Based on how well they are keeping their Africa promises, some nations have been really dragging down the G-8 as a whole, questioning the relevance of this group. The irony of their collective increasing impotence is that we have never more needed bold leadership on the big issues of our time.

Wednesday 09th July, 07:47 AM JST

Rock singer and campaigner Bono, saying the G-8 summit has yielded only ‘‘small gains’’ for the world’s poorest.

4 Comments

rjaspl at 01:33 PM JST - 9th July

AHH Bono, can't sing to well, however some nuts kind of like him...now he thinks he has god's answer to all of man kind's problems...some fools even listen to him. Maybe we just need to put our priorities in order and look after earth and the people first, get rid of dictators and those who share the financial greed ideals. Pick up the pieces and move on.
Richard_III at 01:46 PM JST - 9th July

I wonder if Africans actually support Bono's advocacy or not. Is increasing the number and size of subsidies really the answer to resolve Africa's problems or will they make them worse? On what mandate does Bono claim to have any expertise, knowledge or experience of third-world development?

Given the record of aid to Africa over the past few decades, from what I've read most subsidies have been wasted and misused. Whatever reforms may be made to how subsidies are implemented, for instance, greater control over use with clearer transparency, they probably have negative effects on the population who become used to easy money and a "hand-out" culture. It's widely known that subsidies generally don't work with firms, appear to have had largely negative effects on those countries where they have been aggressively implemented (for instance, Palestine, or (I have to add) the UK).

It strikes me as odd that Bono's words can carry so much weight when they so blatantly appear to be misguided, or naive. I suppose at least that the advocacy of using other peoples money gives aging rock stars something to do.
wilbur at 04:01 PM JST - 9th July

maybe Bono doesn't realize the west has been pumping money into africa for 50+ years and hasn't made a dent in the quality of life there. Possibly if the money found its way to the people rather than going into some dick-tator's pocket. Also, read a survey 2 weeks ago where Nokia polled africans and they said they'd rather buy a mobile phone than rice. So me thinks the africans are solely to blame for their own problems and I hope that none of my hard-earned money gets sent over there.
usaexpat at 11:37 PM JST - 9th July

Based on how much time Bono spends as an activist and how much his music has come to suck I suggest a permanent career change. It's good for everyone, he can start giving his money away to Africa and U2 can finally stop torturing us with further musical output. I really hate celebs who think they're making a difference and are so well informed when they're not. Aid to Africa in the form of money has been a bust because of corrupt governments. Technical aid and education is a far better path.