As Product (RED) launches in America, opening a new front in the war against AIDS, a few words from Bono...

October 12, 2006

Sometimes when I'm walking down the street a passer by will say "love your work on Africa, Bono, great cause." Sometimes, they wish they hadn't. As I'm Irish, I love to talk to strangers. I love to talk about Africa. It can be hard to get away... Each time it makes me think we need to do much more to get the message across that this is not a "cause," this pandemic that we and so many others are working on. 5,500 Africans dying a day of AIDS, a preventable, treatable disease is not a cause. 5,500 Africans dying each day is an emergency.

Enter Product (RED). (RED) is a new idea we're launching to work alongside the growing ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History. Over the past year, almost 2 million Americans have joined ONE, in churches and chatrooms... on soccer pitches and movie sets... at Nascar races and rock concerts. By 2008, we're aiming to have 5 million members – that's more than the National Rifle Association. Just think for a moment of what that kind of political firepower could achieve for the poorest of the poor...

Where ONE takes on the bigger, longer-term beast of changing policy and influencing government, (RED) is, I guess, about a more instant kind of gratification. If you buy a (RED) product from GAP, Motorola, Armani, Converse or Apple, they will give up to 50% of their profit to buy AIDS drugs for mothers and children in Africa. (RED) is the consumer battalion gathering in the shopping malls. You buy the jeans, phones, iPods, shoes, sunglasses, and someone - somebody's mother, father, daughter or son - will live instead of dying in the poorest part of the world. It's a different kind of fashion statement.

You might think (RED) sounds too simple. But AIDS is no longer a death sentence. Just two pills a day will bring someone who is at death's door back to full health, back to a full life. Doctors call it "the Lazarus effect." I've seen it myself and I have to say that it's nothing short of a miracle. These pills are available at any corner drugstore. They cost less than a dollar a day, but the poorest people in Africa earn less than a dollar a day. They can't afford them, and so they die. It's unnecessary. It's insane.

You might think it's too difficult get these drugs to the people who most need them. A couple of years ago when DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) lobbied President Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac to do more on AIDS, we went to experts about this. From Bill and Melinda Gates, to Dr. Paul Farmer working in the poorest places on the earth, to Dr. Coutinho in his AIDS clinic in Uganda. Is it easy? No. Is it impossible? No. Can we do it? Absolutely. In 2001, there were 50,000 Africans taking ARVs. Now there are over one million people getting these lifesaving drugs thanks to President Bush's AIDS initiative, and thanks to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

There are though still 4.3 million Africans without drugs, which is why 100% of (RED) money is going directly to the Global Fund to support the work they are doing. (RED) uses the power in your pocket to keep people alive. ONE uses the power of your voice to create a more just world where people can earn their own way out of poverty. This means tackling more than AIDS. It means fighting corruption. Insisting on good governance. Getting kids in school. Changing trade rules. Getting businesses to invest in Africa. Ali and I started a company called Edun – a fashion line that makes clothes in Africa – because so many Africans we met said what they wanted more than anything was a job.

All of this is ganging up on the same problem – the greatest health crisis in human history and the extreme poverty in which it thrives. The Number 1 question we get asked is, "What can I do to help?" From today, you can do one more thing than you could do yesterday. Shop (RED). And if you haven't already, join the One campaign at One.org.

As I said, this is an emergency. And in these dangerous times, how we in the West respond is an opportunity to show what we stand for, as well as what we stand against. If we're successful, we will not only transform millions of people's lives, we'll transform the way these people see us... and in turn, the world in which we live.

For more information on the campaigns Bono mentioned:

Joinred.com
Product (RED), founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to engage consumers and the private sector with its marketing prowess and funds in the fight against AIDS. Money raised from (RED) Products goes to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History was founded in 2005 and is now 2.3 million members strong representing Americans from all 50 states. The goal of this movement is to persuade the US government to spend an additional one percent of the federal budget on tackling AIDS and extreme poverty

EDUN, which has just produced a One Campaign t-shirt raising money for AIDS drugs in Lesotho, is an ethically-sourced high fashion clothing company that was created in 2005 by Ali Hewson, Bono and designer Rogan Gregory in an effort to increase trade opportunities and sustainable long-term employment in developing nations. With factories located in Africa, South America and India, EDUN believes in respect for and investment in the people and places where its clothing is made.

DATA (debt, AIDS, trade, Africa) is an advocacy organization founded in 2002 by Bono, Bobby Shriver and activists from the Jubilee "Drop the Debt" campaign to fight extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa. DATA's mission is to tackle the three issues that most adversely affect the African continent -- unpayable debts, the spread of AIDS and unfair trade policies – by raising public awareness and working with leaders in the U.S. and throughout the G8 to bring more resources to the region.

Music Rising: a campaign to replace musician’s instruments lost or destroyed in the Gulf Region hurricanes. Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and MusiCares. The Guitar Center Music Foundation is also an inaugural partner. Its purpose is to maintain the essence of the Gulf Coast’s musical tradition and help those devastated by the hurricane disasters. An exclusive Gibson Music Rising guitar sold through Guitar Center launched the effort with all proceeds going directly to Music Rising.

JUBILEE 2000: Jubille 2000 is a movement to have third world debt dropped for the start of the new millenium.  Bono has been very involved in this effort in the past few years

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Leaders in the worldwide fight for Human Rights.  U2 has been involved since the early 1980's. They toured in 1986 as part of the Amnesty International tour, and have shown support for the organization at all of their concerts since.

Organization that is leading the fight against environmental degredation.  U2 was involved with a Greenpeace action against the Sellafield nuclear facility in 1993. 

An organization dedicated to restoring freedom and democracy to the 50 million citizens of Burma who are now under the control of an illegal military government. Walk On was dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, a major figurehead in this cause. 

An organization that helps alleviate the suffering of children in war torn areas.  U2 donated the profits from "Miss Sarajevo" to this group and performed at the Concert for War Child held by Pavarotti in 1995.

Bono's wife Ali has been very involved with this organization that helps the children that suffered from the 1986 nuclear disaster.  The proceeds from "The Sweetest Thing" were donated to this organization.

The 46664 organization is dedicated to the fight against AIDS in Africa and beyond and is an offshoot of the Nelson Mandela foundation.  The number '46664' was Mandela's prison number when he was incarcerated.  It featured strong participation by Bono, in helping to write a song titled '46664' and both he and the Edge appeared in 2003's concert for World AIDS Day.

netaid.com
dropthedebt.org
burmacampaign.org.uk
freeburmacoalition.org