(Pardon me for not being as well spoken as many of you have shown above)
Perhaps Bono is the messenger for a certain group/demographic/generation. Like it was said before, he may not appeal to everyone. But he has definitely brought the issue to the forefront and made millions of people around the world more aware of the world and their part in it. If people realize that their voice matters and should be heard, maybe a difference CAN be made. You can't fault him for trying. You can't be resigned to the fact that 'no matter what you do, it doesn't matter' or your 'vote doesn't count'. If he and others had not brought the attention/focus of the world on the G8 and the leaders & the meeting in Scotland, how many people would even know what the G8 was and that they were gathering (myself included). We have to at least try. And I understand the concern about 'throwing money' at countries in Africa with the concern that it will not make it to the people in need. There definitely needs to be accountability, and I believe that was one of the requirements the countries needed to have in place - something about the Millenium Challenge. Again, I'm not very well read on many issues, but I do believe Bono to be a very well read/learned person, and what he doesn't know, he educates himself in. I believe he is passionate about what he believes in, and he is definitely using his celebrity to bring light to this issue. And if he can make a difference...
And just because he's a musician, does that make him any less credible? I would not be listening to the messenger if he/she were some listed above (Pat Robertson, Ann Coulter, etc.). I wouldn't be listening to a religious person, a politician,...but that's just me. Look at the mess America is today, and the divided country it has become...
Music reaches people on so many different levels. What about one of the greatest musicians ever (or at least of my lifetime), John Lennon. He said "Give Peace A Chance", "Power To The People", 'Imagine". Just because these people are not economists, world leaders, politicians, etc., does that mean we shouldn't listen to them, or give them a chance to be heard? And who said non-musicians know any more than the people in power?
What if he can make a difference? What if he can get the ball rolling, put pressure on the powers that be? He's taking a big risk, one that he feels is justified and worth his time and effort. I feel a bit more informed about things because of his efforts. I'm on his side on this one...
Okay, now I'm getting delirious and leaving the topic, aren't I? I just wanted to say something, but probably didn't articulate it well. Oh well, I tried. That's gotta count for something, right?