Bono’s
contributions to Third World Debt
The name of Paul David Hewson, generally known as Bono is very
actively associated with the cause of Third World Debt.
This great personality was born and brought up in Dublin which
is situated in Ireland and then went on to attend the Mount Temple
Comprehensive School where he was also fortunate enough to meet his
life-partner and also the other members of his Irish rock band, U2
of which he is credited to be the lead vocalist.
The credit of the rebellious tune of the U2 band also goes to
Bono and he is known all across the globe for his social, political
and religious themes.
The issue of debt is becoming a serious concern on a global
level. Debt relief is said to have be a major concern and with the
present state of affairs, is coming down to moral issues.
It is not considered wise to address 41 of the most impoverished
to clear of the debt of approximately $200 billion which they had
seemed to accumulate in the span of last 30 to 40 years. The second
issue is that it is not fair enough to ask for a repayment and that
the burden of paying the interest really make the nations go weak
and they fail to improve their standard of living.
However at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum which
was held in Switzerland, Brian Eno had explained to Bono what
happens if the debts are forgiven and how the country ends up
back in debt but the latter has claimed that certain strict rules
and conditions can forbid such consequences.
In fact it was Bono who also started the job of questioning the
morality of poor nations how to repay the loans after the 1985 Live
Aid Concert which received more than $200 million for the purpose
of giving aid to Africa.
Soon after this when Bono and his wife Ali visited Ethiopia they
came to know how the huge sum raised during the concert was
depleted with a short span and also became aware of interest
payments.
After a few years Bono came to know of the Jubilee movement and
took immense interest in it as it was said to be a movement related
to that of debt-relief. He was more than attracted to the idea of
putting getting on with a new beginning and encouraged the movement
wholeheartedly.
With the passage of time, Bono also became a solemn supporter of
debt relief and also made use of his celebrity status to publicize
the cause. With the matter of gaining more credibility as a serious
advocate, he also began the promotion of his campaign.
It has been remarked by a top economic adviser Gene Sperling in
regards to Bono that he “is exceptional not in his knowledge and
his commitment but in his desire to work in a strategic and
practical way’.
It is inevitable the efforts of Bono have been able to win the
strong support of both his fans and activists and is going a long
way in addressing debt relief concerns and bringing it to public
notice because of his iconic status.
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