Many Inspi[RED] by Bono's New Poverty Campaign

Bono appeared on the Oprah Winfrey TV chat show on Friday to introduce to the United States his latest campaign to fight AIDS in Africa: RED.

Saying he was convinced that "this generation can be the generation that says 'no' to extreme poverty" in Africa, the U2 lead singer and activist urged Americans to buy "Red"-branded clothes, mobile phones, shoes and iPods and see a portion of the profits channelled to fund AIDS programmes.

The Red campaign has already raised about £5 million in Britain since its launch there earlier this year.

In the United States, Gap is offering T-shirts and jeans; Motorola, a red mobile phone; Converse, a series of limited edition shoes; Apple, a red iPod nano; and Giorgio Armani, a collection of clothes and accessories - all of which will carry the Red trademark and channel up to 50 per cent of profits to the programme.

"Not everyone has the time to be an activist or put on marching boots," Bono told a studio audience decked in T-shirts bearing the slogans "Empowe(red)," "Inspi(red)" and Uncenso(red)."
But "when you buy a Red product, the company gives money to buy pills that will keep someone in Africa alive. We have these drugs. They are not that expensive."

Bono, who has used his fame to raise money for Africa through concerts and campaigns to press rich nations to do more to eradicate poverty, said the purchase of one Red limited edition denim jacket from Gap could provide two months treatment to an African AIDS patient.

Singer Kanye West, actress Penelope Cruz and model Christy Turlington joined Bono and Oprah on a shopping trip to participating stores in Chicago. Singer Alicia Keys and the Irish rocker performed their "Don't Give Up (Africa)" duet in the studio

The money raised by the Red campaign will be sent to the U.N.-backed Global Fund. It was established in 2002 to channel government and private-sector funding into the fight against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis - the big killer diseases of the developing world - with a focus on Africa.

In August, US Megachurch pastor Bill Hybels received a phone message from Bono, who was aiming to "vision-cast" the churches and wake them up to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Ever since the rock star took a Live Aid trip to Ethiopia two decades ago and revisited the questions raised then on poverty and disease, he's been on a mission to get the world and especially the churches on board to fix what is "fixable", as Bono said.

He pondered, how come churches aren't getting on board with the greatest social cause of the day?

Bono himself has been using his celebrity influence to bring attention to the heart-wrenching scene in Africa.

"Music is my first love," he told Hybels, thanking God for his gift. A melody playing in his head inspires him to get up every morning. Bono pointed out another reason that gets him up each day: the ONE Campaign. The campaign, voiced by a host of celebrities with Bono as the leading man, as well as faith communities, was launched to mobilise Americans for the cause of poverty and HIV/AIDS.

Calling the "celebrity" thing "ridiculous", Bono plainly stated, "I'm a rock star ... but I have a head for the world's poor."

Bono is the founder of the ONE campaign, which aims to fight against poverty and AIDS.