Bono Receives Atlantic Council Humanitarian Leadership Award

Apr 30th, 2010 9:00 AM UTC
By Sheila Nix

On Wednesday night, several of us from ONE attended the annual dinner of the Atlantic Council where ONE’s co-founder Bono received the organization’s first-ever Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership award in recognition of his achievements as an activist in the fight against extreme poverty.

Hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” the annual dinner recognizes individuals who have shown leadership in a range of fields from policy and the military, to business and the arts. Former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, the Atlantic Council’s current chairman, and Fred Kempe, the Council’s president and CEO, kicked off the night, speaking to a diverse crowd of 900 guests from all corners of the globe.

Bono was introduced by former presidential nominee John McCain, an active ONE supporter on the 2008 campaign trail.

In accepting the award, Bono delivered a short speech in which he talked about the important connection between security and development.

“What I think General Jones, Secretaries Gates and Clinton, Senator McCain and others are getting at is that somehow these worlds – defense and development – are inextricably linked,” Bono said. “They’re not the same thing; they’re very different, in fact; but they’re linked, and we need to see them as part of the same picture. They are both essential if we really want to build a world that’s more secure, more prosperous, and more just.”

Bono drew attention to the three D’s that make up the U.S. national security strategy – defense, diplomacy and development.

“I’m not suggesting we do each other’s jobs. Far from it. I’m not suggesting that soldiers start wearing flowers in their hair, or carrying stethoscopes and fertilizers in their packs. Neither am I saying that peaceniks like me should put on combat helmets. No. There’s a bright line that separates what we do from what many of you do. But our ultimate goals are the same goals, so let’s not work at cross purposes,” said Bono.

Senegalese musician Baaba Maal performed a passionate rendition of his song “Baayo” before White House National Security Advisor General James Jones took the stage to present former President Clinton with the Distinguished International Leadership Award. Discussing his recent work in Haiti and through the Clinton Global Initiative, President Clinton echoed Bono’s sentiments, saying that while the U.S. has never been fond of a “zero sums game,” we must get used to a world where both sides win.

To learn more about ONE’s recently launched initiative to engage veterans in the fight against extreme poverty, check out our new site.

TAGS: Bono