Food & Drink1 min ago
Bono.
26 Answers
Bono is still harping on about how poor Africa is blah blah blah. However, it still cost me �120 to see U2 last year and that was not an inflated ebay price. Am I missing the point or is he a conceited multi-millionaire who thinks he's God? I do like U2 though.
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I think once your income reaches a certain point (i.e. you have enough money to stuff a mattress or three) then it's not unknown for people to stop focussing on whatever their daily misery is and look at the bigger picture.
Put it this way, if I didn't have to worry about mortgage payments, credit card debts and so on, I'd probably be more concerned with helping others, because I can.
There's a certain altruistic pleasure to be had in helping, and it's arguable that Bono has done more to help by raising awareness than he could have done if he forked over a large percentage of his income.
As an experiment: Buy a copy of The Big Issue.
Feels good, doesn't it?
Now find someone who is sleeping on the street and probably dreams of being a Big Issue seller. Give them a fiver for some warm food.
Feels better.
I suspect Bono is ecstatic with what he achieves...
he's trying to set up this Product Red charity as a way of making money to fight Aids. Not really a charity, as it's meant to be a commercially sustainable venture for companies involved. It appears that if it isn't, he'll be funding it out of his own pocket for the next 4-5 years, which not a lot of multi-millionaires do. He seems to be doing more to fight poverty than God does, if that answers your question.
This is a common accusation aimed at people with a lot of money.
Objectively, at what level of income does it become one individual's responsibility to hand over their earnings to right the wrongs created by successive world governments? Aside from the fact that the money earned by U2, The Beatles, anyone, from inception to break-up would represent a drop in the ocean in terms of the money needed, it is unreasonable to expect them to have to pay for problems, simply because they use their high profile to highlight the plight of disadvantaged people.
far more pertinent would be, why doesn't the british government give the biliion pound investment in arms forces in Afghanistan to feed the world?
You could go on and on finding examples and 'solutions', but the simple fact is, world poverty belongs to all of us, we are all citizens of the world.
Yes absolutely agreed Andy, plus I'm of the opinion that he's earned his money and can therefore do what the hell he likes with it...........howver, the thing that gets on my tits about him and his ilk is that they are so bloody pious about it all.
Incidentally, saw somebody wearing a brilliant T-Shirt the other day which read "makebonohistory.com" I haven't seen a funnier play on an expression since the T-shirts from the mid-80s which read "Adis - don't die of dyslexia".
Regardless of U2 ticket prices and what Bono may earn. What the first Live Aid should have taught us all is that Africa's problems are political and commercial and need political and commercial solutions.
You can throw as much money as you like at it but while Africans face import levys selling into Europe and the US you can't begin to think about permanent change.
Of course dropping those levy's would cost jobs which is what the politicians realise.
Now who wants to loose their job to relieve African poverty? - Don't all rush now!
I agree that they earned their money and should do with it what they see fit, but i earn my money and have to spend it on my house etc to make sure i have somewhere to live and food to eat
It just makes me mad when they do appeals and say '�2000 is all that is needed to build a water pump so this town can have clean water' and you think 'Give it to em then 2 grands nowt to you!!!!!'
There is something about him I just dont like anymore. I do my best honestly, but some people dont give a damn and if he persuades a handful of people to be aware then surely its worth it. He fights for some worthy causes so no matter how much I think his head has disapperaed up his own jacksey, I will always have to respect him for that.
Disgusting amount of money to see u2
Its very unlikely that Bono gets all of your �120.
There's the cost of hiring and setting up the venue, paying the rest of the band, paying for the support staff, transporting all the equipment from place to place, advertising, hotels and foodetc. The booking agent will take a cut, as will U2's own agent.
And if you saw the band in UK I suspect Gordon will have a slice too.
Even during the time of Live Aid and Band Aid, there were eyewitness reports of food sitting and rotting at certain points due to internal politics and the military regime. No matter what good intentions are involved, there are so many mitigating factors in so many of these nations that poverty and hunger will always be a way of life because those that are in power prefer it that way.
jimmer to answer your question.......
I think Africa should help itself before the world pulls a single string. There appears to be too much corruption and war going on based on archaic land laws and tribal bull poo.
Further, being a strong nationalist I also think we should (re)colonise the richer countries of Africa or at least the ones with a good diamond/gold or oil reserve. That way, perhaps an Imperialist British Govt. could bring some decent morality and order into a struggling continent.
back to Bono. I agree that he earns his money and good luck to him but Forbes states he is worth over 300 million. As capitalist as I am, you really don't need that much. Perhaps he could put his money where his mouth is and also get rid of those awful purple sun glasses esp when he is inside.
Although I agree ith the whole they are millionaires they should use the money for the greater good, do you think that Africa would benefit from him sending them millions - the country has so much corruption the people see none of the benefits. We could send them a million and it would be swallowed buy the corrupt 'people' who are ruling it. I for one would love to be able to say yeah lets send them x amount to help 'save' the people, but sadly until someone sorts out the corruption nothing much helps but the food aid they get and the education. It would be nice to see the big stars try and doo more with there millions though, there must be a way of helping.
fancy awarding WM 3 stars for yet nother biggoted answer, omg lmao.
Why should a starving african nation suffer 1) because of politics 2) when we wont them pay them a fair price for their exports 3)we wont drop a debt that has had far too much interest added,&should just been given
Our country has a long long history of exploiting others that arent as developed as us. Dig into our pockets and help these guys out. Do you not see the adverts for charity, we are helping them to help themselves. Why on earth should a mother who is watching her baby die of starvation be told that I am not going to give you any clean water, because you dont help yourself. When she is just a victim of the above, an unfortunate climate. These people live i a developing world in a tense environment, there is nothing happening in their history that hasnt happened in western history a few hundred years ago.
Thanks anyway for your stupid comment, I am now going to find out how i can help somehow and I probably wouldnt have done if you hadnt pointed out that some people int his country are still ignorant.
