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Bono needs better vision

Thursday, 5 March 2009

Further to some of the comments on the subject of U2 and their tax returns, I feel I need to make the following points:

l Bono has been the leading figure in pressurising Western leaders to scrap the debt to African nations.

However, the real winners of such moves are surely spend-happy tyrants like King Mswati III of Swaziland, Teodoro Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea and everyone’s favourite, Mr Mugabe, rather than the millions of impoverished unfortunates whose lives are at the mercy of their unworthy leaders.

l How can our leaders donate the necessary millions to Africa if our super rich, of which Bono can be classed, are spiriting their ‘hard-earned cash’, as ‘Gaz’ called it in Monday's

Belfast Telegraph, out of reach?

l What is taxation, if not a form of charity, where those more talented and/or more fortunate than the rest of us, share a portion of their wealth towards education and health services for all?

And, yes, sadly, also for bank bailouts.

Perhaps if Bono took his sunglasses off once in a while, he could see more clearly.

Fred Badlose

Belfast

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A late 2007 Oxfam report showed that as much was spent on African civil wars as was given to Africa in Aid over the previous twenty years.

Posted by robbo | 06.03.09, 13:51 GMT

There's a certain amount of truth in what you say Malachy. It does look hopeless, money and food often does not arrive to those who it was meant for, but are you not a bit cynical? There are a lot of good independent and church charities doing brilliant work in many third world countries. With despotic dictators in charge and civil war raging they are the innocent child's only chance.

Posted by T J McClean | 05.03.09, 22:21 GMT

I had to read on a bit to realise that this Bono person was not another crazy African chieftain. On a more serious level I believe that it is morally reprehensible for us to allow all our didactic charities to continue to exist, as they all appear to have have taken ill considered and actively harmful political stances in many situations. Charities are oiling tribal wars throughout Africa; men have the luxury of running around with guns and spears in the awareness that generally their wives and children will be looked after by others. Until these warriors are brought under control, we are throwing our good money into a hole in the ground. Of course this will instigate screams from the virtuous 'charity workers' who are creaming off very good salaries behind their desks.

Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 05.03.09, 12:02 GMT