aa-Nick+Carruth+Civic+Hero

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**Bono’s Necessary Form of Activism** 

 Paul David Hewson who is more widely known as Bono, is one of the most famous rock stars to ever live. His music has affected people all over the world, and attracted hundreds of thousands of fans. However, what makes Bono different from other rock stars is his enormous efforts given to his activism that is focused towards poverty, famine, and the AIDS pandemic around the world and in particular, Africa. Bono has led campaigns and met with presidents and politicians, causing some influential changes in regards to relief efforts in Africa. By making it possible and encouraging people to voice their concerns of these issues, Bono has made some influential strides towards alleviating famine around the world. Bono is a hero because he has taken his position as a world-famous rock star and turned it into a tool to create change for the better around the world. 

Bono was born in Dublin Ireland on May 10th 1960. He had an unusual upbringing beginning mainly when his mother died and his relationship with his father turned for the worse (Fry). It was in 1976 when Bono responded to a bulletin that was looking for musicians to start a rock band. The original name of this band was Feedback, and this is where the members of U2 met and started to play together. Bono writes most of the band’s songs, and their popularity as a band increased dramatically over the years. This eventually lead to the enormous success that they have today, including having sold more than 150 million records worldwide, having won 22 Grammy awards and having earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bono’s activism began mainly when he started traveling to places like Ethiopia and Central America in the 1980’s. His activism, rather than direct monetary donations, focuses on creating awareness about the issues and organizing foundations that help to voice people’s concern. There are many commercials and You-tube video clips of Bono where he attempts to raise awareness of these problems and give people a way to do something about it. He has co- founded the organization DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), and more recently the ONE campaign that “fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support smart and effective policies and programs that are saving lives, helping to put kids in school and improving futures” (One). In this way Bono’s activism is unique, because rather than a one-time donation like many celebrities, Bono has actually put together groups that can work to create long-term change.

One of the most interesting and unique forms of activism Bono takes on is that which involves his music and concerts. The most notable way Bono has combined music and activism, is through massive music festivals, such as the Live 8 concerts that are geared towards donating and raising awareness about poverty in Africa. Bono has helped organize and partake in several events like this. U2 concerts lately have involved massive spectacles involving videos, lights, and periods between songs that are dedicated to good causes. At concerts, they will play videos between songs showing Nelson Mandela speaking about peace and famine as well as other activists. He does exercises with the audience like clapping every few seconds to show how frequently someone is dying from famine. In this way, the videos and music align together touching the audience emotionally while at the same time creating awareness about famine and poverty.

Other than using music as a tool for reaching out to the world to recognize that these problems exist, Bono has had frequent visits with politicians and even presidents in hopes of creating some legitimately measurable differences. In 2002 Bono met with George Bush and played a part in a new 5 billion dollar aid package that was unveiled by Bush that year (Denny & Black). He also took U.S. secretary Paul H O’Neil on a tour around Africa during that same year. Bono can do things like this and help boost awareness in people who make decisions directly affecting foreign aid. The reason he can do this is because he is so worldly famous and wealthy. Being this famous and wealthy automatically places him in a position where he is more capable whether it be making commercials, getting a message out to hundreds of thousands of people at concerts, or meeting with politicians. When so many people look up to an individual, the actions they take and things they say can really influence a large number of people. It is this position that he takes advantage of. Critics of Bono’s activism might argue that he should donate more of his own money directly, but the reason Bono is unique is that he is more interested in creating long-term opportunities for improvement.

The two main reasons Bono is such an important civic hero revolve around raising awareness and persuasion. He has used his status as a worldwide celebrity to meet with leaders and persuade their concerns towards this issue. He has also used music, concerts and highly sophisticated technology to spread his messages around the world. The reason he has been so successful is that his techniques align perfectly with society today. With less of an emphasis on protests like in the sixties, large-scale fundraising concerts can work with the same function. To create real change, a large number of individuals must strive for it and it is crucial that people who might not know these issues exist, become aware of them in order to make a difference. This, in some ways, is the new form of activism that everyone can partake in.

If all celebrities like Bono were to do just as he has done or even something close to it, the benefit around the world we would see would be enormous. It is important for people to take opportunities they have been given to support causes they believe in, like the equality of all humans. That is partly why Bono is so important as a role model for others. Also, he has incorporated his music in innovative ways to better the world and help starving and dying people in Africa. His techniques are special because they aim to create large-scale and long-term improvements rather than short-term donations. Bono is a prime example of someone that has taken an opportunity to promote a powerful cause and ran with it. He is someone that incorporates a passion with a cause and does so effectively.

Works Cited

 Denny, C., & Black, I. (15 March 2002). US and Europe boost aid to poorest countries. //The Guardian//. Retrieved 14 January 2007

 Fry, Maddy. "Bono Biography." //At U2//. @U2, n.d. Web. 10 Oct 2011. .

 //ONE | International | Fighting against Extreme Poverty and Preventable Disease//. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. .