Bono on CNN This Morning
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ONE co-founder Bono spoke with CNN’s John Roberts on “American Morning” this morning about recent successes and future plans in our fight against global poverty. You can watch the whole interview below, and read the full transcript on CNN.com.
An excerpt:
“BONO: We got good news this week. I know normally I’m on your program with bad news — the whingeing rock star — but it’s great. There’s a disease, malaria — it’s 3,000 African kids die every day of mosquito bites. Sounds mad, but it’s true. And people have committed and it looks like the funds are on the table so that that disease will be no more by 2015. That makes people like me punch the air and everyone who wears a ONE T-shirt and all our white band campaigners on college campuses all over the country — it was a great day for them yesterday so we’re celebrating that. I know it’s extraordinary, that while you’re having this meltdown on the markets, that people could even concentrate on this stuff, but I’m really grateful that they did. We had both [presidential] candidates make very powerful statements about the necessity for nonmilitary tools, for instance, in foreign policy. This is an America that both candidates want to show to the rest of the world — the greatness of America.”
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The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with frequent contributions from volunteers, members and partner organizations.
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The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
September 26, 2008 at 11:51 am
That is indeed great news. It’s nice to see that Bono gets a little payoff for the time spent on this stuff. i mean, I know that is not why he does what he does, but tangible results from your hard work always feel good. Knowing that it’s saving lives is even better.
September 26, 2008 at 12:07 pm
A sobering recap. I wish John Roberts hadn’t cut him off after the question, “Whose fault is it that the MDGs haven’t been met?” It seemed Bono was about to make some cogent points about “writing checks, but not signing them.”
But maybe it was for the best, to keep the tenor of the interview positive. And it was certainly nice to hear some good news.
September 26, 2008 at 12:08 pm
It is AWESOME to see Bono continuing being so dedicated to his mission, and it’s great to see the progress ONE and him are making!!
September 26, 2008 at 1:44 pm
All we have from McCain is pretty rhetoric. Obama made clear, explicit commitments about malaria and education that we can hold him to. He promised action by a certain date and he committed to specific funding amounts. That’s what voters need to judge the candidates on these issues, and that’s what real leadership is about.
September 26, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Lemme get this straight. In 1965, we (the world) had almost eradicated malaria entirely, thanks to the best insecticide we’d ever developed, and one that was essentially harmless to humans, DDT. Then, environmental wackos shut down our campaign against malaria because of bird eggs. In the past forty years, MILLIONS of people have died from malaria. Now, the newest generation of environmental wackos want us to be excited that, millions of deaths later, we’ve managed to develop a strategy to eliminate malaria (again). Yay!
September 26, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Screw the other “poor countries” of the world; what about taking care of things here at home in America? How about getting Healthcare under control here first?… How about stemming poverty in the United States first?… Who’s going to come to the aid of America once our society “implodes”; which it’s on the very edge of ecomomically, politically, resource-wise, healthcare-wise, employment-wise, illegal-immigration/iinvasion-wise, militarily, and so on. Let’s get America in propper shape first before helping strangers of the world. C’mon.
September 26, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Hi concerned American, the fact is we can help poor countries AND help people at home too, since the money needed to help poor countries is a tiny fraction of the budget - less than one percent in fact. Drug resistant tuberculosis threatens you and me because we have failed to give poor countries the small amount of money needed to really control it. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda took root in Afghanistan because America did not provide the small amount needed to promote real development there. That’s why I think McCain and Obama were right to defend aiding poor countries in their speeches yesterday.
September 26, 2008 at 6:46 pm
He’s such an inspiring man. We’re backing you up, Bono, even out here on the small island of Maui. Our college campus is in full support. I’m glad to see the ONE Campaign is making great strides.
September 26, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I want to thank David Bryden once again for bringing a sense of much-needed perspective into this discussion. Please continue to “state the case” which we, AS ONE, must refrain from in trying to maintain our nonpartisan activities.
Also, I have yet to be able to watch Bono’s appearances on CNN and at the UN & CGI this week due to a crazy work schedule but I will make a point to catch up on these public appearances this weekend.
