Sunday Morning Sunday

We have received our wish...we do indeed live in interesting times.

Yes, Bono will be appearing on Meet the Press this Sunday, along with the Secretary of Defense. I have seen Bono give innumerable interviews, but I can't wait to see him sit down with Tim Russert for 30 minutes. Imagine the graphic designer sitting in his or her office, waiting for this week's assignment for the MTP graphic. "I get to use Bono? Not Frist, McCain, Biden, Rice, or Carville? Bono? Really?" I bet it was a nice change.

Bono will be discussing politics, poverty, and the AIDS crisis. The urgent cause currently is to drawn attention to Live 8, a series of concerts and a very well done web campaign to pressure leaders of the G-8 countries to take steps to end extreme poverty at their upcoming meeting, specifically:

1. double the aid sent to the world's poorest countries,
2. fully cancel their debts,
3. change the trade laws so that they can build their own future.

Add your name to the list here.

Comments

[Sound Doctrine]

I really don't see the effectiveness of spending millions of dollars on concert events to raise awareness for something we have been trying to do for decades. Remember Somalia? I do because I was there. That came about because aid was not getting to the people because of warlords. Nothing has changed there. Some nations are practicing genocide on each other. Some nations are implementing Islamic law which is stifling any hope for their people. Do we double aid to nations that would go into the coffers of corrupt dictators? Those are the poorest nations. We could fully cancel their debts but how does that stop famine?
The answer is that people have to be willing to get in the trenches and help. Some nations need governmental changes. Some nations need modern, effective technology in the areas of agriculture.
Some nations, unfortunately, need military action.
All need Jesus Christ.
Throwing money at a problem has never solved anything.

[phil crissman]

I would also question the effectiveness of doubling the amount of dollars sent; I applaud the sentiment, but it's the results that I doubt.

The bit about trade laws is interesting; I don't know enough about these nations' economics to comment directly, but I've said for a long time that for these nations to have prosperity like America has had, what they really need is an economy like America has; and that isn't something that we can just *give* them. I'm not an economist, though, so really, what do I know?

All the same, I hope it does some good.