Blair Praises Bono Prior to Honorary Knighthood
As the British Embassy in Dublin has announced that U2 frontman Bono is being awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen, Tony Blair praised the rock star.
by Kevin Donovan
Posted: Wednesday, December 27, 2006, 10:52 (GMT)
As the British Embassy in Dublin has announced that U2 frontman Bono is being awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen, Tony Blair praised the rock star.
The prime minister particularly singled out the work that Bono had done to organise the series of Live 8 concerts in the summer of 2005 aimed at raising awareness of the burden of debt bourn by many African countries ahead of a meeting of the G8 group of nations.
"Without your personal contribution, we could not have achieved the results we did. So thank you and I look forward to continuing to work together to maintain momentum on Africa, and ensure leaders around the world meet the promises they have made," he wrote.
In addition, Blair congratulated him in a letter: "You have tirelessly used your voice to speak up for Africa."
The singer, whose real name is Paul Hewson, has been given the honour for "his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work," it said.
Bono will receive the honour in Dublin early in the new year, and British ambassador David Reddaway will conduct the ceremony.
The embassy said the agreement of the Irish government was sought and granted for the Dublin-born singer to be honoured.
A statement on the band's website said the singer, who has lobbied Western leaders to increase aid to developing countries and cancel Third World debt, was "very flattered" to receive the award.
It added that he hoped it opened doors for his campaigning work against extreme poverty in Africa.
Recently having urged the US Congress to fight AIDS and poverty, Bono already went to the White House in February this year to ask President George W. Bush for more US aid to end world poverty.
The rock superstar and anti-poverty campaigner recently met with Australian Treasurer Peter Costello to lobby Canberra to increase its foreign aid to poverty stricken countries.
The meeting was orchestrated by the Rev Tim Costello, head of World Vision Australia and renowned Christian speaker.
Bono also recently launched the RED campaign together with philanthropist Bobby Shriver to bring big businesses and customers into the fight against HIV and Aids. Corporate giants Amex, Apple, Armani, Gap, Converse and Motorola have all signed up and brought out special RED products.
A percentage of the sale of these products goes straight to the Global Fund which was set up in 2002 with the specific purpose of fighting HIV and AIDS. The campaign has already raised more than £5m.
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Added: Wednesday, December 27, 2006, 22:29 (GMT)
Bono has worked tireless for right and noble purposes. If you think about it he doesn't need to give out his wealth or time to use his influence to move others to make a difference. But he does. And he realises that his blessings have been given to him by God. Well deserved!
James O'Brian, Dublin, Ireland
Added: Wednesday, December 27, 2006, 13:59 (GMT)
Fair play to Bono,and the time and effort he has put into raising money and awareness re poverty in the developing world.As for poverty in his naive Ireland,Bono perhaps deserves less praise.U2's decision to transfer much of their business interests to the Netherlands,so as to pay less tax,strikes me as greedy and mean.Ireland has a large pool of low paid workers,and many living in relative poverty.Bono' and his mega rich band,have behaved abominably in denying those who depend on welfare and public services their due.Their actions drastically weaken Bono's case when he asks the general public for contributions to a very necessary cause.Personally I have often found his pronouncements on poverty a little hard to stomach,though I suppose he is the sort of "hero"that money obsessed capitalist society throws up these days.It has always been the poorest who contribute proportionately the most to charity,and not the wealthy,with their Scrooge like hoarding who give proportionately less,as a whole.Perhaps Bono would do well to follow a truly Christian example of genuine and consistent charity,that of Sinead O Connor,who some years ago gave what she felt she didn't need.I implore anyone and everyone to give what they can to save lives,build communities,and add to the social cohesion so threatened by deprivation.That is despite Bono's partially ego driven campaigning.Put your money where your mouth is in future Bono,and don't ask others to do what you refuse to.
Rob, Plymouth UK
