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Bono - campaigning against Third World Debt

Bono slammed

Aids charity boss claims music events don't work

23 Nov 07 - They may have organised some of the biggest concerts in the world to help tackle the problems of Aids and poverty in Africa, but today Bono and Bob Geldof have been accused of actually worsening the situation over there.

Campaigns such as Live 8 and Live Aid are under fire from the head of the charity, African Aid Action - Jobs Selasie says the events have made corruption and dependency on handouts far worse in many areas of the continent.

He highlighted the fact that since the original Band Aid campaign the number of Africans living on donations has increased 500%. Also, African governments now rely on 70% of their annual budgets from foreign aid when they used to rely on only 20%.

Selasie has put forward the argument that most of the problems are being caused by the Western obsession with political correctness. He said:

"Aid has failed because campaigners, charities and governments do not have the right plan and excluded African entrepreneurs and grassroots organisations from being part of the solution.

"You can't impose change from without. It has to come from within and we won't end poverty with handouts. Africans need to fight corruption and work hard."

Adrian Larkin

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Comments so far

Dave P - cOLCHESTER
I agree. What would work is that all these mega-rich rock stars give THEIR money to help first and stop being hypocrites. Stop preaching Bono and start reading what Jesus said about rich men and 'eyes of needles'

Emma, Newcastle
Bono doesn't gain anything from his charity work, he is putting himself on the line because he cares, do you think the G8 agreement would have happened without Live 8? I totally admire & respect Bono, if nothing else he is bringing awareness to the problems in Africa, surely this is a good thing.

Angela from Melton Mowbray
At least Bono is trying...not just sitting back with the complacent apathy of millions, assuming someone else will act on their collective behalf.

Sheffield
Fair trade was exactly what Live8 was about - not to mention that more governments are reliant on aid because increasing interest payments make them poorer. It's the same tired message that ignores what Live8 and MPH set out to achieve.

Tristan Verran
"Bono, Bono, Bono, creaps in this petty pace from day to day till the last syllabel of recorded time"- William Shakespeare said it so well. The man uses charities to give himself a platform to promote his merchandise. He is shameless.

Tryg London town.
Self serving publicity hounds anyone???Bono always loves a cause to give his average band an international platform. Please can I have a red ipod for christmas, that will cure AIDS in Africa wouldn't it.Make Bono history!

mark Bristol
Make bono history

Mark Bristol
bono watches his offshore bank account grow with each charity event.This is dispicable. He then tells us all we dont do enough for charity!!

Cardiff
Most charities that benefit from the aforementioned campaigns involve local communities and also provide many jobs for Africans so they ARE inclusive - take a look at world vision and see the difference they are making on the ground - In Uganda for example they recruit a wide range of skilled Ugandans and also invest in their development. As for handouts - if used correctly can transform economies - look at objective 1 and 2 funding in Eire, NI and Wales - EU funding has helped develop these economies from traditional unskilled manual jobs to heavy industries to skilled jobs providing a better standard of social living throughout. So I'm afraid Selasie is wrong. Whether you like U2/Bono or not Bono has a critical eye for detail and numbers, and the success of these campaigns are measured - and the measures show they ARE making a positive differences.

chris flockhart. Edinburgh
The best thing I have ever heard. No westerner would dare say it because of the PC brigade. Hats off to Mr Selasie for his honest intelligent comments which come from a wide knowlege of African problems. I hope Bonehead and Gandalf get the message and stop their self publicity events

Mark Jackson. Telford.
make BONO history!