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Bono: America's help needed in AIDS battle
By John Kenyon
The Gazette
Tuesday, December 03, 2002, 12:21:40 AM
IOWA CITY -- America during our time will be remembered for three things, rock star Bono told a capacity crowd at the University of Iowa's Memorial Union last night.
The Internet, the war on terrorism and "that an entire continent burst into flames while we stood around with watering cans," he said.
"Or not," he added. "That 'or not' is why we're here."
Bono, lead singer for the Irish band U2, spoke about the AIDS epidemic in Africa as part of the "Heart of America -- Africa's Future and Ours" tour, sponsored by the non-profit group DATA -- Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa.
The event -- part lecture, part pep rally for the 1,600 in attendance -- included actress Ashley Judd, Ugandan nurse Agnes Nyamayarwo and a singing group from Ghana, the Gateway Ambassadors.
The most compelling information of the night came from Nyamayarwo, who has lived with AIDS for 12 of her 50 years and lost one of her eight children and her husband to the illness formally known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
She said one of her sons asked who, if both of his parents died of AIDS, would care for him and his siblings.
"We need more to get treatment," she said.
In Africa, 9,500 people will be infected with AIDS each day, and another 6,500 will die, Judd said.
"This obliterates communities," she said, adding that more children in Africa will die of AIDS this year than there are children in Iowa.
Bono said the issue involves more than compassion. National security is wrapped up in how people in other countries view the United States, and difficulty in responding should not be an issue.
"Difficult just won't play around here," he said. "We can get cold, fizzy drinks to every corner of Africa, but we can't get lifesaving drugs there?"
He suggested sending AIDS treatment drugs to Africa that are red, white and blue, which would guarantee that "the U.S. flag would be looked at with great admiration."
Joined by the Gateway Ambassadors, Bono closed by singing a new U2 song, "American Prayer."
The DATA group is on a seven-day, seven-state tour that takes it to Chicago, Indianapolis and Nashville later this week.
Though Bono focused on the AIDS epidemic in Africa, many Eastern Iowans also suffer from the illness.
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, 1,096 people living in Iowa have AIDS or HIV. Of those, 82 live in Johnson County and 62 in Linn County. Through Sept. 30 of this year, 58 cases have been reported statewide.
Renee Uecker, communications director with the Grant Wood chapter of the Red Cross, which operates the organization's Rapids Aids Project in both counties, said that program and others offer people the opportunity to help deal with AIDS locally.
"One thing about Iowa is that people tend to think we're immune from HIV and AIDS," she said. "Anything that is going to heighten awareness is a good thing."
Bono: America's help needed in AIDS battle
By John Kenyon
The Gazette
Tuesday, December 03, 2002, 12:21:40 AM
IOWA CITY -- America during our time will be remembered for three things, rock star Bono told a capacity crowd at the University of Iowa's Memorial Union last night.
The Internet, the war on terrorism and "that an entire continent burst into flames while we stood around with watering cans," he said.
"Or not," he added. "That 'or not' is why we're here."
Bono, lead singer for the Irish band U2, spoke about the AIDS epidemic in Africa as part of the "Heart of America -- Africa's Future and Ours" tour, sponsored by the non-profit group DATA -- Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa.
The event -- part lecture, part pep rally for the 1,600 in attendance -- included actress Ashley Judd, Ugandan nurse Agnes Nyamayarwo and a singing group from Ghana, the Gateway Ambassadors.
The most compelling information of the night came from Nyamayarwo, who has lived with AIDS for 12 of her 50 years and lost one of her eight children and her husband to the illness formally known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
She said one of her sons asked who, if both of his parents died of AIDS, would care for him and his siblings.
"We need more to get treatment," she said.
In Africa, 9,500 people will be infected with AIDS each day, and another 6,500 will die, Judd said.
"This obliterates communities," she said, adding that more children in Africa will die of AIDS this year than there are children in Iowa.
Bono said the issue involves more than compassion. National security is wrapped up in how people in other countries view the United States, and difficulty in responding should not be an issue.
"Difficult just won't play around here," he said. "We can get cold, fizzy drinks to every corner of Africa, but we can't get lifesaving drugs there?"
He suggested sending AIDS treatment drugs to Africa that are red, white and blue, which would guarantee that "the U.S. flag would be looked at with great admiration."
Joined by the Gateway Ambassadors, Bono closed by singing a new U2 song, "American Prayer."
The DATA group is on a seven-day, seven-state tour that takes it to Chicago, Indianapolis and Nashville later this week.
Though Bono focused on the AIDS epidemic in Africa, many Eastern Iowans also suffer from the illness.
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, 1,096 people living in Iowa have AIDS or HIV. Of those, 82 live in Johnson County and 62 in Linn County. Through Sept. 30 of this year, 58 cases have been reported statewide.
Renee Uecker, communications director with the Grant Wood chapter of the Red Cross, which operates the organization's Rapids Aids Project in both counties, said that program and others offer people the opportunity to help deal with AIDS locally.
"One thing about Iowa is that people tend to think we're immune from HIV and AIDS," she said. "Anything that is going to heighten awareness is a good thing."
