed, selfishness and power hunger are bannished forever the problem will persist. I mean, even apart from that, there are people who just cannot take care of themselves no matter how much you give them and need a caretaker to facilatate their activities or they will end up with too many children, too many habits, too many vices, too many whatevers to pay for it all and will need to be bailed out. Hmmm... kind of sounds like the world we live in. Is it good to share? Yes, and that's about all we can do for now until the Master arrives with the real solution and maybe then we will have found what we have been looking for for so many centuries.
Dr. WayneR
18 - Mary K. Williams
the "tell Bono how to solve world hunger" question and decided to just tell whoever reads this that it can't be solved by mere mortals. The problem has been here since the beginning of time and it will be here until the end time *(a clue to the solution)* The devil owns this planet and until his greed, selfishness and power hunger are bannished forever the problem will persist.
Dr. Wayne-
I don't entirely agree - I do think mere mortals can make a profound impact - good or bad, and guided (inspired) by either the devil or God.
I don't think God intends us to just wait on him to provide the answer, he already did this. We just have to open our ears and eyes and do the right thing.
Thanks for stopping by!
19 - Christopher Rose
I seem to remember there was that a plan to alleviate poverty permanently that was costed out at some 80 billion dollars but it was rejected by the powers that be as too expensive.
It doesn't seem that expensive to me, particularly when compared to the cost of other, more spontaneous and less constructive projects like recent military initiatives in Afghanistan and Iraq.
There are also the many initiatives now happening in the increasingly popular micro credit programmes which empower people who do not normally have access to loan money through traditional banking to bootstrap themselves out of poverty.
It can be amazing to see the huge difference it makes to people's lives when somebody is prepared to make a repayable loan to them of only 50€ or 100€. This helps people to start small businesses so they can clothe, feed and house their families and avoids the risk of creating aid dependency.
20 - Mary K. Williams
somebody is prepared to make a repayable loan to them of only 50€ or 100€. This helps people to start small businesses so they can clothe, feed and house their families and avoids the risk of creating aid dependency.
I like this Christopher. A while back I was trying to explain basic economic theory to my 11 year old. (He was doing a section on Government for school)Simple concepts, really. It's a shame that it gets mucked up so easily.
21 - Condor
Yeah right.... Bono is the head of the World Bank... get a friggin' clue. Ain't no world bank gonna give Bono a title.... gimme a break.
But I will say this. Google "Square foot gardener." Want to solve world hungar. Look no further... read it, learn it... go out and spread the good news. THIS is where it's at. Not some polita-rocker spewing his hype over the instument of the blathermongers (i.e. media).
Need I say more?
22 - Victor Plenty
Wow, Condor. That's really deep. You should go and spread your wisdom to the rest of the world. Hurry! Quick! There's not a moment to lose!
23 - Mary K. Williams
Need I say more?
No. Not with that negative attitude.
Condor - I'm wondering if you actually read my article? I never said I thought Bono should head the World Bank. Actually I think I said somewhere in my comments that that idea was a bit silly. I'm a Bono fan, but as a musician and a good soul - not as a financial whizkid - er.. whizrocker.
Victor P. You crack me up friend. : )