HelloAngel
ONE love, blood, life
(12-07-2002) Bono: We must fight world AIDS - The Cincinnati Post
http://www.cincypost.com/
Bono: We must fight world AIDS
Rock star pleads for world's poor
By Kevin Osborne
Post staff reporter
As international rock singer Bono visited Cincinnati Friday to draw attention to the AIDS epidemic in Africa, local officials said the continuing spread of the HIV virus here is often overlooked.
The Greater Cincinnati area has more than 2,100 people living with HIV or AIDS, and the rate of infection is highest among African-Americans and poor people.
In Northern Kentucky, more than 130 people are infected with HIV or have developed AIDS.
Although powerful new anti-viral drugs have been created in recent years to help treat infection, that has given many people -- both infected and uninfected -- a false sense of security, said Sue Butler, executive director of Caracole Inc.
Worse yet, the infection rate is highest among groups that lack health insurance and can't afford the costly treatments.
"People in America believe the AIDS crisis is over," Butler said. "They are completely misled. It's not as visible as it used to be because it's hitting poor people.
"It's the same here as it is in Africa and everywhere, it's affecting the least among us," she added. "It isn't just a disease, it's about poverty. What's troubling is the impression that certain human beings are expendable."
Founded 14 years ago, Caracole is a nonprofit agency that provides housing and services to people with HIV and AIDS.
The demand for Caracole's services remains high: Greater Cincinnati has more people living with HIV and AIDS than any metropolitan area in Ohio except Cleveland.
Locally, nearly half of AIDS cases involve African-Americans. Also, HIV infection is increasing among women, who represent about 23 percent of reported cases.
Many people still consider AIDS a disease that affects mostly gay men, but 33 percent of new infections nationally occur between men and women through heterosexual sex.
Butler praised Bono's efforts at raising awareness about the global threat of HIV and AIDS through his "Heart of America" tour.
Bono, a political activist and lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, toured Caracole's facilities Friday and met with AIDS patients and health workers. He was joined by actor-comedian Chris Tucker.
Later, Bono met with the editorial boards of local newspapers to urge more coverage of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, before speaking to the media at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center's offices.
The site was appropriate, Bono said, because using political pressure to bring expensive AIDS drugs to impoverished Africa is the next step in the civil rights movement.
About 28 million Africans are infected with HIV, yet fewer than 3 million have access to medicine.
The virus is spreading rapidly in Africa, with an average of 9,500 people infected every day. More than 2.5 million AIDS-related deaths are expected next year.
"That it's not described as an emergency should throw up deep questions about our culture," Bono said.
"We can get cold, fizzy drinks to every corner of Africa, and we can't get life-saving drugs there?" he added. "That's nonsense."
Bono targeted the Midwest for his awareness campaign because it has "tough-minded, tenacious people" who are more likely to support grassroots efforts at lobbying politicians and corporations for aid to Africa.
The singer has talked with President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, all of whom are concerned about the African epidemic.
"The truth is, in a deficit environment, unless they hear (support) from the ground, they will hide behind the problems," Bono said.
Entrenched poverty is at the root of many global problems, including terrorism, he added. Groups like al-Qaida often exploit misery and suffering to gain followers.
"The war against poverty and the war against terror are bound up together. I didn't say that, Colin Powell did," Bono said. "The war against terror cannot be won by military means alone. We're trying to connect the dots here."
Industrialized nations, especially the United States, have a moral duty to use their resources for helping the less fortunate, he added.
"We are watching this. We will be held accountable by God and by history. I am absolutely certain of that."
http://www.cincypost.com/
Bono: We must fight world AIDS
Rock star pleads for world's poor
By Kevin Osborne
Post staff reporter
As international rock singer Bono visited Cincinnati Friday to draw attention to the AIDS epidemic in Africa, local officials said the continuing spread of the HIV virus here is often overlooked.
The Greater Cincinnati area has more than 2,100 people living with HIV or AIDS, and the rate of infection is highest among African-Americans and poor people.
In Northern Kentucky, more than 130 people are infected with HIV or have developed AIDS.
Although powerful new anti-viral drugs have been created in recent years to help treat infection, that has given many people -- both infected and uninfected -- a false sense of security, said Sue Butler, executive director of Caracole Inc.
Worse yet, the infection rate is highest among groups that lack health insurance and can't afford the costly treatments.
"People in America believe the AIDS crisis is over," Butler said. "They are completely misled. It's not as visible as it used to be because it's hitting poor people.
"It's the same here as it is in Africa and everywhere, it's affecting the least among us," she added. "It isn't just a disease, it's about poverty. What's troubling is the impression that certain human beings are expendable."
Founded 14 years ago, Caracole is a nonprofit agency that provides housing and services to people with HIV and AIDS.
The demand for Caracole's services remains high: Greater Cincinnati has more people living with HIV and AIDS than any metropolitan area in Ohio except Cleveland.
Locally, nearly half of AIDS cases involve African-Americans. Also, HIV infection is increasing among women, who represent about 23 percent of reported cases.
Many people still consider AIDS a disease that affects mostly gay men, but 33 percent of new infections nationally occur between men and women through heterosexual sex.
Butler praised Bono's efforts at raising awareness about the global threat of HIV and AIDS through his "Heart of America" tour.
Bono, a political activist and lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, toured Caracole's facilities Friday and met with AIDS patients and health workers. He was joined by actor-comedian Chris Tucker.
Later, Bono met with the editorial boards of local newspapers to urge more coverage of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, before speaking to the media at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center's offices.
The site was appropriate, Bono said, because using political pressure to bring expensive AIDS drugs to impoverished Africa is the next step in the civil rights movement.
About 28 million Africans are infected with HIV, yet fewer than 3 million have access to medicine.
The virus is spreading rapidly in Africa, with an average of 9,500 people infected every day. More than 2.5 million AIDS-related deaths are expected next year.
"That it's not described as an emergency should throw up deep questions about our culture," Bono said.
"We can get cold, fizzy drinks to every corner of Africa, and we can't get life-saving drugs there?" he added. "That's nonsense."
Bono targeted the Midwest for his awareness campaign because it has "tough-minded, tenacious people" who are more likely to support grassroots efforts at lobbying politicians and corporations for aid to Africa.
The singer has talked with President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, all of whom are concerned about the African epidemic.
"The truth is, in a deficit environment, unless they hear (support) from the ground, they will hide behind the problems," Bono said.
Entrenched poverty is at the root of many global problems, including terrorism, he added. Groups like al-Qaida often exploit misery and suffering to gain followers.
"The war against poverty and the war against terror are bound up together. I didn't say that, Colin Powell did," Bono said. "The war against terror cannot be won by military means alone. We're trying to connect the dots here."
Industrialized nations, especially the United States, have a moral duty to use their resources for helping the less fortunate, he added.
"We are watching this. We will be held accountable by God and by history. I am absolutely certain of that."
Last edited:
