{"id":15443,"date":"2013-03-14T13:25:22","date_gmt":"2013-03-14T13:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.one.org\/international\/?post_type=one_press&p=15443"},"modified":"2013-03-14T13:25:22","modified_gmt":"2013-03-14T13:25:22","slug":"bono-at-ted2013-virtually-eliminating-extreme-poverty-is-possible-by-2030","status":"publish","type":"one_press","link":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/africa\/press\/bono-at-ted2013-virtually-eliminating-extreme-poverty-is-possible-by-2030\/","title":{"rendered":"Bono at TED2013: Virtually Eliminating Extreme Poverty is Possible by 2030"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bono\u2019s much-anticipated talk at the recent TED2013 conference is being made available online today in its entirety. In the speech, the musician and cofounder of ONE and (RED) calls on a new generation of evidence-based activists, or \u201cfactivists,\u201d to see that the injustice of extreme poverty is\u00a0brought\u00a0to an end. He notes that global extreme poverty has already been cut in half over the past 20 years and, if we remain on the current trajectory, could be virtually eliminated by 2030. \u00a0Reaching this ‘Zero Zone’\u00a0means that less than 5% of the world\u2019s population will\u00a0live in extreme poverty.<\/p>\n

Bono also highlights the incredible progress in the treatment of AIDS, the fight against malaria and the stunning reduction in child mortality – all in the last 10 years.\u00a0 Compared to a decade ago, 7,256 fewer children die every day from preventable, treatable diseases \u2013 that\u2019s 2.65 million lives saved every year.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you read anything, anywhere in the last week that is remotely as important as that number?\u201d he challenges.<\/p>\n

Bono warns the progress we have made is in jeopardy \u2013\u00a0getting to the\u00a0\u2018Zero Zone\u2019 is\u00a0not inevitable and gains could be reversed. \u00a0He exhorts the audience to fight corruption, inequality, apathy and inertia in the pursuit of empowering the world\u2019s poorest people.<\/p>\n

Addressing the threat of corruption, Bono says open data tools and social networking services are helping to let in the light. “There’s a vaccine for that [corruption] too\u2026 it’s called\u00a0transparency.\u201d Thanks to open data, Bono says, \u201cIt\u2019s getting harder to hide if you’re doing bad stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the talk, Bono challenges viewers to become \u201cfactivists\u201d who share the facts of progress and help campaign for more progress \u2013 by joining groups like ONE. \u00a0He also urges governments to continue to fund programs successfully combating extreme poverty and disease like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 WATCH the Bono TED talk and get the full transcript at www.ONE.org\/TED<\/a><\/p>\n

–\u00a0 Read about the methodology of getting to the \u2018Zero Zone\u2019 (below).<\/p>\n

ABOUT ONE<\/strong><\/p>\n

ONE is a global advocacy and campaigning organization backed by more than 3 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information please visit\u00a0<\/em>www.ONE.org<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Facts and Methodology<\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting to the \u2018Zero Zone\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because of the innovative partnerships between grassroots activists, politicians and the private sector, since the year 2000 (various sources):<\/strong><\/p>\n