NPR: Rockstars Urge African Aid

Rockstars Urge African Aid

As world leaders descend on New York for the annual talk fest known as the UN General Assembly, some celebrities are joining them to promote their cause. Take for instance Irish rockers Bob Geldof and Bono. They are working the crowds to promote more aid and investment in Africa and call themselves "the Mutt and Jeff show".

Bono is also taking the time to meet Republican Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin. He told NPR, "we are meeting wearing my ONE campaign hat. We are asking both parties not to play politics with the poorest of the poor." Geldof said they are "wholly bipartisan", though he quickly pointed out that he thinks all politicians are wankers. Geldof said he would shake hands with "the devil on the left and the devil on the right to get to the people you need to get to." A spokesman for the ONE Campaign, which promotes development aid, said only Bono, not Geldof, would be meeting with Palin.

The two musicians also spoke at the European Commission's office, where they backed EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso's efforts to take unused European farm subsidies to buy seeds and fertilizers for African farmers. Bono said, "these African farmers who are just scratching in the dirt, with no fertilizer, with no seeds to plant, are in a chronic state while European farmers, who of course, have solidarity with African farmers, know that there's surplus that's there for them when the bottom falls out of the European market." The U2 lead singer warned, "This is the planting season ... so we have to act fast."

-- Michele Kelemen

11:04 AM ET | 09-23-2008 | permalink

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Yeah, the fact that, on the one hand, we've left the third world to fend for itself, and on the other, actively abused and undermined their development so that we can exploit their resources and labor. It's just malicious. And it's ultimately self destructive. Because we would all be better off if the poor and foreign had stable and vital economic and political systems.

The fact that would could have so many awful vices in this country, in the face of what we have done. We should turn way from those actions and amend them. It's the only way to avoid our own ultimate self-destruction

Sent by Jody Sol | 12:50 PM ET | 09-23-2008

Perhaps Bono should put his money where his mouth is. He could give away 90% of his wealth and still be richer than most people of the world could ever dream of being.

Sent by PJH | 1:15 PM ET | 09-23-2008

I think Bono has done pretty good work. He convinced the late Jesse Helms to support aids victims. He has convinced many Western leaders to write off African debt, to Africa's great advantage. His own wealth would be miniscule compared to that result. It is also his own business what his will might say. He has lobbied leaders on all sides of the ideological divide with respect and enthusiasm. He has given credit where it is due. I don't like Bush but Bono has spoken out in favor of Bush's efforts for Africa. He has consistently been in favor of the sort of aid that will allow the poor to be self sustaining and to improve their lot.

Sent by Mike Fleissner | 10:27 PM ET | 09-23-2008

Bono is just another rich celebrity who wants other peoples's tax dollars to pay for his charitable impulses.

In the meantime, he does whatever he can to shield his own wealth from the taxman. Like moving his music-publishing business from Ireland to the Netherlands in order to shelter its songwriting royalties from taxation.

It is easy to be generous with other's possessions.

"I remember way back when a liberal was one who was generous with his own money" - Will Rogers

Sent by PJH | 5:33 PM ET | 09-24-2008

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