Wake Up "Red" Man

[Anu]

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/2006/01/26/better_red_than_.html

It's because I love Bono so much that I get so sick to my stomach sometimes at the things he does. For someone so smart, how can he do such stupid things?

Really, promoting Nike and Gap, sweatshop criminals and corporate thugs, as part of an anti-poverty campaign, is disgusting and embarassing.

Capitalism cannot solve the problems that Bono wants to solve because capitalism is the problem. Notice how Bono always uses the modifier "extreme" when he talks about ending poverty. This is important, because the economic system that allows people to be as rich as Bono also creates the catastrophe he claims to want to end.

Bono likes to imply that it's first-worldism, a lack of morals, and a lack of money that allow this to continue when in fact it's a lack of an alternative to capitalism.

State-socialism failed, that's clear. But we still need a socialism of the spirit, a communism of the heart, an explicitly libertarian welfare system for the whole world, a global minimum income, universal health care, and an end to the wars that make people think it moral to feed the Pentagon while people starve, not just in Africa, but in New Orleans.

Better Red than Well-read could be our beloved B-man's new slogan. "Make Bono History" is the slogan of the left and the right. His beautiful wife and ballsy band-mates have a conflict of interest, or perhaps, they would help him get a clue.

I'm not burning my records, books, or ticket stubs. I'm not even un-framing any pictures or posters. I am hoping, however, that Bono learns a different kind of savvy and that some lives are saved because of his work, despite its arrogance, despite my disappointment.

love, Anu

 

[hiphop]

I read some of the comments to the article.

I like this one: "To the various commentators who says that it's no harm for Bono to endorse unethical companies who're in this 'red' campaign, and that the end justifies the means, you all need to think again. It's doing a lot of harm actually: Nike and Gap would somehow become 'ethical' again because they give away a paltry 1% from a limited range of goods which they are going to sell with lots of star power behind it, instead of haveing to do anything to alter their labour practices, and thus making a joke of ethical fund investments; the brand image of these companies are the images that help them sell, and while a lot of pressure groups managed after years of hardwork and consciousness-raising to make people aware of these multinationals' illegal practices, and thus allowing ethical consumers to vote with their wallets by not purchasing them, by one stroke Bono's completely reversed all this hardwork by encouraging people to buy these companies' products again even though the actual pay-off to the AIDS cause is negligible. Again, as I said I applaud Bono for doing something imaginative to turn consumerism into a force for good, but could he not at least do the basic research and due diligence on the companies that he's linking with in his campaign??? And why settle for 1% on this deal when he coudl legitimately demand a whole lot more? Yes he's a rock star so he's bound to get a few things wrong, but that doesn't excuse him from wasting a perfectly good opportunity to make a real difference by not getting the kind of advice he needs from people who understands how to work corporate social responsibility. It's such a shame really, but hopefully if he reads this he'll be a little smarter when he gets other companies to sign up to the campaign."

 

[verte76]

These are some good points. I love Bono, but the bottom line is, he's as human as we are and he screws up. It doesn't help to deny that.

 

[the iron horse]

"It's because I love Bono so much that I get so sick to my stomach sometimes at the things he does. For someone so smart, how can he do such stupid things?"

Anu,

I agree.

Through the years Bono has both amazed me with his words and at times I have been really let down. He has this ability to drop the F-word in the most intense on camera moments.

He's only human, plus Irish,
so I keep forgiving him...

as a pray that I am forgiven for my daily sins and shortcomings.

 

[wizard2c]

reply

It's a complex global world.....with complex global problems.......and unfortunately, there is no "one" easy solution.

Perhaps a good beginning is a saying from The Lord of The Rings.......it reads:

"ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IS WHAT TO DO WITH THE TIME THAT IS GIVEN TO YOU!"

 

[MrBrau1]

He eats meat too!

Which brands should he have worked with?

 

[Bono's shades]

He eats meat too!

Which brands should he have worked with?

Maybe ones that aren't notorious for using sweatshop labor?

 

[Angela Harlem]

Re: reply

"ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IS WHAT TO DO WITH THE TIME THAT IS GIVEN TO YOU!"

I dont know Bono, so therefore dont love him. I'm not in love with him either. Infact, I dont think I'd even like him as a person, if I did know him. He seems a bit of an arse. Lucky the music is good (mostly). The above quote applies, however. It doesn't undo what "endorsing" he does of unsavoury practices. But I cant imagine that anyone on this message board is not wearing or owns at least one item made in a sweat shop. It's like seeing those who protest against animal cruelty wearing leather.

 

[MrBrau1]

Maybe ones that aren't notorious for using sweatshop labor?

Fair enough.

Name a large, well known brand which would have had similar reach as Nike or Gap.

 

[AliEnvy]

Really, promoting Nike and Gap, sweatshop criminals and corporate thugs, as part of an anti-poverty campaign, is disgusting and embarassing.

It's actually no different than his work with G8 leaders who could also just as easily be called sweatshop criminals and corporate thugs.

If "Red" brings out the sweatshop debate to a new audience with real purchasing power, perhaps there will be more pressure to change labour practices through campaigns and buying patterns in the very companies who are the worst culprits. Perhaps slowly, perhaps not...that will depend on the consumer ina much more direct way than it depends on the voter. The fact that he roped these companies in at all is interesting and perhaps it's a bit shortsighted to say his high profile will just help them sell other product lines. I don't think there are any politicians saying their photo ops with Bono have gotten them any votes.