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September 24, 2008

Clinton Global Initiative
Rock Star Admonishes Wealthy Countries

The U2 frontman and antipoverty advocate Bono chastised rich nations for not doing more to alleviate world poverty, fight diseases, and promote education.

During a panel at the Clinton Global Initiative, the rock star complained about what he described as global stinginess.

He said if America can find $700-billion to bailout the financial system, it and other countries can find the money to support development work. If they don’t, he said, “this is moral bankruptcy.”

For example, Bono said the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, a set of economic-development, health, and education objectives, need to be “resuscitated.”

This week members of the United Nations are meeting to debate the goals, which include halving the number of the world’s poor and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. Several philanthropic projects are being announced related to the gathering, such as an injection of $75-million by the Bill & Melinda Gates and the Howard G. Buffett Foundations into the World Food Programme.

At the Clinton Global Initiative, Bill Clinton praised the Irish singer for being able to convince Republican lawmakers to support HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment work in Africa.

Bono said, of all people, Warren Buffett gave him the best advice for lobbying American lawmakers.

In his best impression of the billionaire’s Midwestern accent, Bono said Mr. Buffett advised: “Don’t appeal to the conscience of America, appeal to the greatness of America, and you’ll get the job done.”

— Ian Wilhelm

Wednesday September 24, 2008 | Permalink

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