A bit of Balance...Africa is rich/ Bono is a hypocrite

by Mugabooga Wed Aug 19, 2009 04:32

This is worth a read

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/ian--....html

Ian Birrell: Big men, bankers and the stench of corruption
We cracked down on terrorism, so why not on this larceny that kills far more people?

Tuesday, 18 August 2009SHARE PRINTEMAILTEXT SIZE NORMALLARGEEXTRA LARGE
Frederick Chiluba is a sharp dresser. The one-time bus conductor who rose to become President of Zambia has a fondness for expensive designer suits, his monogrammed shirts set off by matching silk ties and handkerchiefs. While the majority of his fellow countrymen struggled to survive on less than a dollar a day, he would think nothing of jetting off to Geneva and dropping £300,000 in his favourite clothes shop.

But like Imelda Marcos, it is the shoes that seem the most insulting. This diminutive and vain man, who stands little over five foot and was on an official salary of £52,000 a year, had more than 100 pairs made with two-inch heels, many displaying his initials in brass. These size-six shoes, together with dozens of shirts and suits, are now in battered metal trunks in the offices of Zambia's anti-corruption task force.

by Bono Fan. Wed Aug 19, 2009 08:20

"While the majority of his fellow countrymen struggled to survive on less than a dollar a day, he would think nothing of jetting off to Geneva and dropping £300,000 in his favourite clothes shop."

This is TYPICAL of leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Emperor Bokassa for instance:

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/f186/central-afric....html

Even Bono doesn't sit on a solid gold throne:

http://img114.imageshack.us/i/bm99cl.jpg/

DON'T blame Bono.

by nobo Wed Aug 19, 2009 16:46

Who blamed bono, ??? No one.
Bono is just part of the coruption and not the cause, as seems to be stated by the last poster insisting we should not 'blame' Bono.
However, if he did pay his corporate taxes and not run off to holland soon as it was capped at arround 250 grand/pa in 2006, having been EXEMPT for three decades up to that point, the problem of starvation and death for 1 million kids/pa he says he wants to help, could be averted.
He dosent, he prefers instead to hoard ever more millions upon millions in offshore accounts in foreign countries to avoid taxes in Ireland which he claims to be his home, and kids starve to death which may not die if he paid taxes in the normal way.
If he didnt take part in the avoidance of 160 billion due to the people in Sub-Saharan Africa then he might have some ground to stand on and preach his NONSENSE to the rest of us.

by Laura Thu Aug 20, 2009 16:55

Bono is not the cause, but his approach is typical of one that causes more harm than good.
He constantly clamours for more aid to be sent to Africa, despite the fact that the $1trillion of aid that the continent has received has done little to help. In fact, many African countries have a lower GDP now than they did at independence.
Aid is artificial money that distorts local economies, encourages corruption and creates a culture of dependency.
Aid also makes Western leaders look good, while diverting attention from the problems of unfair trade and unsavoury alliances (think France/Gabon).
The Aid industry is killing Africa. Furthermore, many Africans, from economists to politicians want to see another way.
However, they don't get listened to in the way that middle aged, tax dodging rockstars do.

by Sergio Ramirez Sun Aug 23, 2009 00:42

"Bono has the power to make real change...."

The point has perhaps already been made, but looking to Bono as either the cause or as part of the solution to anything is misguided.

The whole point about Bono is precisely that he has nothing do declare but his irrelevance.

He is a problem in so far as he is a distraction, but that's as far as it goes.