Bono to edit newspaper for a day

[busybeeburns]

U2 frontman Bono is to edit The Independent newspaper for a day to highlight the issue of Aids in Africa. The singer is already offering ideas and commissioning articles for many sections of his edition of the daily UK paper, to be published on 16 May.

 

The Independent editor in chief Simon Kelner said the paper would be "challenging and innovative". Half of its revenues for that day will be donated to Product Red, Bono's initiative to improve healthcare. A spokesperson for Bono told the paper: "He is tickled to be let loose on such a great paper. He's enjoying using the talents of its journalists to explore issues that are vital to him."

 

The Independent has become a partner in the singer's scheme, which is aimed at persuading big business to use its financial muscle to tackle the disease.

 

Product Red has created a range of products including footwear, sunglasses and a credit card to generate funds.

 

When the organisation was launched earlier this year, Bono said: "I feel a bit of a fraud, a bit of a loser because we are not winning the war against Aids."

 

He admitted that he had turned to big business in an effort to boost the Global Fund, charged with alleviating the impact of Aids, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa.

 

In December 2004, Bono was guest editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme for a day, in which he highlighted the ongoing problem of world poverty.

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4976406.stm

[Plug_in_coldplaying]

yes,i read that,but only for 1 day

[mc_squared]

yes' date='i read that,but only for 1 day[/quote']

 

And you still haven't found what you're looking for?? :rolleyes:

[chuck kottke]

searching for answers...

 

Hello All!!

It looks to me like big business and politicians (who claim to be doing the will of the people) aren't so interested in bettering trade relations (unless of course, they're names are Gates, Carnegie, or Rockerfeller!) with the poorer parts of the globe.

What it seems to all boil down to is getting honest representation, and getting an honest press that actually takes an interest in covering these topics! Those folks we put in Parliament, Congress, and the various heads of state - they need to be accountable to we, the people! The press, were it to cover more than just the latest exciting fluff, would then convey a more accurate portrayal of what's at stake, and where the real problems are. (BBC's still pretty good on that one, but the US mainstream media is for the birds!)

Getting to that point takes real reform measures, so that the buying of influence (bribing) is minimalized, and elections once again represent the will of the people. I would guess one of the reasons Bono found the US and EU rep's at the WTO to be thus: "the US plays silly buggers on subsidies and the EU on tariffs, and it just goes on and on..." is because the rep's. really are buggers! If honest men and women wrote the laws and made the treaties, the WTO would be leaps and bounds better, if we even needed it at all! Unfortunately, we're still under the influence of elections being bought by the highest bidder, though many of us are working hard to break the cycle over here.

Check out your representation and where their money is coming from, and you can pretty well guess why they do what they do!! So, my advice to anyone who's not already aware of if would be to get involved in supporting real reform measures - especially if you're from the US, where the influence pedalling has gotten wayyy out of hand!! Support candidates for reform, and consider adopting state-sponsored funding of campaigns. It might sound pricey, but it's way cheaper in the long run, and ought to open up the much-needed aid for Africa's poor, as well as help make trade fair by getting honest brokers involved.

Right now, though, it's the best government money can buy!!

 

Happy Trails & Keep an Eye on the Prize!;)

 

-Chuck