Bono, lead singer of U2, has been increasing his efforts to raise awareness on the plight of Africa - he founded DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa) in 2002, specifically with the purpose of "obtaining equality and justice for Africa through debt relief, adjusting trade rules which burden Africa, eliminating the African AIDS epidemic, strengthening democracy, more accountability by the wealthiest nations and African leaders and transparency towards the people".
Bono is not alone in pointing out that every week in Africa there is a loss of life through preventable disease on a level similar to the lives lost in Asian Tsunami of December 2004. While that saw a humanitarian response on a huge scale, Africa's plight is virtually ignored by most of the world.
Bono elegantly raises this issue in his acceptance speech as inaugural winner of the TED Prize, February 24, 2005. (Also available as a videostream - see http://www.ted.com/tedprize/
Africa is a continent in flames and, deep down, if we really accepted that Africans were equal to us, we would all do more to put the fire out. We're standing around with watering cans, when what we really need is the fire brigade, and that's what I'm trying to do tonight, really. That's why I'm speaking to you. I'm trying to call the fire brigade. I'm asking for your help.
I'm an Irish rock star in America. I love this country. I know my way around, but I really need help here. This stuff isn't even on the news. You see, it's not as dramatic as the tsunami. It's crazy, really, when you think about it. Does stuff have to look like an action movie these days to exist in the front of our brain? The slow extinguishing of countless lives is just not dramatic enough, it would appear. Catastrophes that we can avert are not as interesting as ones we could avert. Funny that.
As a winner of the Ted Prize, Bono gets three wishes and US$100,000 to go towards his achieving his wishes.
Check out his practical, earth changing wishes. Consider what you can do to help.
