Is Rock Star Bono Bogus About Helping Africa?

[Evelyn Kanter]

Rock star Bono and wife produce eco-friendly products to support Africa

Bono is one of the biggest rock stars on the planet. The former U2 lead musician is also an outspoken humanitarian activist on helping Africa and Africans fight poverty, illiteracy, AIDS and HIV. He’s enough of an authority to have met with world leaders to lobby for greater efforts to help Africans help themselves and write editorials in the New York Times.

So why is Bono manufacturing his eco-friendly line of t-shirts and other products in South America and China, instead of giving jobs to the Africans he so loudly and proudly supports?

The website Ecorazzi reported recently that just 15% of the Edun line launched by Bono and his wife to support Africa is manufactured in Africa.

Ecorazzi also reports that Bono and his wife Ali Hewson moved much of Edun’s headquarters to The Netherlands, to reduce the taxes they have to pay.

With times so tough for Africans and for the rest of us, too, I’m having a hard time feeling sorry for the multi-millionaire rock star and his jet set lifestyle.

Kind of disputes the slogan on Bono’s support Africa website, Bono Street Team, that “This is our moment, this is our time, this is our chance to stand up for what is right” .

[John Stone]

I understand the Lady Gaga "meat dress" is a number one Halloween costume this year flying out of stores. I believe she is giving funds to charity, but a product like that if made in Africa could also potentially throw a spotlight on the slaughter of endangered animals by illegal poachers. Gaga is now matching Bono is harvesting $millions. I just hope her social outreach funds go to the right places.