rihannsu said:
The problem with all these aid bashers is that they lump all the money ever given to Africa in the same boat and claim it has all been wasted, stolen, funded wars, etc. The truth is that yes, for many years aid money and loan money was improperly used and stolen by corrupt governments, and yes the original Live Aid money was also a victim of the corruption of the regime in Ethiopia, but the ways that aid and debt relief are being handled now are vastly different from what was done before. It is very easy to criticize when you look at the entire picture for the last 50 years but what these journalist should be doing is reporting on what has changed over the last 10 years. Bono would not have been able to get the commitments from governments that he has gotten if the money was not being handled significantly better. The Global Fund is a great example and the info on the (RED) money in that is easily available on the web site so it ticks me off when people say they don't know how the money is being spent. The grant details are available right there. The Millenium Challenge account grants are also very carefully handled which is why Bono had such a row with George Bush over how slowly the money was being handed out until he realized that if they screwed up and weren't careful it would endanger the whole program. Debt relief is not just waving a magic wand and the debt goes away like some of these idiot report it. The countries have to go through a very stringent application process and then the money freed up from debt relief has to be spent on certain things or they don't get to stay in the program. I get really sick of these idiots blaming Bono for the last 50 years worth of aid corruption in Africa when he is one of the main reasons that shit is getting straightened out in the continent. Is it all perfect yet? NO. But it is being addressed and improvements are made and Bono is the first one insisting that corruption must be dealt with both in Africa and in the West.
Dana
Exactly! I try to explain this to my classmates in college and they dont get it either. Of course, aid given in the past was sent to corrupt regimes that funded wars, dictatorships, terrorist groups, etc, but as you point out, things have changed. Great job of detailing the corruption controls on the millenium development fund as well as the fact that much of this aid goes to NGOs who are on the ground delivering services. The new approach is to not care who gets the money, govt or not, rather, who can effectively provide the treatment, build the schools, teach about safe sex, etc. No one ever gets into the real reason so much 'humanitarian aid' was given to corrupt dictatorships- the Cold War. Whoever took the side of the West against the Soviets and their sphere of influence got the money, dictator or Mother Theresa, it did not matter. Same for the Soviets, they just gave to whoever would support their cause. Not saying it was right or wrong, just that it happened, and Bono alludes to it as well.
Bono does not understand economics had to be the one that got me the most. U2 have been selling albums and touring since the early 1980s dealing with major profits and making major business decisions w/ a group of basically themselves and Paul McGuiness only. Anyone who listens to an interview from 1980 with Bono can tell that he was/is a brilliant person who always thought big and was always wise beyond his years. In addition, he has opened his own hotel, started a venture capital company, started RED, the list goes on. Of course he understands economics, he is a businessman. Coming from someone in the media, that is just hilarious as they are all notorious for not understanding or wanting to understand a thing about economics(no less than Ted Koppell admitted this during the 2000 presidential election campaign). Jeffrey Sachs may have helped Bono understand the inner workings of the organizations who control the money- the world bank, the IMF, etc, but that is to be expected as Sachs is a developmental economist who makes a living out of understanding and critiquing these organizations. It is quite possible that an economics professor who focuses on United States macroeconomy as well as on money and banking in the US and Europe would not feel comfortable meeting directly with heads of the IMF and the WB (as Bono has done) without consulting someone of Sachs expertise in that particular field. This "journalist" clearly has no idea what she is talking about. Bono is one of the few celebrities whose heart, head and money are all right where his mouth is. And for alot of people, that is literally a lifesaving gift. I get so pissed off at all the people who say they are sick of Bono being portrayed as a savior. Lets look at the facts: his work, his power of persuasion and eloquence is on the record as having convinced many people who control the purse strings of the merits of debt relief, millenium development goals, better trade laws, the list goes on. In addition, the RED funds and much of Bono's own money has gone directly into providing lifesaving drugs, education, homes and clothes for people living in extreme poverty. No individual on the face of this earth except for Bono meets both criteria that follow: 1.)They care about and do something about this issue 2.)It comes from their moral compass and life experience and not from political expedience or outside persuasion of the moral significance of attention to such issues. Many meet the 1st criteria- President Bush, world leaders, but they had to be convinced. Clinton meets 1.5, as he started the Clinton Global initiative only after pressure while in office, etc. I hope I make sense here, but my overall point is that no indivdual has done more to give this issue prominence among the people that actually control the distribution of money and power in the world. Without this, all of those wonderful, truly blessed workers on the ground in Africa would have much less to work with and more would die. Many have said as much, and thats all on the record too.
These people are so full of it. Senators, Presidents, experts in business, health, religion, the list goes on have all attested to the fact that Bono is not just some sloganeering, fist in the air drunken rock star railing against poverty to get a few cheers from hippies or college kids. In fact, they have all said he knows as much about business as a venutre capitalist, as much about AIDS as a public health official, as much about development and trade as a trade official, etc. I find this very easy to believe and not in the least bit hyperbole because of what I have seen the man speak and write. First, the passion of U2's lyrics, overall songs, etc, granted, Edge, Adam and Larry are integral to this, but Bono writes alot and is inspired by alot. Next, listen to any interview done with Bono, witness his history of working in Africa, directly with people living with these conditions, etc. It is clear he is a brilliant person who is truly passionate about the music. The level of passion in U2 songs can easily be extended, and is to Bono's other endeavors. In fact, it takes a driven, committed and passionate person who throws oneself into their what they are doing wholeheartedly to get to the level of fame U2 is at. Contrary to what some say, it is alot more about work and commitment and having a clue in life than it is about luck. This goes for Bono, Bill Clinton, Jeffrey Sachs, Bill Gates or anyone of us.
Long story short, I really enjoyed your post and I am as fed up with all of the Bono bashing as you are.
This was in the New Zealand Herald this morning 
how dare they ruin my day!! 
What an utterly crappy and badly researched article. It's ok to be anti Bono and U2, which is obviously the case here, but people running their mouths could at least get their facts straight and do some research. Saying that Bono knows nothing about economy is simply dumb.
) trying to pretend to be real investigative journalism. The opinion of one lady is NOT gospel. 
She obviously has no clue about what is going on in Africa now. Some expert! 
