by Felicity Duncan
In many ways, Bono needs no introduction. There are few people who have never heard of his band, U2, and few who have not been touched by his music. Bono’s best-known hits include I still haven’t found what I’m looking for and Sunday, Bloody Sunday, which commemorates tragic events in his home country of Ireland. After nearly 40 years together, U2 is still selling-out mega venues worldwide.
Yet, despite his success, Bono has not been content to remain a mere singer-songwriter. Instead, he has become one of the world’s most prominent celebrity activists, working on issues ranging from hunger to Third World debt relief to HIV/AIDS.
According to the Irish Times, after attending one of Amnesty International’s Secret Policeman’s Ball benefits in 1979, Bono realised that he could use his celebrity status to pursue a more just world. Inspired, in the 1980s, he participated in the Band Aid project, a charity supergroup including Bob Geldof, and band members from U2, Bananarama, Culture Club, Duran Duran and other famous British musicians.
As the years passed, Bono’s philanthropic activities took on a more direct form. In 2002, for example, he took US Treasury Secretary Paul H O’Neill on a tour of four African nations to highlight the need for funding for HIV and AIDS projects and development projects in the region. He has spoken at numerous conferences and events, and has penned a number of op-eds on topics like debt forgiveness and poverty.
Bono has been a prominent participant at the World Economic Forum for many years. While he has sometimes been outspoken in his criticism of the ravages of capitalism, and the role that corporations play in fostering problems in the Third World, he has also praised companies and governments that find innovative and positive ways to invest in needy nations.
Bono has been married to activist and businesswoman Alison Hewson since 1982; they have four children.
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