People generally associate the term "rock star" with a half-drunk, long-haired man or woman in shredded jeans and dark sunglasses, not with someone who is associated with phrases like "AIDS research," "third-world poverty," or "equal trade opportunity."
But that is exactly what two of today's most popular musicians are spending their time on.
Most people have heard of U2 frontman, Bono, and may be familiar with the endless campaigning (some may say posturing) for third-world debt, poverty, and AIDS relief that he's involved in.
Involvement that had Time magazine posing the question in March 2002, "Can Bono save the world?"
He's not making an impression on everyone, though.
George Harrison of Beatles fame implied that it is all an act for popularity when he said in Dubliner magazine, "Bono (is) so egocentric. The more you jump around?the more people listen to your music."
But love him or hate him, it is indisputable that he is making a difference.
He managed to persuade President George W. Bush to dedicate $5 billion to an aid package for the world's poorest countries in March 2002, according to the White House's Web site.
A USA Today article in 2005 talks about how he and his wife, Ali, formed the clothing company EDUN, which manufactures its products in factories in Africa, South America, and India and pays its workers fair wages in the hope of encouraging other businesses to do the same. Also, during U2's "Vertigo" tour in 2005 Bono repeatedly encouraged audience members to "make poverty history."
Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, is following that lead by investing much of his time with the organization Make Trade Fair. The group is dedicated to improving the trade opportunities of poorer countries in the world so they may more fairly compete with the world powers.
Martin regularly has the words "Make Trade Fair" written on his hand during concerts, along with a bold equal sign, the symbol for the campaign. Coldplay also distributes the organization's pamphlets at its performances.
But are they making a difference?
After all, there is still poverty in the world, people are still dying from AIDS, and the World Trade Organization has not resumed talks on improving trade relations in five years, according to the Make Trade Fair Web site.
So maybe they can't really "save the world." But maybe that isn't the point.
As Bono sings in "Rejoice" from U2's October album, "I can't change the world, but I can change the world in me."
Source: http://www.suujournal.com
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