I have only ONE thing to remind Bono of, though - BONO, DON’T FORGET THAT ONE IS NOT ONLY ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES OF THE USA but also IN THE CHURCHES & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OF THE USA!
You forgot to mention the rest of us two and a half million Americans who are not on campuses on CNN today. ( But we’ll forgive you - smile)
ALWAYS ONE in the Spirit, debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org
September 26, 2008 at 11:49 pm
We in America must deal with our own economy before getting involved with the problems in Africa.The socialist policy of Obama and Biden won’t fly with the American public.I don’t want my tax dollars wasted on the endless issues of Africa.Africa is not a part of America and does not deserve one penny.
September 27, 2008 at 12:21 am
To those who are posting stating that we have to clean up issues at home before helping others abroad, what happened to the founding idea of this nation that all men and women are created equal? Did that idea have a disclaimer saying only if you live in this country? A child dying because they could not get access to a pill that costs $.03 should be considered an absurdity, here or abroad. Yes we have work to do at home, but the goals we talk about here are the low hanging fruit, with so many lives that could potentially be saved. Compassion does not know international borders.
September 27, 2008 at 9:26 am
And to support what Matt has said - fighting extreme poverty in the world is part of the bigger fight against the threat of terroism in our world.
So many military experts - from Colin Powell to the CIA ( yes - the CIA) have agreed with ONE’s contention regarding this idea so I would think that any real patriot for our country would understand the value of making friends in the world’s poorest countries through the programs that ONE advocates for rather than have those same poor countries turn into havens for terroists bent on fomenting instability in the world.
Think about it and you’ll see the whole picture and realize that we, AS ONE, are trying to protect the security of the world as we try to eliminate extreme poverty.
And I say this as a STRONG ONE SUPPORTER of over four years and as someone who lived in poverty in the USA almost all my life!
ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE - debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org
September 27, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Way to go Bono! It always surprises me that people get so upset when we help SAVE THE LIVES of people throughout the world. It seems like those type of people won’t be happy until every American is living in a mansion and driving a BMW. The fact is, Americans are blessed and even the most unfortunate american living on welfare is still much better off than a majority of the people in the world. The US wont let an American die of starvation or disease, it provides food pantries, social programs, and free healthcare to those individuals. If someone is hungry, their child has malaria, or is sleeping on the streets in another country, there is no one to help them. The US is doing the right thing by helping those in the world in extreme poverty.
I don’t know about you, but I take James 2:15-17 very seriously…
“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:15-17
October 1, 2008 at 7:54 am
Supporting what Debbie K says about what Matt says. That is exactly what we’re trying to do here. We were all created equal, look at how blessed North America in general is, along with Australia and most parts of Europe, but when you look at countries in Africa, countries in Middle/South America, and most countries in Asia, there seems to be some huge weight economy wise on our side here in North America. Just remember of what William Wilberforce once said, God made men (and women) equal, and he said that directly against slavery, but aren’t the people in Africa/Asia/Middle/South America enslaved to something as well?
Let us continue to fight the good fight and do what is right.
We are definitely the generation to take this issue and to clean it up with our technological gadgets, along with our knowledge and our wealth.
It shouldn’t be God Bless America, it should be God Bless _________ (unfortunate country)
October 5, 2008 at 12:05 pm
In 2008, isn’t the time right for the United States of America to re-focus attentions and resources to aid and assist the needs of our Domestic poor, and finally begin to give less to those in foreign lands?
October 5, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Response to David Bryden:
The reason that the Taliban and Al Qaeda took root in Afghanistan (and the wider Middle East) was because of America’s military presence; which was there to poach the natural oil resources of the Middle East, since America reached peak oil reserves in the 1970’s. Our enemies have risen up because of our Imperialistic pursuits. If the America people began to seriously conserve energy, reduce conspicuous consumption, invest in clean renewable energy sources at home, then maybe we wouldn’t have to use our armed forces as the militaristic arm of Wall Street and engender disdain of the US in those “occupied” lands…
February 27, 2009 at 9:08 am
It is AWESOME to see Bono continuing being so dedicated to his mission, and it’s great to see the progress ONE and him are making!!